Page Contents for Manson, Iowa

Statistics & Facts

History & History-related items

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Statistics & Facts

The Iowa state capital is Des Moines.
The population of Manson is approximately 1,844 (1990), 1690 (2010).
The approximate number of families is 834 (1990), 771 (2010).
The amount of land area in Manson is 8.27 sq. kilometers.
The amount of surface water is 0 sq kilometers.
The distance from Manson to Washington DC is 993 miles.
The distance to the Iowa state capital is 81 miles. (as the crow flies)
Manson is positioned 42.52 degrees north of the equator and 94.53 degrees west of the prime meridian.

History & History Related Items

Manson, Iowa, is a classic 'Railroad Right-of-Way' Community in the midwest. It was established in 1872 near the old stagecoach stop at Yatesville, The town is named after an executive of the Illinois Central Railroad. It was settled largely by New England Yankees migrating west via Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. A substantial influx of Northern German and Scandinavian (mostly Swedish) persons also immigrated directly in the late 1800's.
Manson is also famous in geological circles as the site of the 'Manson Impact Structure'. This is a 30 mile-wide sub-surface disturbance of the bedrock. This was caused by a large meteor crash at the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundry (ca. 70 million years ago). It may have contributed to the demise of the dinosaurs although quite recently an even larger impact structure of a similar date has been identified in the Yucatan (Mexico). In any event, the only significant current consequence of the 'MIS' is a superabundance of extraterrestrial fluoride in the watertable -- the local water is softer than rainwater and, in fact the softest in the world. There is no manifest scar from the impact as glacial till from Canada was repeatedly deposited in the subsequent ice-ages. Hence the soil is coal-black some four yards or more deep and among the richest in the world. Grain farming thrives in the area.
Manson is also noted in Iowa for its robust football tradition as it was the winningest team in the state since World War Two, though it has more recently amalgamated with other near-by villages. It should be noted there is no suggestion that the water has any causal effects on athleticism in the locals.

Further information may be had via contact with the local paper (The Manson Journal, Manson, Iowa 50563 -- yes this is the full address!).
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The founding of Manson

1872

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