2017 Spencer Comprehensive Land Use Plan

Spencer, Iowa  2017  Comprehensive Plan

residents. Since 2000, the community’s population has continued to remain steady.

Table 2 - Historic Population Trends, City of Spencer

YEAR

1880

1890

1900

1910

1920

1930

1940

1950

POPULATION

824

1,813

3,095

3,005

4,599

5,019

6,599

7,446

YEAR

1960

1970

1980

1990

2000

2010

2014 est.

POPULATION

8,864

10,278

11,726

11,066

11,317

11,233

11,206

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Fact Finder, and Population (1850-1990) for Incorporated Places in Iowa – ISU Census Services

Figure 9 - Historic Population Trends for Spencer

Historic Population Trends for Spencer, Iowa

11,726

11,317 11,233 11,206

12000

11,066

10,278

10000

8,864

7,446

8000

6,599

6000

5,019

4,599

4000

3,095 3,005

1,813

2000

824

0

The city's percentage (or share) of the county's total population increased in recent decades from 56% of Clay County’s population in 1970 to 65% in 2000 and most recently Spencer has grown to represent 67% of the county’s overall population in 2010. This is important when projecting future growth or decline of population since local growth is often based on projections previously developed for the county. In some population predictions, it is assumed the city will continue to make up the same percentage of the county's population. In other instances, past trends of those cities that continue to comprise a growing share of the county’s overall population base is reflected upon future population projections. CURRENT POPULATION STRUCTURE As of the 2010 decennial census, Spencer’s population is 11,233 persons. The median age of 41.5 is 3.4 years older than Iowa’s median age of 38.1 years. These numbers indicate Spencer shows evidence of an aging population. Regarding the age of Spencer’s residents, 19.7% of the city’s residents are classified as “seniors” or persons over the age of 65. This is higher than the state’s average of nearly 15% for the same category. The number of young adults in the age class of 18-44 represents 30.9% of the city’s population which is slightly lower than the statewide average of 34.6% of persons considered young adults (ages 18-44). Lastly, the percentage of children in Spencer (those

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