Burr Oak is an unincorporated community in Winneshiek
County, Iowa, United States, very close to the Minnesota state line. Burr Oak
is a census-designated place, and the population was 171 in the 2020 census.
History
A post office opened in 1853. Burr Oak was platted in 1855.
The village is one of the homes of Laura Ingalls Wilder,
author of the Little House on the Prairie books. Grace Ingalls, the youngest of
the Ingalls children, was born there in 1877. There is a Laura Ingalls Wilder
Museum in the local Masters Hotel.
Hamlin Garland, noted American novelist, poet, essayist,
short story writer, Georgist, and psychical researcher, lived on a farm in
Hesper Township, near Burr Oak, during the 1870s.
Demographics
Historical population
2010 166 —
2020 171 3.0%
U.S. Decennial Census
2020 census
As of the census of 2020, there were 171 people, 77
households, and 54 families residing in the community. The population density
was 247.9 inhabitants per square mile (95.7/km2). There were 82 housing units
at an average density of 118.9 per square mile (45.9/km2). The racial makeup of
the community was 95.3% White, 0.0% Black or African American, 1.2% Native
American, 0.0% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 1.8% from other races, and 1.8%
from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino persons of any race comprised 2.3%
of the population.
Of the 77 households, 26.0% of which had children under the
age of 18 living with them, 57.1% were married couples living together, 2.6%
were cohabitating couples, 16.9% had a female householder with no spouse or
partner present, and 23.4% had a male householder with no spouse or partner
present. 29.9% of all households were non-families. 28.6% of all households
were made up of individuals, and 16.9% had someone living alone who was 65
years old or older.
The median age in the community was 44.3 years. 27.5% of the
residents were under the age of 20; 4.7% were between the ages of 20 and 24;
19.9% were from 25 and 44; 30.4% were from 45 and 64; and 17.5% were 65 years
of age or older. The gender makeup of the community was 59.1% male and 40.9%
female.
2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 166 people, 70
households, and 43 families residing in the town. The population density was
240.6 inhabitants per square mile (92.9/km2). There were 80 housing units at an
average density of 115.9 per square mile (44.7/km2). The racial makeup of the
town was 97.0% White, 0.6% Asian, and 2.4% from other races. Hispanics or Latinos
of any race were 2.4% of the population.
There were 70 households, out of which 31.4% had children
under the age of 18 living with them, 52.9% were married couples living
together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.6% were
non-families. 31.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.4%
had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average
household size was 2.37, and the average family size was 3.05.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.1% under
the age of 18, 10.7% from 18 to 24, 22.8% from 25 to 44, 28.8% from 45 to 64,
and 13.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.2 years. The
gender makeup of the city was 52.4% male and 47.6% female.
Education
The community is within the Decorah Community School
District. The schools are in Decorah, and Decorah High School is the zoned high
school of the district.
Previously, Burr Oak was within the North Winneshiek
Community School District. The school building was 3 miles (4.8 km) from Burr
Oak. North Winneshiek CSD operated all grade levels until 2001, when it ended
its high school program. According to district agreements, students in the
district could attend Decorah High or the high school program of Mabel-Canton
Public Schools in Mabel, Minnesota. Effective July 1, 2018, the North
Winneshiek district consolidated into the Decorah district. North Winneshiek
School closed its doors at that time.
In 2018, the combined interim board of Decorah CSD and North
Winneshiek CSD approved an agreement with Mabel-Canton schools, effective for
five years, to allow students in the former North Winneshiek district boundary
to attend Mabel-Canton if they choose. The agreement applies to any post-merger
Decorah CSD resident who is geographically closer to Mabel than to Decorah.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burr_Oak,_Iowa
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