2010 Census in Cedar Rapids and Linn County shows flood's impact and urban sprawl

CEDAR RAPIDS — A few pictures are worth a thousand numbers.

The picture of much of the long-established, working-class Time Check Neighborhood along the Cedar River in northwest Cedar Rapids, decimated by the 2008 flood, shows what Linda Seger, Northwest Neighbors president, calls a “barren” landscape with a smattering of homes, some occupied and some still awaiting demolition.

The 2010 Census figures tell the same story: Census Tract 12, which comprises the Time Check Neighborhood and a few streets beyond it, lost 60.1 percent of its population in the decade, declining from 3,215 people to 1,282 people.

None of the 45 tracts into which the U.S. Census Bureau has broken Cedar Rapids and Linn County lost population to the extent that Census Tract 12 did between the 2000 Census and the 2010 Census.

Census Tract 22, in and around the flood-ruined Central Fire Station and Taylor Elementary School on the city’s west side, came closest: It lost 37.7 percent of its population in the decade, dropping from 2,941 people in 2000 to 1,832 in 2010. Next door in Tract 26, which includes the Czech Village area, saw a drop of 18.6 percent in population, from 2,967 to 2,416.

Other telling pictures of the changing landscape of Cedar Rapids’ and Linn County’s population over a decade feature blocks and blocks of new housing starts — single-family homes, duplex condominiums, planned-unit developments and apartment complexes — reaching to the southern edges of Cedar Rapids and on into the northern part of Fairfax and in the direction of Ely.

The two fastest growing census tracts in Linn County in the decade were Tracts 30.01 and 30.02 on the far south side of Cedar Rapids with Tract 30.01 reaching into a portion of fast-growing Fairfax.

The population in Census Tract 30.01 jumped 76.9 percent from 2000 to 2010, and next door in Tract 30.02, it jumped 72.8 percent.

Only Census Tract 1, which comprises much of the east and north sides of Marion, has grown in a comparable way, by 63.9 percent. Next in growth are Tracts 2.05 and 2.06 — which comprise Robins and sections of far northern Cedar Rapids and a northern piece of Hiawatha and which had been one tract in the 2000 Census — together have grown 40.4 percent.

By comparison, Cedar Rapids’ overall population grew 4.6 percent and Linn County’s, 10.2 percent, between 2000 and 2010.

Sufficiently dramatic has the growth been in the southern and southwestern parts of Cedar Rapids that Joel Miller, Linn County Auditor and commissioner of elections, estimates that Cedar Rapids City Council District 5 in this part of the city has itself seen a population jump of 25 percent just in the last six years since the Cedar Rapids council districts were created.

Kelley @ the Capitol: And the session goes on - Newton Independent

Democrat, Newton

The budget stalemate continues.

Unfortunately, legislative leadership and the governor's office have yet to find common ground on the pressing issues preventing closure of the session. While Senate majority leadership fights for preschool funding and 2 percent allowable growth for schools, the governor demands bi-annual budgeting.

I support efforts to strengthen our schools, and I oppose bi-annual budgeting. A two-year budget would expand the powers of the executive office. This precedent would allow Branstad and future governors to choose the winners and losers of mid-budget adjustments.

In the closing days, it's important to keep our focus on strengthening Iowa's middle class. With nearly $1 billion in surplus and savings, we must balance the budget while providing tax relief to middle-class families and small businesses. There's no need to back up on our commitments to good-paying jobs, quality schools and affordable higher education.

We continue efforts to reform Iowa's property tax system. While there is agreement that commercial property taxes are too high, crafting a solution that won't raise taxes on homeowners and farmers continues to be the biggest obstacle. Currently, there are two plans on the table.

I support a plan that would provide up to $200 million in property tax relief targeted to Main Street, locally-owned businesses. These small businesses make up 83 percent of commercial property taxpayers. Easing their burden would eventually put them in a position to hire more help.

An alternate proposal, supported by the House majority and the governor's office, would cut commercial property taxes by 25 percent over the next five years. However, the plan does not require the state to make up the difference. This means homeowners, who already shoulder 49 percent of the property tax burden, would foot the bill. This is a bad move for Iowa. I want to see families move into the middle class, not be forced out.

In talking with local officials, I've learned the plan would also have a devastating impact on schools, essential services, and local job efforts.

In addition to preparing for the Governor's Education Summit, I've taken advantage of the extra days under the golden dome to further study and follow-up on several issues. This week, I focused on flood recovery and prevention efforts.

As you know, flood waters devastated several communities in Jasper County last summer. Jasper County was declared a Federal Disaster Area, as well as neighboring Marion County. In the "Kelley @ the Capital" published on March 18, I told you about Project Recovery Iowa. This week, I checked in with Cara McCulley, team leader of the program, for an update on flood recovery efforts. According to Cara, some residents are currently experiencing new water damage to their property. Granted, the situation is less dramatic than last summer, still the devastation of damage to homes and loss or irreplaceable items, like family photos, weighs heavy on some of our neighbors.

History of Marion County, Iowa, and its people

The history of Marion County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, & c., biographical sketches of its citizens ... & c

Acts and resolutions passed at the ... session of the General Assembly of the state of Iowa

The American journal of science

Employment, Hours, and Earnings 2008, States and Areas