Misplaced Pages

Tri-Rivers Conference

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.

This is an accepted version of this page

#973026

72-566: The Tri-Rivers Conference is a high school conference in eastern Iowa sponsoring athletic competition, as well as speech and music activities. Formed in 1967, the conference has enjoyed long-term stability while enduring periods of significant change over its 50-plus year history. With the return of Edgewood–Colesburg in 2017 (after a brief 4-year hiatus), all but one of the founding members were still conference members. (Center Point, following its merger with Urbana, simply out-grew its former competitors). *Although Isaac Newton Christian Academy

144-670: A 5-year hiatus in the Upper Mississippi League. Coming with East Buchanan from the Upper Mississippi was Edgewood–Colesburg and Maquoketa Valley (Delhi). Starmont (former independent) joined the Tri-Rivers in 1974–75. Jesup (formerly in the Cedar-Wapsie league) joined the conference in 1987-88. In 1989–90, Center Point began 'whole sharing' with Urbana bringing Urbana into the conference as part of

216-470: A decline in air quality. Other factors negatively affecting Iowa's environment include the extensive use of older coal-fired power plants , fertilizer and pesticide runoff from crop production, and diminishment of the Jordan Aquifer . The 2020–2023 North American drought has affected Iowa particularly: As of January 2024, Iowa was in its 187th consecutive week of at least moderate drought ,

288-816: A game in college, and was a first-round pick of the 1974 NBA draft by the Detroit Pistons . He played four seasons with the Pistons. Eberhard is a member of the Iowa High School Basketball Hall of Fame, as well as the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. Robert Gallery played for the East Buchanan Buccaneers and graduated from East Buchanan High School in Winthrop, Iowa. He played college football at

360-569: Is Des Moines . A portion of the larger Omaha, Nebraska, metropolitan area extends into three counties of southwest Iowa. Other metropolitan statistical areas in Iowa include Iowa City , Cedar Rapids , Waterloo-Cedar Falls , Ames , Dubuque , Sioux City , and the Iowa portion of the Quad Cities . Iowa is home to 940 small towns, though its population is increasingly urbanized as small communities and rural areas decline in population. During

432-461: Is a high school athletic conference made up of 15 high schools in north central and northeast Iowa . Most of the schools compete as 2A schools, (the second-smallest classification). The conference's most recent expansions included: Columbus Catholic (2013), Sumner-Fredericksburg (2014), and Oelwein (2021). With the addition of Oelwein in the 2021 academic year, the conference will split into three divisions: East, Central, and West. The formation of

504-613: Is a line along 43 degrees, 30 minutes north latitude. The southern border is the Des Moines River and a not-quite-straight line along approximately 40 degrees 35 minutes north, as decided by the U.S. Supreme Court in Missouri v. Iowa (1849) after a standoff between Missouri and Iowa known as the Honey War . Iowa is the only state whose east and west borders are formed almost entirely by rivers. Carter Lake, Iowa ,

576-579: Is categorized as the Central forest-grasslands transition ecoregion. The Northern, drier part of Iowa is categorized as part of the Central tall grasslands . There is a dearth of natural areas in Iowa; less than 1% of the tallgrass prairie that once covered most of Iowa remains intact; only about 5% of the state's prairie pothole wetlands remain, and most of the original forest has been lost. As of 2005 Iowa ranked 49th of U.S. states in public land holdings. Threatened or endangered animals in Iowa include

648-589: Is derived from the Iowa River , and ultimately from the ethnonym of the indigenous Ioway people . The Ioway are a Chiwere -speaking Siouan Nation , who were once part of the Ho-Chunk Confederation that inhabited the area now corresponding to several Midwest states. The Ioway were one of the many Native American nations whose territory comprised the future state of Iowa before the time of European colonization. When Indigenous peoples of

720-450: Is not technically a member, they co-op with Cedar Valley Christian for almost all activities. The conference's roots go back to the annual Linn County basketball tournament, first played in 1929–30. High schools competing throughout most of the 1930s, 40s and 50s included Alburnett, Center Point, Central City, Coggon, Ely, Lisbon, Mt.Vernon, Palo, Springville, Toddville, Troy Mills, Viola and Walker. These 13 schools were all located outside

792-594: Is notable for the Iowa Caucuses , an influential event in national politics, as well as its high levels of voter turnout and foundational leadership in civil rights including early adoption or support of black suffrage , women's rights , and same-sex marriage . Iowa's standard of living is ranked among the best states and it performs highly on metrics such as governance, education, infrastructure, and safety. Like many other states , Iowa takes its name from its predecessor, Iowa Territory , whose name in turn

SECTION 10

#1732797736974

864-527: Is part of the Driftless Area , consisting of steep hills and valleys which appear as mountainous. Several natural lakes exist, most notably Spirit Lake , West Okoboji Lake , and East Okoboji Lake in northwest Iowa ( see Iowa Great Lakes ). To the east lies Clear Lake . Man-made lakes include Lake Odessa, Saylorville Lake , Lake Red Rock , Coralville Lake , Lake MacBride, and Rathbun Lake. Before European settlement, 4 to 6 million acres of

936-488: Is the brain drain , in which educated young adults leave the state in search of better prospects in higher education or employment. During the 1990s, Iowa had the second highest exodus rate for single, educated young adults, second only to North Dakota. The United States Census Bureau determined the population of Iowa was 3,190,369 on April 1, 2020, a 4.73% increase since the 2010 United States census . North Iowa Cedar League The North Iowa Cedar League (NICL)

1008-588: Is the only city in the state located west of the Missouri River. Iowa has 99 counties , but 100 county seats because Lee County has two. The state capital, Des Moines , is in Polk County . Iowa's bedrock geology generally decreases in age from east to west. In northwest Iowa, Cretaceous bedrock can be 74 million years old; in eastern Iowa Cambrian bedrock dates to c. 500 million years ago. The oldest radiometrically dated bedrock in

1080-660: The 1900 census , though Iowa now has a predominantly urban population. The Iowa Economic Development Authority, created in 2011 has replaced the Iowa Department of Economic Development and its annual reports are a source of economic information. Iowa is bordered by the Mississippi River on the east along with the Missouri River and the Big Sioux River on the west. The northern boundary

1152-852: The Big East Conference , and expanded the Tri-Rivers to 13 teams. Coming from the disbanded Big East were Bellevue Marquette, Calamus–Wheatland, Clinton Prince of Peace, Easton Valley (Preston), Lisbon and Midland (Wyoming). Also placed in the Tri-Rivers was Cedar Valley Christian (CVC) of Cedar Rapids, which began competing in 2011–12 as an independent, but had been seeking conference affiliation. The resulting Tri-Rivers conference split itself into two divisions: West (the remaining original members plus Lisbon) Alburnett, Central City, East Buchanan, Lisbon, Maquoketa Valley, North Linn and Springville, and East (former Big East members plus CVC) Bellevue Marquette, Calamus–Wheatland, Clinton Prince of Peace, CVC, Easton Valley and Midland. In 2017–18, when

1224-594: The French and Indian War , transferred ownership to their ally, Spain. Spain practiced very loose control over the Iowa region, granting trading licenses to French and British traders, who established trading posts along the Mississippi and Des Moines Rivers . Iowa was part of a territory known as La Louisiane or Louisiana , and European traders were interested in lead and furs obtained by Indigenous people. The Sauk and Meskwaki effectively controlled trade on

1296-845: The Indiana Territory ) that surrendered much of Illinois to the U.S. enraged many Sauk and led to the 1832 Black Hawk War . The Sauk and Meskwaki were forced to sell some of their land in the Mississippi Valley to the U.S. in 1832 in the Black Hawk Purchase Treaty and sold their remaining land in Iowa in 1842, most of them moving to a reservation in Kansas. In 1837, some the Potawatomi from Illinois were resettled in Iowa, while many Meskwaki later returned to Iowa and settled near Tama, Iowa ;

1368-591: The Late Archaic period , Native Americans in Iowa began utilizing domesticated plants. The subsequent Woodland period saw an increased reliance on agriculture and social complexity, with increased use of mounds, ceramics, and specialized subsistence. During the Late Prehistoric period (beginning about AD 900) increased use of maize and social changes led to social flourishing and nucleated settlements. The arrival of European trade goods and diseases in

1440-804: The Meskwaki Settlement remains to this day. In 1856 the Iowa Legislature passed an unprecedented act allowing the Meskwaki to purchase the land. However, in contrast to the unprecedented act of the Iowa Legislature, the United States Federal Government, through the use of Treaties, forced the Ho-Chunk from Iowa in 1848, and forced the Dakota from Iowa by 1858. Western Iowa around modern Council Bluffs

1512-427: The Mississippi River , averages 52 °F (11 °C). Snowfall is common, with Des Moines getting about 26 days of snowfall a year, and other places, such as Shenandoah getting about 11 days of snowfall in a year. Spring ushers in the beginning of the severe weather season. As of 2008, Iowa averaged about 50 days of thunderstorm activity per year. As of 2015, the 30-year annual average of tornadoes in Iowa

SECTION 20

#1732797736974

1584-601: The U.S. Congress established the Territory of Iowa . President Martin Van Buren appointed Robert Lucas governor of the territory, which at the time had 22 counties and a population of 23,242. Almost immediately after achieving territorial status, a clamor arose for statehood. On December 28, 1846, Iowa became the 29th state in the Union when President James K. Polk signed Iowa's admission bill into law. Once admitted to

1656-650: The War of 1812 , and Fort Shelby in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin , also fell to the British. Black Hawk took part in the siege of Fort Madison. Another small military outpost was established along the Mississippi River in present-day Bellevue . This poorly situated stockade was similarly attacked by hundreds of Indigenous people in 1813, but was successfully defended and later abandoned until settlers returned to

1728-596: The interior least tern , piping plover , Indiana bat , pallid sturgeon , the Iowa Pleistocene land snail , Higgins' eye pearly mussel , and the Topeka shiner . Endangered or threatened plants include western prairie fringed orchid , eastern prairie fringed orchid , Mead's milkweed , prairie bush clover , and northern wild monkshood . The explosion in the number of high-density livestock facilities in Iowa has led to increased rural water contamination and

1800-539: The 12 non-metro schools in Linn County voted to not hold the boys and girls county basketball tournaments in 1957–58 and to drop the county music festival as well; both examples of county-based institutions giving way to conference-based ones. In 1959–60, the new Linn-Mar (Marion) high school joined the All-Ac bringing it to 8 schools, and in 1960–61, Winthrop, Aurora and Quasqueton merged to form East Buchanan, bringing

1872-678: The 18th and early 19th centuries, Iowa was a part of French Louisiana and Spanish Louisiana ; its state flag is patterned after the flag of France . After the Louisiana Purchase , pioneers laid the foundation for an agriculture-based economy in the heart of the Corn Belt . In the latter half of the 20th century, Iowa's agricultural economy began to transition to a diversified economy of advanced manufacturing, processing, financial services , information technology , biotechnology , and green energy production. Politically, Iowa

1944-458: The 2006–07 school year, Anamosa and CPU (then 2 of the conference's 3 largest schools) left for the WaMaC where they would be competing against schools closer to their own size. At that point the smaller 10-member Tri-Rivers conference reverted to a single-division format. A 2012 order from the Iowa Department of Education would force a realignment of conferences in eastern Iowa. In anticipation of

2016-673: The 2008 year, West Marshall was added to the conference, making it a 15-team league. In 2011, South Tama joined after leaving the Little Hawkeye Conference and started in the West Division. It became the 16th member of the conference. Northern University High School (Cedar Falls) played its final season in 2011–12, due to the University of Northern Iowa closing Malcolm Price Lab, which houses Northern University High. Waterloo Columbus joined in 2013 to replace

2088-673: The Americas first arrived in what is now Iowa more than 13,000 years ago, they were hunters and gatherers living in a Pleistocene glacial landscape. By the time European explorers and traders visited Iowa, Native Americans were largely settled farmers with complex economic, social, and political systems. This transformation happened gradually. During the Archaic period (10,500 to 2,800 years ago), Native Americans adapted to local environments and ecosystems, slowly becoming more sedentary as populations increased. More than 3,000 years ago, during

2160-803: The Army of the Potomac in Virginia and fought under Union General Philip Sheridan in the Shenandoah Valley . Many died and were buried at Andersonville. They marched on General Nathaniel Banks ' ill-starred expedition to the Red River. Twenty-seven Iowans have been awarded the Medal of Honor , the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government, which was first awarded in

2232-679: The Big Marsh Conference disbanded, with most of its schools joining the NICL, creating a 16 team conference. With the new members, the NICL split into two divisions, east and west. The east division included Aplington–Parkersburg , Denver, Dike–New Hartford , Gladbrook–Reinbeck , Hudson, North Tama, NU High, and Union. The west division included Ackley–Geneva , BCLUW, East Marshall, Eldora–New Providence , GMG , Grundy Center, Hubbard–Radcliffe , and Wellsburg-Steamboat Rock . In 1998, Wapsie Valley High School and Jesup High School joined

Tri-Rivers Conference - Misplaced Pages Continue

2304-548: The Cedar Rapids-Marion urban area and the high schools generally had significantly smaller enrollments than their urban counterparts. In January 1951, 8 schools, Alburnett, Center Point, Central City, Palo, Toddville, Troy Mills, Viola and Walker, joined together to form what was tentatively named the Upper Linn basketball league. Coggon and Springville attended the meeting but decided not to join, while Lisbon

2376-508: The Civil War. Iowa had several brigadier generals and four major generals— Grenville Mellen Dodge , Samuel R. Curtis , Francis J. Herron , and Frederick Steele —and saw many of its generals go on to state and national prominence following the war. Following the Civil War, Iowa's population continued to grow dramatically, from 674,913 people in 1860 to 1,624,615 in 1880. The American Civil War briefly brought higher profits. In 1917,

2448-476: The Depression. The crisis spurred a major, decade-long population decline. After bottoming out in the 1980s, Iowa's economy began to reduce its dependence on agriculture. By the early 21st century, it was characterized by a mix of manufacturing, biotechnology, finance and insurance services, and government services. The population of Iowa has increased at a slower rate than the U.S. as a whole since at least

2520-517: The Indochina War. An exception was required for this resettlement as State Dept policy at the time forbid resettlement of large groups of refugees in concentrated communities; an exception was ultimately granted and 1200 Tai Dam were resettled in Iowa. Since then Iowa has accepted thousands of refugees from Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Bhutan, and Burma. The farm crisis of the 1980s caused a major recession in Iowa, causing poverty not seen since

2592-414: The Linn County league was succeeded by the 7-member All-Ac (All Activities) league. The new league was formed by 5 of the 7 remaining Linn County league schools: Alburnett, Center Point, Central City, Troy Mills and Walker, joined by Coggon and by Winthrop, from Buchanan County. (Palo and Viola took different paths and their high schools would both close by the early 1960s.) In early 1957, superintendents of

2664-590: The Louisiana Purchase into two parts—the Territory of Orleans and the District of Louisiana, with present-day Iowa falling in the latter. The Indiana Territory , created in 1800, exercised jurisdiction over this portion of the District; William Henry Harrison was its first governor. Much of Iowa was mapped by Zebulon Pike in 1805, but it was not until the construction of Fort Madison in 1808 that

2736-470: The Mississippi in the late 18th century and early 19th century. Among the early traders on the Mississippi were Julien Dubuque , Robert de la Salle , and Paul Marin . Along the Missouri River at least five French and English trading houses were built before 1808. In 1800, Napoleon Bonaparte took control of Louisiana from Spain in a treaty . After the 1803 Louisiana Purchase , Congress divided

2808-560: The North Iowa Cedar League dates back to 1936, when the Iowa Cedar Conference (consisting of Belle Plaine, Brooklyn, Eldora, Grundy Center, Montezuma, Reinbeck, Tama, Teachers' High, Traer, & Toledo) split into the North Iowa Cedar League and South Iowa Cedar League. Founding members of the newly formed NICL include Ackley, Eldora, Grundy Center, Reinbeck, Teachers' High (NU High), and Traer. In 1992,

2880-483: The Protohistoric period led to dramatic population shifts and economic and social upheaval, with the arrival of new tribes and early European explorers and traders. There were numerous native American tribes living in Iowa at the time of early European exploration. Tribes which were probably descendants of the prehistoric Oneota include the Dakota , Ho-Chunk , Ioway , and Otoe . Tribes which arrived in Iowa in

2952-711: The Stormin' Pointers. Center Point and Urbana (CPU) officially merged in 1993-94. Jesup left the league after the 1997–98 school year for the North Iowa Cedar League . In 2003–04, the Tri-Rivers expanded to 12 with the addition of Anamosa, Cascade, and Monticello from a struggling Big Bend Conference. At that point the conference was split into two divisions: River (larger schools) Anamosa, Cascade, CPU, Maquoketa Valley, Monticello and Starmont, and Valley (smaller schools) Alburnett, Central City, East Buchanan, Edgewood–Colesburg, North Linn and Springville. After

Tri-Rivers Conference - Misplaced Pages Continue

3024-450: The U.S. established tenuous military control over the region. Fort Madison was built to control trade and establish U.S. dominance over the Upper Mississippi, but it was poorly designed and disliked by the Sauk and Meskwaki, many of whom allied with the British, who had not abandoned claims to the territory. Fort Madison was defeated by British-supported Indigenous people in 1813 during

3096-403: The Union, the state's boundary issues resolved, and most of its land purchased from Natives, Iowa set its direction to development and organized campaigns for settlers and investors, boasting the young frontier state's rich farmlands, fine citizens, free and open society, and good government. Iowa has a long tradition of state and county fairs. The first and second Iowa State Fairs were held in

3168-455: The United States entered World War I and farmers as well as all Iowans experienced a wartime economy. For farmers, the change was significant. Since the beginning of the war in 1914, Iowa farmers had experienced economic prosperity, which lasted until the end of the war. In the economic sector, Iowa also has undergone considerable change. Beginning with the first industries developed in the 1830s, which were mainly for processing materials grown in

3240-604: The University of Iowa and professional football for the Oakland Raiders , Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots . Iowa Iowa ( / ˈ aɪ . ə w ə / EYE -ə-wə ) is a state in the upper Midwestern region of the United States . It borders the Mississippi River to the east and the Missouri River and Big Sioux River to the west; Wisconsin to

3312-523: The area in the mid-1830s. After the war, the U.S. re-established control of the region through the construction of Fort Armstrong , Fort Snelling in Minnesota , and Fort Atkinson in Nebraska . The United States encouraged settlement of the east side of the Mississippi and removal of Indians to the west. A disputed 1804 treaty between Quashquame and William Henry Harrison (then governor of

3384-550: The area, Iowa has experienced a gradual increase in the number of business and manufacturing operations. The transition from an agricultural economy to a mixed economy happened slowly. The Great Depression and World War II accelerated the shift away from smallholder farming to larger farms, and began a trend of urbanization. The period after World War II witnessed a particular increase in manufacturing operations. In 1975, Governor Robert D. Ray petitioned President Ford to allow Iowa to accept and resettle Tai Dam refugees fleeing

3456-648: The armed forces, over one-sixth of whom were killed before the Confederates surrendered at Appomattox . Most fought in the great campaigns in the Mississippi Valley and in the South . Iowa troops fought at Wilson's Creek in Missouri , Pea Ridge in Arkansas , Forts Henry and Donelson, Shiloh, Chattanooga, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, and Rossville Gap as well as Vicksburg, Iuka, and Corinth. They served with

3528-501: The changes Starmont and Edgewood–Colesburg moved to the Upper Iowa Conference beginning with the 2013–14 school year. When the state order was finalized, its changes took effect beginning with the 2013–14 school year and locked schools into the state-dictated conference alignments for 4 years. The order moved Cascade and Monticello from the Tri-Rivers to the newly formed River Valley Conference . The order dissolved

3600-601: The conference bringing membership of the Tri-Rivers conference to 16 teams. The conference has advanced at least three athletes to the pros: Al Eberhard played for the Springville Orioles, and graduated from Springville High School, located in Springville, Iowa . Eberhard attended Missouri University from 1972–74 and played with the Missouri Tigers. A 6'6" power forward, he averaged 16.9 points

3672-627: The conference, bringing the membership up to 18. In 2000, Ackley–Geneva and Wellsburg-Steamboat Rock merged districts to become AGWSR . The next membership change came in 2002 when Green Mountain–Garwin (GMG) departed for the Iowa Star Conference . The next year, North Tama left for the Iowa Star Conference. In 2007, Eldora–New Providence and Hubbard–Radcliffe joined districts to become South Hardin High School. For

SECTION 50

#1732797736974

3744-437: The expense of more rural counties. Iowa, in common with other Midwestern states (especially Kansas , Nebraska , North Dakota , and South Dakota ), is feeling the brunt of rural flight , although Iowa has been gaining population since approximately 1990. Some smaller communities, such as Denison and Storm Lake , have mitigated this population loss through gains in immigrant laborers. Another demographic problem for Iowa

3816-425: The fairgrounds were being used as an army supply depot; and in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States . Iowa supported the Union during the Civil War , voting heavily for Abraham Lincoln , though there was an antiwar " Copperhead " movement in the state, caused partially by a drop in crop prices caused by the war. There were no battles in the state, although the Battle of Athens , Missouri, 1861,

3888-407: The fall of 1964. Center Point joined the Pinicon beginning with the 1965 season, and Springville joined for 1966, bringing the football league membership to 8, 5 of them active members of the All-Ac conference. The fall of 1966 would be the third and final year of the Pinicon as the soon-to-be-formed Tri-Rivers conference would include football and begin play in the fall of 1967. 1966–67 would also be

3960-411: The final year of the All-Ac. Coggon, Troy Mills and Walker remained a part of the league, but were playing their first year of competition as North Linn. And Linn-Mar was competing in both the All-Ac and East Central Iowa (ECI) league for one season in preparation for a complete move to the ECI the following year. The combined effect was a net loss of 3 teams, leading the All-Ac to reconfigure and reemerge

4032-477: The following season as the Tri-Rivers Conference. The Tri-Rivers first season of athletic competition was 1967–68. The new conference included 5 teams from the former All-Ac that represented 8 of the 13 teams that had played basketball together since at least the late 1920s: Alburnett (and Toddville), Central City, Center Point, North Linn (Coggon, Troy Mills and Walker) and Springville. East Buchanan (Winthrop) returned to join its former All-Ac competitors following

4104-437: The late prehistoric or protohistoric periods include the Illiniwek , Meskwaki , Omaha , and Sauk . The first known European explorers to document Iowa were Jacques Marquette and Louis Jolliet who traveled the Mississippi River in 1673 documenting several Indigenous villages on the Iowa side. The area of Iowa was claimed for France and remained a French territory until 1763. The French, before their impending defeat in

4176-430: The later two communities into the league. East Buchanan would leave after the 1961–62 season, but Springville joined in 1962–63 keeping league membership at 8. During the 1960s, as high school football's popularity rapidly grew, Central City, Coggon and Linn-Mar (All-Ac members with early football programs), joined with Lincoln (Stanwood), Midland (Wyoming) and Olin to form the Pinicon football conference, beginning play in

4248-403: The longest stretch since the 1950s. 96% of areas are affected by drought. Iowa has a humid continental climate throughout the state ( Köppen climate classification Dfa ) with extremes of both heat and cold. The average annual temperature at Des Moines is 50 °F (10 °C); for some locations in the north, such as Mason City, the figure is about 45 °F (7 °C), while Keokuk , on

4320-481: The more developed eastern part of the state at Fairfield . The first fair was held October 25–27, 1854, at a cost of around $ 323. Thereafter, the fair moved to locations closer to the center of the state and in 1886 found a permanent home in Des Moines. The State Fair has been held annually since then, except for a few exceptions: 1898 due to the Spanish–American War and the World's Fair being held in nearby Omaha, Nebraska ; from 1942 to 1945, due to World War II , as

4392-405: The northeast, Illinois to the east and southeast, Missouri to the south, Nebraska to the west, South Dakota to the northwest, and Minnesota to the north. Iowa is the 26th largest in total area and the 31st most populous of the 50 U.S. states , with a population of 3.19 million. The state's capital , most populous city , and largest metropolitan area fully located within the state

SECTION 60

#1732797736974

4464-402: The northwest of the state receiving less than 28 inches (71 cm). The pattern of precipitation across Iowa is seasonal with more rain falling in the summer months. Virtually statewide, the driest month is January or February, and the wettest month is June owing to frequent showers and thunderstorms some of which produce hail, damaging winds or tornadoes. In Des Moines, roughly in the center of

4536-467: The recently defunct NU High. With the departure of South Tama, Sumner-Fredericksburg joined in 2014 which brought the total number of schools to 16 once again. In 2020, West Marshall left the conference for the Heart of Iowa Conference. Oelwein joined soon after to replace West Marshall and a new three-division structure ensued. Starting in the 2021–22 school year, the east division will comprise Jesup, Oelwein, Sumner-Fredericksburg, Union, and Wapsie Valley,

4608-405: The state is the 2.9 billion year old Otter Creek Layered Mafic Complex. Precambrian rock is exposed only in the northwest of the state. Iowa can be divided into eight landforms based on glaciation , soils , topography , and river drainage. Loess hills lie along the western border of the state, some of which are several hundred feet thick. Northeast Iowa along the Upper Mississippi River

4680-532: The state was covered with wetlands, about 95% of these wetlands have been drained. Iowa's natural vegetation is tallgrass prairie and savanna in upland areas, with dense forest and wetlands in flood plains and protected river valleys, and pothole wetlands in northern prairie areas. Most of Iowa is used for agriculture; crops cover 60% of the state, grasslands (mostly pasture and hay with some prairie and wetland) cover 30%, and forests cover 7%; urban areas and water cover another 1% each. The southern part of Iowa

4752-583: The state, over two-thirds of the 34.72 inches (88.2 cm) of rain falls from April through September, and about half the average annual precipitation falls from May through August peaking in June. Iowa's population is more urban than rural, with 61 percent living in urban areas in 2000, a trend that began in the early 20th century. Urban counties in Iowa grew 8.5% from 2000 to 2008, while rural counties declined by 4.2%. The shift from rural to urban has caused population increases in more urbanized counties such as Dallas , Johnson , Linn , Polk , and Scott , at

4824-478: The state-imposed alignments expired, Edgewood–Colesburg rejoined the conference as a member of the West division and Lisbon moved to the East division. In 2018–19, Starmont rejoined as a member of the West division. This would be short lived, and the following year Starmont would re-affiliate with the Upper Iowa Conference . The loss would eliminate divisions in the conference. The 2022-2023 academic year will see current River Valley Conference member North Cedar join

4896-558: Was 47. In 2008 , twelve people were killed by tornadoes in Iowa, making it the deadliest year since 1968 and also the second most tornadoes in a year with 105, matching the total from 2001. Iowa summers are known for heat and humidity, with daytime temperatures sometimes near 90 °F (32 °C) and occasionally exceeding 100 °F (38 °C). Average winters in the state have been known to drop well below freezing, even dropping below −18 °F (−28 °C). As of 2018, Iowa's all-time hottest temperature of 118 °F (48 °C)

4968-434: Was already affiliated with the Wapsi-Eight league, Mt. Vernon was affiliated with the Eastern Iowa league, and Ely was no longer a high school. Ultimately renamed simply the Linn County league, the new league would begin play in 1951–52. Toddville merged with Alburnett beginning with the 1953–54 season, reducing the Linn County league to 7 schools. The league would play its 4th and final season in 1954–55. Beginning in 1955–56,

5040-531: Was fought just across the Des Moines River from Croton, Iowa , and shots from the battle landed in Iowa. Iowa sent large supplies of food to the armies and the eastern cities. Much of Iowa's support for the Union can be attributed to Samuel J. Kirkwood , its first wartime governor. Of a total population of 675,000, about 116,000 men were subjected to military duty. Iowa contributed proportionately more soldiers to Civil War military service than did any other state, north or south, sending more than 75,000 volunteers to

5112-409: Was recorded at Keokuk on July 20, 1934, during a nationwide heat wave; as of 2014, the all-time lowest temperature of −47 °F (−44 °C) was recorded in Washta on January 12, 1912. Iowa has had a relatively smooth gradient of varying precipitation across the state; from 1961 to 1990, areas in the southeast of the state received an average of over 38 inches (97 cm) of rain annually, and

5184-573: Was used as an Indian Reservation for members of the Council of Three Fires . The first American settlers officially moved to Iowa in June 1833. Primarily, they were families from Ohio , Pennsylvania , New York , Indiana , Kentucky , and Virginia who settled along the western banks of the Mississippi River , founding the modern day cities of Dubuque and Bellevue near the site of Julien Dubuque's 1785–1810 lead mining operation. On July 4, 1838,

#973026