Government
Veterans Memorial Building, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Also called City Hall, damaged in flood of 2008 on
Mays Island with the County Courthouse in the rear of the majestic City Hall.
Cedar Rapids, Iowa City Hall before Cedar River flood of 2008, image taken 2009 by D L Hansen
From April 6, 1908, to December 31, 2005, Cedar Rapids used the city commission form of government. It was one of the few larger American cities remaining to operate under this model. Under this form of government, the council was made up of a public safety commissioner, a streets commissioner, a finance commissioner, a parks commissioner, and a mayor. The council members worked on a full-time basis, served two year terms, and were considered department heads. The last mayor of Cedar Rapids under this form of government was Paul Pate. In 2005 the Cedar Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce spearheaded a movement to change from the commission form of government. A panel was appointed by Mayor Pate and the City Council to study the issue. On June 14, 2005, voters went to the polls and voted to change the government. Elections were held on November 8, 2005 and Kay Halloran, a retired attorney and state legislator, became the first mayor elected under the new system. Several members of the city council were elected outright a runoff election took place in December. Cedar Rapids now has an Iowa "Home Rule" charter which establishes a weak mayor system with a part-time City Council and Mayor both on four year terms. The eight-member Council is divided into five districts. One council member is elected from each district and the remaining three members are elected on an at-large basis. The Council and Mayor hired Jim Prosser as City Manager in the summer of 2006. Department directors report to the City Manager, who has authority over employment, except in the case of the Police and Fire Chiefs, which require Council approval. The first meeting of the Council was held on January 3, 2006.
Mayors of Cedar Rapids since 1969
Mayor and Period
Don Canney 1969-1992
Larry Serbousek 1992-1995
Lee Clancey 1995-2002
Paul Pate 2002-2006
Kay Halloran 2006-present
Under Iowa law, municipal elections are non-partisan.
Cedar Rapids metropolitan area.
Benton County, Linn County, and Jones County.Cedar Rapids is divided into fourteen ZIP Codes. Mays Island and the downtown area are covered by 52401. The northeast quadrant is covered by 52402 and 52411. The southeast quadrant is covered by 52403. The southwest quadrant is covered by 52404. The northwest quadrant is covered by 52405. Post office boxes are covered by ZIP codes 52406, 52407, 52408, 52409, and 52410. Several other ZIP codes are for specific business (Aegon USA, Rockwell Collins, etc.). The Cedar Rapids Metropolitan Statistical Area consists of Linn, Benton, and Jones counties. The MSA had a 2000 census population of 237,230, with an estimated 2007 population of 252,784. (Linn County was the only county in the MSA before MSA definitions were redefined after the 2000 census.) As a growing job center, Cedar Rapids pulls commuters from nearby Marion and Hiawatha which have become suburbs though they are old incorporated towns. Other towns that have become bedroom communities include Ely, Swisher, Shueyville, Palo, Fairfax, Walford, Robins and Bertram.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 64.4 square miles (166.8 km²), of which, 63.1 square miles (163.5 km²) of it is land and 1.3 square miles (3.3 km²) of it (1.99%) is water.
As of the census of 2000, there were 120,758 people, 49,820 households, and 30,838 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,912.6 people per square mile (738.4/km²). There were 52,240 housing units at an average density of 827/sq mi (319/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 91.86% White, 3.71% African American, 0.25% Native American, 1.77% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.55% from other races, and 1.79% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.71% of the population.
There were 49,820 households out of which 29.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.4% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.1% were non-families. 30.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.5% under the age of 18, 10.8% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 95.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $43,704, and the median income for a family was $54,286. Males had a median income of $37,217 versus $26,251 for females. The per capita income for the city was $22,589. About 4.9% of families and 7.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.8% of those under age 18 and 6.9% of those age 65 or over.
Cedar Rapids Departments:
Animal Control (319) 286-5993
Assessor (319) 286-5888
Code Enforcement Division - Building/Zoning (319) 286-5831
Code Enforcement Division - Housing Inspections (319) 286-5197
City Clerk (319) 286-5060
City Council (319) 286-5051
City Manager (319) 286-5080
Civil Rights (319) 286-5036
Community Development (319) 286-5041
Eastern Iowa Airport (319) 362-3131
Engineering (Division of Public Works) (319) 286-5802
Fire (319) 286-5200
Finance (319) 286-5006
Fleet & Facilities Maintenance (319) 286-5829
Forestry Maintenance (Division of Public Works) (319) 286-5747
Golf (319) 286-5588
Housing Services - Section 8, Leased Housing, Rehab (319) 286-5872
Human Resources (319) 286-5000
Information Technology (319) 286-5500
Joint Communication (319) 286-5383
Library (319) 398-5123
Neighborhood Liaison (319) 286-5077
Parking (319) 286-5549
Parks (319) 286-5760
Police (319) 286-5378
Purchasing (319) 286-5021
Public Works (319) 286-5802
Recreation (319) 286-5731
Riverfront Services (319) 286-5559
Sewer Maintenance (Division of Public Works) (319) 286-5802
Solid Waste & Recycling (319) 286-5897
Street Maintenance (Division of Public Works) (319) 286-5826
Traffic Engineering (Division of Public Works) (319) 286-5176
Transit (319) 286-5573
Treasurer’s Office (319) 286-5003
Ushers Ferry (319) 286-5763
Veterans Memorial (319) 286-5038
Water (319) 286-5900
Water Pollution Control (319) 286-5286
Information gathered from Wikipedia website and Cedar Rapids, city website.