{"id":10731,"date":"2012-05-06T10:31:54","date_gmt":"2012-05-06T15:31:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.howderfamily.com\/blog\/?p=10731"},"modified":"2022-03-06T09:56:22","modified_gmt":"2022-03-06T14:56:22","slug":"natural-forces-gravitation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.howderfamily.com\/blog\/natural-forces-gravitation\/","title":{"rendered":"Natural Forces: Gravitation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Let’s talk about gravity. No, not the physical property whereby objects attract with forces proportional to their masses, but instead the little town in Iowa. I stumbled upon Gravity, Iowa figuratively as I researched the recent Gravity Hills<\/a> article. Gravity doesn’t have a gravity hill as far as I know so it didn’t elicit a mention in that earlier post. Still, I loved the name and I wondered how tiny Gravity got it. Let me spoil the surprise: Nobody knows for sure how the original Gravity — which gave the name to current Gravity — first became Gravity. However it’s a fun ride and I have a couple of theories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Discovering Gravity<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\""If<\/a>
Meanwhile, in Gravity, Iowa…<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I’d love to show a few Google Street View images of Gravity but they don’t exist. The cameras escaped Gravity and its 200-or-so residents on the last pass through southern Iowa. Fortunately I’m able to reproduce their welcome sign, above. I have to love their spirit. “We’re Down to Earth — If Gravity Goes, We All Go<\/em>.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gravity (map<\/a>) claims to be the only town bearing this unusual name. I’m unable to confirm that assertion with 100% authority. However, I did check the official online geographic names databases of the largest English-speaking nations. In support of the claim, I couldn’t find any other populated<\/em> place identified in that manner. There might be another Gravity out there somewhere. Please let me know if you discover one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Early Days of Gravity<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Gravity,<\/a>
Gravity Post Office<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Iowa GenWeb site has an oral history of Gravity<\/a> based upon remembrances of an early resident, Celesta Smith, published originally in 1934. Founders platted Gravity in 1881 and incorporated the town two years later. It fit a typical Midwestern farming community pattern, placed intentionally along a railroad line and prospering within an agrarian-focused world at the turn of the last Century. “The new town was named after the Old Gravity Post Office situated 1 1\/2 miles west. It being an old landmark, having stood there for many years…<\/em>” Thanks Celesta, big help there. Way to leave us hanging on the etymology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Closer Examination<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

I tugged on the string a little harder. I consulted A dictionary of Iowa place-names<\/a> which speculated that the post office “was possibly named because it was the ‘center of gravity’ for the township<\/em>.” Well, Gravity sits within Washington Township of Taylor County, Iowa (see 1910 Map<\/a> and 1910 Detail<\/a>). Let’s take a closer look.<\/p>\n\n\n\n