As of the census of 2010, there were 371 people, 145 households, and 99 families living in the city. The population density was. There were 166 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the city was 96.2% White, 1.1% African American, 0.3% from other races, and 2.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.6% of the population. There were 145 households, of which 34.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.3% were married couplesliving together, 11.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 31.7% were non-families. 22.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 2.90. The median age in the city was 40.3 years. 24.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.3% were from 25 to 44; 29.1% were from 45 to 64; and 13.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.4% male and 52.6% female.
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 413 people, 159 households, and 113 families living in the city. The population density was 1,673.3 people per square mile. There were 177 housing units at an average density of 717.1 per square mile. The racial makeup of the city was 97.82% White, 0.24% African American, 0.73% Asian, 0.24% from other races, and 0.97% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.69% of the population. There were 159 households, out of which 32.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.5% were married couples living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.9% were non-families. 25.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.16. In the city, the population was spread out, with 28.6% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 11.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.4 males. The median income for a household in the city was $187,485, and the median income for a family was $215,983. Males had a median income of $205,423 versus $164,824 for females. The per capita income for the city was $126,857. About 10.5% of families and 13.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.2% of those under age 18 and 16.7% of those age 65 or over.
The Old Creamery Theatre Company is a not-for-profit professional theatre founded in 1971 in Garrison. Ten theatre colleagues formed the company in a vacant building that had once served the community of Garrison as a co-op dairy – hence the name. A brief timeline of the Old Creamery Theatre Company in Garrison:
1971 – The Old Creamery's founding members move to Garrison to start The Old Creamery as a non-profit arts organization. The company's very first show, SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY, is presented at the Garrison Brick and Tile Works, and the first production was offered on tour to citizens of Iowa
1972 – The company's first performing space opens in an abandoned creamery building
1979 – The company opens its first studio theatre at the former Garrison Elementary School building
1988 – At the invitation of The Amana Society, the theatre opens its first season at the welcome center in Amana, IA
1996 – The company celebrates its 25th anniversary. The Garrison performance space closed
Life in Garrison
In 2007, a description of life years ago in Garrison was published. The book is called Little Heathens: Hard Times and High Spirits on an Iowa Farm During the Great Depression. It was written by Mildred Armstrong Kalish who grew up in Garrison and became a Professor of English. The book tells of "a time, a place, and a way of life long gone." Elizabeth Gilbert in the New York Times Book Review wrote of Little Heathens: "Not only trustworthy and useful, but also polished by real, rare happiness. It is a very good book, indeed. In fact, it's averyveryverygoodbook."
