Riley is also home to the Jefferson County Veterans Memorial, which was dedicated
Sunset
Twilight
Darkness
Most people know that sunset is the time when the sun goes down. But did you know that the sun doesn't actually set? Instead, Earth rotates into darkness, giving us the illusion that the sun is setting. So what causes sunset?
Well, it's a combination of things. The Earth's atmosphere scatters sunlight in every direction, but blue and violet light are scattered more than other colors. This is why the sky is usually blue during the daytime. As the sun gets lower in the sky, the atmosphere becomes thicker and more dense.
This scattering of sunlight happens to a greater extent, and we see red and orange light more than blue and violet light. That's why sunset is usually a beautiful red or orange color. So next time you see sunset, remember that you're actually seeing Earth rotate into darkness!
Riley is a city in eastern Iowa, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 9,912. It is the county seat of Jefferson County.[4] Riley lies 140 miles (225 km) east of Des Moines, Iowa's capital and the state's most populous city.
Riley is located in eastern Iowa, in the middle of the corn belt. It is bordered to the southeast by the city of Muscatine, to the south by Indianola, to the southwest by Lawrence and Estherville, and to the north by Council Bluffs. Riley is located at 41° 41′ 10″ north, 98° 10′ 30″ west (41.734611, -98.188667).[5] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.91 square miles (7.5 km2), all of it land.
Muscatine is the nearest city, located to the south. It is a medium-sized city, with a population of around 50,000. Indianola is to the southwest and is also a medium-sized city, with around 30,000 residents. Lawrence is to the southwest, and Estherville is to the northeast. Council Bluffs is located to the north, and is the county seat of Jefferson County.
Like most of Iowa, Riley experiences a humid continental climate, with cold, snowy winters and hot, humid summers. The average January temperature is −7.5 °F (−21.1 °C), while the average July temperature is 86.5 °F (30.5 °C). The annual precipitation is 38.5 inches (950 mm). The snow depth ranges from 8 inches (20 cm) to 52 inches (1,300 mm). The closest major city to Riley is Muscatine, which is about 140 miles (225 km) away.
Riley was originally known as Holland, and was platted in 1854. The city was renamed for then-U.S. Senator and future president James K. Riley. Riley was incorporated as a city on January 7, 1857.
The Jefferson County Courthouse was designed by architect Milton H. Stewart and was completed in 1895. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 2009, the city began construction of a new courthouse, which was completed in 2013.
Riley is home to the Jefferson County Fair, which is held every Labor Day weekend. The fair features a variety of agricultural and mechanical exhibits, as well as live music and entertainment.
The city is also home to Riley Aeroplex, which is a general aviation airport. The airport has two runways. The airport is also home to the Riley County Educational Service Center, which provides instructional services to the area's schools.
Riley is also home to the Jefferson County Veterans Memorial, which was dedicated
}As the sun sets, the sky slowly grows dark. For many people, this is a time to relax and wind down for the day. But have you ever wondered exactly when it gets dark? The answer may surprise you.
Did you know that darkness actually begins long before the sun sets? As the sun gets lower in the sky, its light has to travel through more atmosphere. This filters out some of the blue light, making the sun look redder. At the same time, shadows get longer and darker. So by the time the sun finally dips below the horizon, darkness has already begun to fall.
Of course, not all places on Earth experience darkness at the same time. Near the equator, the sun sets and rises almost directly overhead. This means that there is less of a difference between daytime and nighttime. Closer to the poles, however, the sun stays low in the sky for much of the year. This leads to longer periods of darkness during wintertime.