Lyon County, Iowa

County in Iowa, United States

County in Iowa

Lyon County

County

Lyon County Courthouse

Seal

Location within the U.S. state of Iowa

Iowa's location within the U.S.

Coordinates: 43°23′00″N 96°13′00″W﻿ / ﻿43.383333333333°N 96.216666666667°W﻿ / 43.383333333333; -96.216666666667
Country|  United States
State|  Iowa
Founded| January 15, 1851
Named after| Nathaniel Lyon
Seat| Rock Rapids
Largest city| Rock Rapids
Area

• Total

| 588 sq mi (1,520 km2)
• Land| 588 sq mi (1,520 km2)
• Water| 0.1 sq mi (0.3 km2)  0.02%
Population

(2020)

• Total

| 11,934
• Density| 20/sq mi (7.8/km2)
Time zone| UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district| 4th
Website| lyoncounty.iowa.gov

Lyon County is the most northwestern county of the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 11,934.[1] The county seat is Rock Rapids.[2]

Lyon County is named in honor of Brigadier General Nathaniel Lyon, who served in the Mexican–American War and the Civil War.[3] He was killed at the Battle of Wilson's Creek, Missouri, on August 10, 1861, after which the county was named for him. The county's name was originally Buncombe County, but was changed by the state legislature on September 11, 1862.

## History

[edit]

The land that makes up Lyon County was ceded to the federal government by the Sioux Native Tribe through a treaty signed on July 23, 1851. The boundaries of the county were set on January 15, 1851, and attached to Woodbury County (then called Wahkaw County) for administration purposes. Lyon County was split from Woodbury County on January 1, 1872.

The first non-indigenous resident to live in Lyon County was Daniel McLaren, known as "Uncle Dan". He lived near the Sioux River for a short time, spending his time hunting and trapping. He moved out of the county early in its settlement to stake a claim further west. The second settler in the area was known as "Old Tom", a hunter and trapper who lived briefly near present-day Rock Rapids. While setting his traps, Old Tom was killed by Sioux tribespeople.

In 1862–1863, a group of men from the east coast spent time in the county on a hunting trip. They were: Roy McGregor, George Clark and Thomas Lockhart. During the winter, Lockhart and McGregor were hunting elk along the Little Rock creek and encountered a group of Sioux tribespeople. Lockhart was killed by an arrow, but McGregor was able to escape and rejoin Clark. The two continued to hunt and trap until March 1863. During a spring flood, Clark was drowned and McGregor decided to move back east.

The first permanent settlement in Lyon County was built by Lewis P. Hyde in July 1866. The county's population reached 100 persons in 1869, entirely through migration and settlement. The first non-indigenous child born in the county was Odena Lee, born on May 28, 1871. The first election in the county was held on October 10, 1871, and recorded 97 votes.

## Geography

[edit]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 588 square miles (1,520 km2), of which 588 square miles (1,520 km2) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2) (0.02%) is water.[4]

Lyon County is the location of Gitchie Manitou State Preserve, which contains some of the oldest exposed bedrock in the country.

Lake Pahoja is located in the northwest part of the county. It is a man-made lake with an area of just over 28 hectares (69 acres).[5]

### Major highways

[edit]

* U.S. Highway 18
* U.S. Highway 75
* Iowa Highway 9
* Iowa Highway 182

### Adjacent counties

[edit]

* Rock County, Minnesota (north)
* Nobles County, Minnesota (northeast)
* Osceola County (east)
* Sioux County (south)
* Lincoln County, South Dakota (west)
* Minnehaha County, South Dakota (northwest)

## Demographics

[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1870| 221| | —
1880| 1,968| | 790.5%
1890| 8,680| | 341.1%
1900| 13,165| | 51.7%
1910| 14,624| | 11.1%
1920| 15,431| | 5.5%
1930| 15,293| | −0.9%
1940| 15,374| | 0.5%
1950| 14,697| | −4.4%
1960| 14,468| | −1.6%
1970| 13,340| | −7.8%
1980| 12,896| | −3.3%
1990| 11,952| | −7.3%
2000| 11,763| | −1.6%
2010| 11,581| | −1.5%
2020| 11,934| | 3.0%
2023 (est.)| 12,324| [6]| 3.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010-2018[11]
Population of Lyon County from US census data

### 2020 census

[edit]

2022 US Census population pyramid for Lyon County from ACS 5-year estimates

The 2020 census recorded a population of 11,934 in the county, with a population density of 20.3348/sq mi (7.8513/km2). 97.19% of the population reported being of one race. 91.03% were non-Hispanic White, 0.34% were Black, 3.41% were Hispanic, 0.27% were Native American, 0.20% were Asian, 0.39% were Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander and 4.37% were some other race or more than one race. There were 4,817 housing units, of which 4,466 were occupied.[1]

### 2010 census

[edit]

The 2010 census recorded a population of 11,581 in the county, with a population density of 19.7123/sq mi (7.6110/km2). There were 4,848 housing units, of which 4,442 were occupied.[12]

### 2000 census

[edit]

As of the census[13] of 2000, there were 11,763 people, 4,428 households, and 3,263 families residing in the county. The population density was 20 people per square mile (7.7 people/km2). There were 4,758 housing units at an average density of 8 units per square mile (3.1 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 99.13% White, 0.09% Black or African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.10% from other races, and 0.37% from two or more races. 0.36% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,428 households, out of which 34.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.10% were married couples living together, 4.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.30% were non-families. 24.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.13.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 28.00% under the age of 18, 7.60% from 18 to 24, 24.60% from 25 to 44, 20.90% from 45 to 64, and 18.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 98.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,878, and the median income for a family was $45,144. Males had a median income of $29,462 versus $19,385 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,081. About 4.90% of families and 7.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.90% of those under age 18 and 10.30% of those age 65 or over.

## Communities

[edit]

### Cities

[edit]

* Alvord
* Doon
* George
* Inwood
* Larchwood
* Lester
* Little Rock
* Rock Rapids

### Unincorporated communities

[edit]

* Beloit
* Edna
* Granite
* Klondike

### Townships

[edit]

* Allison
* Centennial
* Cleveland
* Dale
* Doon
* Elgin
* Garfield
* Grant
* Larchwood
* Liberal
* Logan
* Lyon
* Midland
* Richland
* Riverside
* Rock
* Sioux
* Wheeler

### Population ranking

[edit]

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Lyon County.[1]

† county seat

Rank  | City/Town/etc.  | Municipal type  | Population (2020 Census)

|
|
|

1  | † Rock Rapids | City  | 2,611
2  | George | City  | 1,077
3  | Inwood | City  | 928
4  | Larchwood | City  | 926
5  | Doon | City  | 619
6  | Little Rock | City  | 439
7  | Lester | City  | 296
8  | Alvord | City  | 206

## Politics

[edit]

Lyon County is among the most GOP-friendly counties in Iowa. Only two Democrats have ever won the county: Grover Cleveland by a twenty-vote plurality in 1892, and Franklin D. Roosevelt in his 1932 and 1936 landslides. Though Roosevelt carried the county by a very comfortable margin in both elections, the county went back to its solid Republican roots in 1940 and has not been won by a Democrat since, with Michael Dukakis being the last Democrat to even reach 30%. The only other times someone besides a Republican won this county were in 1912 when Theodore Roosevelt carried it in the split election, and in 1924 when Robert M. La Follette carried it by a narrow plurality. Even so, both of these candidates were affiliated with the Republican Party outside of these elections.

United States presidential election results for Lyon County, Iowa[14] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies)

|
|
|

No.  | % | No.  | % | No.  | %
2024 | 5,899  | 84.25% | 1,023  | 14.61%  | 80  | 1.14%
2020 | 5,707  | 83.16% | 1,067  | 15.55%  | 89  | 1.30%
2016 | 5,192  | 81.42% | 920  | 14.43%  | 265  | 4.16%
2012 | 4,978  | 76.48% | 1,423  | 21.86%  | 108  | 1.66%
2008 | 4,471  | 71.88% | 1,675  | 26.93%  | 74  | 1.19%
2004 | 4,751  | 77.87% | 1,303  | 21.36%  | 47  | 0.77%
2000 | 3,918  | 73.34% | 1,313  | 24.58%  | 111  | 2.08%
1996 | 3,396  | 63.45% | 1,489  | 27.82%  | 467  | 8.73%
1992 | 3,272  | 57.14% | 1,331  | 23.24%  | 1,123  | 19.61%
1988 | 3,517  | 66.81% | 1,706  | 32.41%  | 41  | 0.78%
1984 | 4,178  | 74.05% | 1,401  | 24.83%  | 63  | 1.12%
1980 | 4,349  | 70.05% | 1,431  | 23.05%  | 428  | 6.89%
1976 | 3,558  | 64.06% | 1,870  | 33.67%  | 126  | 2.27%
1972 | 3,788  | 72.12% | 1,407  | 26.79%  | 57  | 1.09%
1968 | 4,195  | 72.91% | 1,403  | 24.38%  | 156  | 2.71%
1964 | 3,185  | 53.66% | 2,747  | 46.28%  | 3  | 0.05%
1960 | 4,917  | 73.65% | 1,752  | 26.24%  | 7  | 0.10%
1956 | 4,356  | 70.83% | 1,790  | 29.11%  | 4  | 0.07%
1952 | 4,893  | 78.59% | 1,324  | 21.27%  | 9  | 0.14%
1948 | 2,500  | 52.74% | 2,174  | 45.86%  | 66  | 1.39%
1944 | 3,065  | 60.79% | 1,970  | 39.07%  | 7  | 0.14%
1940 | 3,880  | 59.33% | 2,648  | 40.49%  | 12  | 0.18%
1936 | 2,264  | 38.09%  | 3,590  | 60.40% | 90  | 1.51%
1932 | 1,684  | 31.79%  | 3,543  | 66.89% | 70  | 1.32%
1928 | 3,170  | 65.52% | 1,632  | 33.73%  | 36  | 0.74%
1924 | 2,082  | 43.99%  | 481  | 10.16%  | 2,170  | 45.85%
1920 | 3,633  | 81.48% | 729  | 16.35%  | 97  | 2.18%
1916 | 1,760  | 59.78% | 1,137  | 38.62%  | 47  | 1.60%
1912 | 412  | 14.84%  | 896  | 32.27%  | 1,469  | 52.90%
1908 | 1,650  | 58.93% | 1,064  | 38.00%  | 86  | 3.07%
1904 | 1,802  | 65.05% | 841  | 30.36%  | 127  | 4.58%
1900 | 1,666  | 55.00% | 1,289  | 42.56%  | 74  | 2.44%
1896 | 1,568  | 51.33% | 1,464  | 47.92%  | 23  | 0.75%

## See also

[edit]

* Iowa portal

* National Register of Historic Places listings in Lyon County, Iowa
* Blood Run Site

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c "2020 Census State Redistricting Data". census.gov. United states Census Bureau. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. ^ Chicago and North Western Railway Company (1908). A History of the Origin of the Place Names Connected with the Chicago & North Western and Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railways. p. 162.
4. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
5. ^ "Lyon County Iowa Official Website". www.lyoncountyiowa.com. Archived from the original on December 28, 2017. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
6. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
7. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 18, 2014.
8. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 18, 2014.
9. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 18, 2014.
10. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved July 18, 2014.
11. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved July 18, 2014.
12. ^ "Population & Housing Occupancy Status 2010" (PDF). United States Census Bureau – American FactFinder. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 16, 2020. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
13. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
14. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 27, 2018.

## Further reading

[edit]

* Smith, Paul C.; Colby, Lucy Jo (1975). Buncombe to "Twenty-Two". Lyon County Reporter.
* Andreas, Alfred Theodore (1875). Illustrated historical atlas of the state of Iowa. Chicago: Andreas Atlas Company.
* Ogle, G.A. (1905). Compendium of History, Reminiscence and Biography of Lyon County, Iowa.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lyon County, Iowa.

* Collected articles dealing with early Lyon County history
* Iowa State Association of Counties page about Lyon County[permanent dead link]
* Informational page about Lake Pahoja

Places adjacent to Lyon County, Iowa

| Minnehaha County, South Dakota | Rock County, Minnesota | Nobles County, Minnesota

|
|

|  |
Lincoln County, South Dakota |

Lyon County, Iowa

| Osceola County
|  |
| Sioux County |

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Lyon County, Iowa, United States

County seat: Rock Rapids

Cities|

* Alvord
* Doon
* George
* Inwood
* Larchwood
* Lester
* Little Rock
* Rock Rapids

Map of Iowa highlighting Lyon County

Unincorporated
communities|

* Beloit
* Edna
* Granite

Ghost town|

* Lakewood

* Iowa portal
* United States portal

* v
* t
* e

State of Iowa

Des Moines (capital)

Topics|

* Archaeology
* Area codes
* Attorney General
* Auditor of State
* Capitol
* Climate change
* Code
* Congressional districts
* Crime
* Delegations
* Representatives
* Senators
* Elections
* Caucuses
* Environment
* Flag
* Gambling
* Governor
* Gun laws
* History
* Historic Places
* Index
* Legislature
* House
* Senate
* LGBT rights
* Museums
* People
* Native Americans
* Political parties
* Democratic
* Libertarian
* Republican
* Seal
* Secretary of Agriculture
* Secretary of State
* State Parks
* Supreme Court
* Symbols
* Treasurer of State

Regions|

* Coteau des Prairies
* Des Moines metropolitan area
* Dissected Till Plains
* Driftless Area
* Great River Road
* Honey Lands
* Iowa Great Lakes
* Loess Hills
* Omaha–Council Bluffs metropolitan area
* Quad Cities
* Siouxland

Largest cities|

* Ames
* Ankeny
* Bettendorf
* Burlington
* Cedar Falls
* Cedar Rapids
* Clinton
* Council Bluffs
* Davenport
* Des Moines
* Dubuque
* Fort Dodge
* Iowa City
* Marion
* Marshalltown
* Mason City
* Muscatine
* Ottumwa
* Sioux City
* Urbandale
* Waterloo
* West Des Moines

Counties|

* Adair
* Adams
* Allamakee
* Appanoose
* Audubon
* Benton
* Black Hawk
* Boone
* Bremer
* Buchanan
* Buena Vista
* Butler
* Calhoun
* Carroll
* Cass
* Cedar
* Cerro Gordo
* Cherokee
* Chickasaw
* Clarke
* Clay
* Clayton
* Clinton
* Crawford
* Dallas
* Davis
* Decatur
* Delaware
* Des Moines
* Dickinson
* Dubuque
* Emmet
* Fayette
* Floyd
* Franklin
* Fremont
* Greene
* Grundy
* Guthrie
* Hamilton
* Hancock
* Hardin
* Harrison
* Henry
* Howard
* Humboldt
* Ida
* Iowa
* Jackson
* Jasper
* Jefferson
* Johnson
* Jones
* Keokuk
* Kossuth
* Lee
* Linn
* Louisa
* Lucas
* Lyon
* Madison
* Mahaska
* Marion
* Marshall
* Mills
* Mitchell
* Monona
* Monroe
* Montgomery
* Muscatine
* O'Brien
* Osceola
* Page
* Palo Alto
* Plymouth
* Pocahontas
* Polk
* Pottawattamie
* Poweshiek
* Ringgold
* Sac
* Scott
* Shelby
* Sioux
* Story
* Tama
* Taylor
* Union
* Van Buren
* Wapello
* Warren
* Washington
* Wayne
* Webster
* Winnebago
* Winneshiek
* Woodbury
* Worth
* Wright

Iowa portal

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF

National|

* United States
* Israel

Other|

* NARA
* Yale LUX

43°23′N 96°13′W﻿ / ﻿43.383°N 96.217°W﻿ / 43.383; -96.217
*[Pop.]: Population
*[%±]: Percent change
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template