Lee County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. It was established in 1836 and named for a family prominent in the New York Land Company, owners of extensive interests in the Half-Breed Tract in the 1830s.[2] The population was 35,862 in the 2010 census, a decline from 38,052 in the 2000 census.[1][3] Unlike most counties nationwide (including all other counties in Iowa), Lee has two county seats — Fort Madison and Keokuk.[4] The latter was established in 1847 when disagreements led to a second court jurisdiction.[5]
| Lee County, Iowa | |
 Courthouse located in Fort Madison
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 Location in the state of Iowa |
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 Iowa's location in the U.S. |
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| Founded | 1836 |
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| Seat | Fort Madison and Keokuk |
| Area - Total - Land - Water |
538.77 sq mi (1,395 km²) 517.39 sq mi (1,340 km²) 21.37 sq mi (55 km²), 3.97% |
| Population - (2010) - Density |
35,862 69/sq mi (27/km²) |
| Time zone | Central: UTC-6/-5 |
| Website | www.leecounty.org |
| Footnotes: Population [1] | |
Lee County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. It was established in 1836 and named for a family prominent in the New York Land Company, owners of extensive interests in the Half-Breed Tract in the 1830s.[2] The population was 35,862 in the 2010 census, a decline from 38,052 in the 2000 census.[1][3] Unlike most counties nationwide (including all other counties in Iowa), Lee has two county seats — Fort Madison and Keokuk.[4] The latter was established in 1847 when disagreements led to a second court jurisdiction.[5]
Lee County is part of the Fort Madison–Keokuk, IA-MO Micropolitan Statistical Area.
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Geography[edit]
According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 538.77 square miles (1,395.4 km2), of which 517.39 square miles (1,340.0 km2) (or 96.03%) is land and 21.37 square miles (55.3 km2) (or 3.97%) is water.[6] The lowest point in the state of Iowa is located on the Mississippi River in Keokuk in Lee County, where it flows out of Iowa and into Missouri and Illinois.
Major highways[edit]
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Adjacent counties[edit]
- Henry County (north)
- Des Moines County (northeast)
- Henderson County, Illinois (east)
- Hancock County, Illinois (southeast)
- Clark County, Missouri (southwest)
- Van Buren County (west)
Demographics[edit]
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1850 | 18,861 |
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| 1860 | 29,565 | 56.8% | |
| 1870 | 37,210 | 25.9% | |
| 1880 | 34,859 | −6.3% | |
| 1890 | 37,715 | 8.2% | |
| 1900 | 39,719 | 5.3% | |
| 1910 | 36,702 | −7.6% | |
| 1920 | 39,676 | 8.1% | |
| 1930 | 41,268 | 4.0% | |
| 1940 | 41,074 | −0.5% | |
| 1950 | 43,102 | 4.9% | |
| 1960 | 44,207 | 2.6% | |
| 1970 | 42,996 | −2.7% | |
| 1980 | 43,106 | 0.3% | |
| 1990 | 38,687 | −10.3% | |
| 2000 | 38,052 | −1.6% | |
| 2010 | 35,862 | −5.8% | |
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2010 census[edit]
The 2010 census recorded a population of 35,862 in the county, with a population density of 69.3133/sq mi (26.7620/km2). There were 16,205 housing units, of which 14,610 were occupied.[1]
2000 census[edit]
As of the census[7] of 2000, there were 38,052 people, 15,161 households, and 10,248 families residing in the county. The population density was 74 people per square mile (28/km²). There were 16,612 housing units at an average density of 32 per square mile (12/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 94.24% White, 2.80% Black or African American, 0.26% Native American, 0.39% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 1.03% from other races, and 1.21% from two or more races. 2.37% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 15,161 households out of which 30.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.70% were married couples living together, 10.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.40% were non-families. 28.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the county the population was spread out with 24.40% under the age of 18, 7.80% from 18 to 24, 26.70% from 25 to 44, 24.60% from 45 to 64, and 16.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 97.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.40 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $36,193, and the median income for a family was $42,658. Males had a median income of $32,286 versus $21,821 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,430. About 7.10% of families and 9.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.60% of those under age 18 and 9.60% of those age 65 or over.
History[edit]
Fort Madison dates to the war of 1812. Lee County was the location of the "Half-Breed Tract", established by treaty in 1824. Allocations of land were made to American Indian descendants of European fathers and Indian mothers at this tract. Originally the land was to be held in common. Some who had an allocation lived in cities where they hoped to make better livings.
Large-scale European-American settlement in the area began in 1839, after Congress allowed owners to sell land individually. Members of the Church of Christ (Latter Day Saints) fled persecutions in Missouri to settle in Illinois and Iowa. Although Nauvoo, across the border in Hancock County, Illinois, became the main center of Latter-day Saints settlement, there was also a stake organized in Lee County under the direction of John Smith, the uncle of Joseph Smith.
Communities[edit]
picture taken in 1900
Cities[edit]
Unincorporated communities[edit]
Notable people[edit]
- Cleng Peerson (1783–1865) pioneer settler in Lee County in 1840[8]
- Richard Proenneke (1916–2003) naturalist subject of books and documentary[9]
- William Elliott Whitmore (1978– ) singer and songwriter
See also[edit]
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Lee County, Iowa
- Lee County Courthouse in use in Fort Madison Original and oldest courthouse.
- Lee County Courthouse in use in Keokuk Originally a Federal courthouse and post office.
References[edit]
- ^ a b c "Population & Housing Occupancy Status 2010". United States Census Bureau American FactFinder. Retrieved May 19, 2011.
- ^ Lee Family in Iowa, Rootsweb
- ^ a b "Data from the 2010 Census". State Data Center of Iowa. Retrieved May 19, 2011.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
- ^ North Lee County Historical Society, Museums USA, accessed 11 Aug 2008
- ^ "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Counties". United States Census. Retrieved 2011-02-13.
- ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ Swansen, H.F. "The Sugar Creek Settlement in Iowa". Norwegian-American Historical Association. pp. Volume IX: Page 38. Retrieved May 21, 2011.
- ^ "Alone In The Wilderness". Bob Swerer Productions. Retrieved May 21, 2011.
External links[edit]
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Henry County | Des Moines County | |
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| Van Buren County |  |
Henderson County, Illinois | ||
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| Clark County, Missouri | Hancock County, Illinois |
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Coordinates: 40°38′34″N 91°28′28″W / 40.64278°N 91.47444°W
