Editing Lyon County, Iowa

{{short description|County in Iowa, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Lyon County
 | state                = Iowa
 | ex image             = Lyon County IA Courthouse.jpg
 | ex image size        = 240px
 | ex image cap         = [[Lyon County Courthouse (Iowa)|Lyon County Courthouse]]
 | seal                 =LyonCountyIAseal.png 
 | founded date         = January 15
 | founded year         = 1851
 | seat wl              = Rock Rapids
 | largest city wl      = Rock Rapids
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 588
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 588
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 0.1
 | area percentage      = 0.02
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 11934
 | population_density_sq_mi = auto
 | time zone            = Central
 | web                  = https://lyoncounty.iowa.gov/
 | district             = 4th
 | named for            = [[Nathaniel Lyon]]
}}

'''Lyon County''' is the most northwesterly [[County (United States)|county]] of the [[U.S. state]] of [[Iowa]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 11,934.<ref name=cen2020>{{cite web |title=2020 Census State Redistricting Data |url=https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial/2020/data/01-Redistricting_File--PL_94-171/Iowa/ |website=census.gov |publisher=United states Census Bureau |access-date=August 12, 2021}}</ref> The [[county seat]] is [[Rock Rapids, Iowa|Rock Rapids]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref>

Lyon County is named in honor of Brigadier General [[Nathaniel Lyon]], who served in the [[Mexican–American War]] and the [[American Civil War|Civil War]].<ref>{{cite book|author=Chicago and North Western Railway Company|title=A History of the Origin of the Place Names Connected with the Chicago & North Western and Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railways|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OspBAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA162|year=1908|page=162}}</ref> 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==
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==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|588|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|588|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|0.1|sqmi}} (0.02%) is water.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref>

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 {{convert|28|ha|acre|abbr=off}}.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lyoncountyiowa.com/lake_pahoja|title=Lyon County Iowa Official Website|website=www.lyoncountyiowa.com|access-date=October 11, 2019|archive-date=December 28, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171228023521/http://www.lyoncountyiowa.com/lake_pahoja|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Major highways===
* [[File:US 18.svg|x20px]] [[U.S. Route 18 in Iowa|U.S. Highway 18]]
* [[File:US 75.svg|x20px]] [[U.S. Route 75 in Iowa|U.S. Highway 75]]
* [[File:Circle sign 9.svg|x20px]] [[Iowa Highway 9]]
* [[File:Elongated circle 182.svg|x20px]] [[Iowa Highway 182]]

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Rock County, Minnesota]] (north)
* [[Nobles County, Minnesota]] (northeast)
* [[Osceola County, Iowa|Osceola County]] (east)
* [[Sioux County, Iowa|Sioux County]] (south)
* [[Lincoln County, South Dakota]] (west)
* [[Minnehaha County, South Dakota]] (northwest)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1870= 221
|1880= 1968
|1890= 8680
|1900= 13165
|1910= 14624
|1920= 15431
|1930= 15293
|1940= 15374
|1950= 14697
|1960= 14468
|1970= 13340
|1980= 12896
|1990= 11952
|2000= 11763
|2010= 11581
|2020= 11934
|estyear=2023
|estimate=12324
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2023">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.html|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 2, 2024}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 18, 2014}}</ref><br/>1790-1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=July 18, 2014}}</ref> 1900-1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/ia190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 18, 2014}}</ref><br/>1990-2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 18, 2014}}</ref> 2010-2018<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/19/19119.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=July 18, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607070747/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/19/19119.html|archive-date=June 7, 2011}}</ref>
}}
[[File:LyonCountyIowaPop2020.png|thumb|right|Population of Lyon County from US census data]]

===2020 census===
[[File:LyonCountyIA2022PopPyr.png|thumb|left|2022 US Census [[population pyramid]] for Lyon County from [[American Community Survey|ACS]] 5-year estimates]]
The 2020 census recorded a population of 11,934 in the county, with a population density of {{Pop density|11934|586.874853|sqmi|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.<ref name=cen2020/>

===2010 census===
The 2010 census recorded a population of 11,581 in the county, with a population density of {{Pop density|11581|587.5|sqmi|km2}}. There were 4,848 housing units, of which 4,442 were occupied.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/2010/cph-2/cph-2-17.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201016010401/https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/2010/cph-2/cph-2-17.pdf |archive-date=October 16, 2020 |url-status=live|title=Population & Housing Occupancy Status 2010|publisher=United States Census Bureau – American FactFinder|access-date=August 15, 2022}}</ref>

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, there were 11,763 people, 4,428 households, and 3,263 families residing in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|20|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people}}. There were 4,758 housing units at an average density of {{convert|8|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 99.13% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 0.09% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.14% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.15% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.01% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.10% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.37% from two or more races. 0.36% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|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 [[Marriage|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==

===Cities===
{{div col}}
* [[Alvord, Iowa|Alvord]]
* [[Doon, Iowa|Doon]]
* [[George, Iowa|George]]
* [[Inwood, Iowa|Inwood]]
* [[Larchwood, Iowa|Larchwood]]
* [[Lester, Iowa|Lester]]
* [[Little Rock, Iowa|Little Rock]]
* [[Rock Rapids, Iowa|Rock Rapids]]
{{div col end}}

===Unincorporated communities===
{{div col}}
* [[Beloit, Iowa|Beloit]]
* [[Edna, Iowa|Edna]]
* [[Granite, Iowa|Granite]]
* [[Klondike, Iowa|Klondike]]
{{div col end}}

===Townships===
{{div col}}
* [[Allison Township, Lyon County, Iowa|Allison]]
* [[Centennial Township, Lyon County, Iowa|Centennial]]
* [[Cleveland Township, Lyon County, Iowa|Cleveland]]
* [[Dale Township, Lyon County, Iowa|Dale]]
* [[Doon Township, Lyon County, Iowa|Doon]]
* [[Elgin Township, Lyon County, Iowa|Elgin]]
* [[Garfield Township, Lyon County, Iowa|Garfield]]
* [[Grant Township, Lyon County, Iowa|Grant]]
* [[Larchwood Township, Lyon County, Iowa|Larchwood]]
* [[Liberal Township, Lyon County, Iowa|Liberal]]
* [[Logan Township, Lyon County, Iowa|Logan]]
* [[Lyon Township, Lyon County, Iowa|Lyon]]
* [[Midland Township, Lyon County, Iowa|Midland]]
* [[Richland Township, Lyon County, Iowa|Richland]]
* [[Riverside Township, Lyon County, Iowa|Riverside]]
* [[Rock Township, Lyon County, Iowa|Rock]]
* [[Sioux Township, Lyon County, Iowa|Sioux]]
* [[Wheeler Township, Lyon County, Iowa|Wheeler]]
{{div col end}}

===Population ranking===
The population ranking of the following table is based on the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]] of Lyon County.<ref name=cen2020/>

'''†''' ''county seat''

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Rank
!City/Town/etc.
!Municipal type
!Population (2020 Census)

|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 1
|'''†''' '''[[Rock Rapids, Iowa|Rock Rapids]]'''
| City
| 2,611
|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 2
|'''[[George, Iowa|George]]'''
| City
| 1,077
|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 3
|'''[[Inwood, Iowa|Inwood]]'''
| City
| 928
|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 4
|'''[[Larchwood, Iowa|Larchwood]]'''
| City
| 926
|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 5
|'''[[Doon, Iowa|Doon]]'''
| City
| 619
|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 6
|'''[[Little Rock, Iowa|Little Rock]]'''
| City
| 439
|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 7
|'''[[Lester, Iowa|Lester]]'''
| City
| 296
|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 8
|'''[[Alvord, Iowa|Alvord]]'''
| City
| 206
|}

==Politics==
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 [[1892 United States presidential election in Iowa|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.
{{PresHead|place=Lyon County, Iowa|whig=no|source1=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=April 27, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP/Whig vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|5,899|1,023|80|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|5,707|1,067|89|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|5,192|920|265|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|4,978|1,423|108|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|4,471|1,675|74|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|4,751|1,303|47|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|3,918|1,313|111|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|3,396|1,489|467|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|3,272|1,331|1,123|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|3,517|1,706|41|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|4,178|1,401|63|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|4,349|1,431|428|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|3,558|1,870|126|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|3,788|1,407|57|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|4,195|1,403|156|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1964|Republican|3,185|2,747|3|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|4,917|1,752|7|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|4,356|1,790|4|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|4,893|1,324|9|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|2,500|2,174|66|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|3,065|1,970|7|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|3,880|2,648|12|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|2,264|3,590|90|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|1,684|3,543|70|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|3,170|1,632|36|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1924|Progressive|2,082|481|2,170|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|3,633|729|97|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|1,760|1,137|47|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1912|Progressive|412|896|1,469|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|1,650|1,064|86|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|1,802|841|127|Iowa}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|1,666|1,289|74|Iowa}}
{{PresFoot|1896|Republican|1,568|1,464|23|Iowa}}

==See also==
{{Portal|Iowa}}
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Lyon County, Iowa]]
* [[Blood Run Site]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book|last1=Smith|first2=Lucy Jo|last2=Colby|first1=Paul C.|title=Buncombe to "Twenty-Two"|date=1975|publisher=Lyon County Reporter|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ySRLGwAACAAJ}}
* {{cite book|last=Andreas|first=Alfred Theodore|title=Illustrated historical atlas of the state of Iowa|date=1875|publisher=Andreas Atlas Company|location=Chicago|url=https://www.loc.gov/item/70654676}}
* {{cite book|last=Ogle|first=G.A.|title=Compendium of History, Reminiscence and Biography of Lyon County, Iowa|date=1905|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YFztGQAACAAJ}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}<!-- for current and future use if material is uploaded -->
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080221004724/http://www.rootsweb.com/~ialyon/ Collected articles dealing with early Lyon County history]
* [http://www.iowacounties.org/About%20Us/AboutCoGov/County%20Pages/Lyon.htm Iowa State Association of Counties page about Lyon County]{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080509145150/http://www.lyoncountyiowa.com/lake_pahoja.htm Informational page about Lake Pahoja]

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Lyon County, Iowa
|North     = [[Rock County, Minnesota]]
|Northeast = [[Nobles County, Minnesota]]
|East      = [[Osceola County, Iowa|Osceola County]]
|Southeast =
|South     = [[Sioux County, Iowa|Sioux County]]
|Southwest =
|West      = [[Lincoln County, South Dakota]]
|Northwest = [[Minnehaha County, South Dakota]]
}}

{{Lyon County, Iowa}}
{{Iowa}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|43|23|N|96|13|W|region:US-IA_type:adm2nd_source:dewiki|display=title}}

[[Category:Lyon County, Iowa| ]]
[[Category:1851 establishments in Iowa]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1851]]