LEE COUNTY, IOWA

'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.[1] As of 2000, the population was 38,052. Unlike most counties nationwide, it has two county seats — Fort Madison and Keokuk.⁶

Contents

Geography

Major Highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics

History

Cities and towns

Unincorporated communities

External link

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,395 km² (539 mi²). 1,340 km² (517 mi²) of it is land and 55 km² (21 mi²) of it (3.97%) is water.

Major Highways

★ U.S. Highway 61

★ U.S. Highway 136

★ U.S. Highway 218

★ Iowa Highway 2

★ Iowa Highway 16

★ Iowa Highway 27

Adjacent counties

★ Henry County (north)

★ Des Moines County (northeast)

★ Henderson County, Illinois (east)

★ Hancock County, Illinois (southeast)

★ Clark County, Missouri (southwest)

★ Van Buren County (west)

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there were 38,052 people, 15,161 households, and 10,248 families residing in the county. The population density was 28/km² (74/mi²). There were 16,612 housing units at an average density of 12/km² (32/mi²). 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

Lee County was the location of the so-called "Halfbreed Tract". Fort Madison dates to the war of 1812. However large scale European American settlement in the area largely commences in 1839. In this year members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints fleeing persecutions in Missouri settled in the county. Although Nauvoo, across the border in Hancock County, Illinois became the main center of Latter-day Saints settlement at this time, there was a stake organized in Lee County under the direction of John Smith, the uncle of the prophet Joseph Smith.

Cities and towns

★ Donnellson ★ Fort Madison

★ Franklin ★ Houghton

★ Keokuk ★ Montrose

★ St. Paul ★ West Point

Unincorporated communities

★ Argyle

★ Denmark

External link

★ Lee County government's website