Lee County, Iowa

Infobox U.S. County
county = Lee County
state = Iowa


seallink =


map size = 250
founded = 1836
seat = Fort Madison and Keokuk
largest city =
area_total_sq_mi = 539
area_total_km2 = 1395
area_land_sq_mi = 517
area_land_km2 = 1340
area_water_sq_mi = 21
area_water_km2 = 55
area percentage = 3.97%
census yr = 2000
pop = 38052
density_sq_mi = 74
density_km2 = 28
time zone = Central
UTC offset = -6
DST offset= -5
footnotes =
web = www.leecounty.org|

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. [ [http://www.rootsweb.com/~ialee/data/halfbreed.htm Lee Family in Iowa] , Rootsweb] As of 2000, the population was 38,052. Unlike most counties nationwide, Lee has two county seats — Fort Madison and Keokuk.GR|6 The latter was established in 1847 when disagreements led to a second court jurisdiction. [ [http://www.museumsusa.org/museums/info/1276448 North Lee County Historical Society] , Museums USA, accessed 11Aug 2008]

Lee County is part of the Fort Madison–Keokuk, IA-MO Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

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

Major highways

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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

USCensusPop
1900= 39719
1910= 36702
1920= 39676
1930= 41268
1940= 41074
1950= 43102
1960= 44207
1970= 42996
1980= 43106
1990= 38687
2000= 38052
footnote= [http://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/ia190090.txt IA Counties 1900-1990] As of the censusGR|2 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

Fort Madison dates to the war of 1812. Lee County was the location of the "Halfbreed 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 Jesus Christ of 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

Cities

Unincorporated communities

*Argyle
*Denmark
*Pilot Grove
*Wever

References

External links

* [http://www.leecounty.org/index.html Lee County government's website]