Rock Rapids is a city in and the

county seat A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or parish (administrative division), civil parish. The term is in use in five countries: Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, and the United States. An equiva ...

of Lyon County,

Iowa Iowa ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the upper Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders the Mississippi River to the east and the Missouri River and Big Sioux River to the west; Wisconsin to the northeast, Ill ...

, United States. The population was 2,611 in the 2020 census, an increase from 2,573 in the 2000 census.

History

A post office called Rock Rapids has been in operation since 1871. The city was named from the falls on the Rock River.

Geography

Rock Rapids is located along the Rock River. According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...

, the city has a total area of , all land.

Climate

Rock Rapids has a humid continental climate (Koppen Dfa), with cold winters and hot summers.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the

census A census (from Latin ''censere'', 'to assess') is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording, and calculating population information about the members of a given Statistical population, population, usually displayed in the form of stati ...

of 2020, there were 2,611 people, 1,049 households, and 667 families residing in the city. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: Standing stock (disambiguation), standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geog ...

was 620.4 inhabitants per square mile (239.5/km²). There were 1,145 housing units at an average density of 272.0 per square mile (105.0/km²). The

racial Race is a categorization of humans based on shared physical or social qualities into groups generally viewed as distinct within a given society. The term came into common usage during the 16th century, when it was used to refer to groups of va ...

makeup of the city was 94.1%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...

, 0.5% Black or African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.0%

Pacific Islander Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, Pacificans, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the list of islands in the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islands. As an ethnic group, ethnic/race (human categorization), racial term, it is used to describe th ...

, 1.6% from other races and 3.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino persons of any race comprised 3.5% of the population. Of the 1,049 households, 28.7% of which had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.3% were

married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognised union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children (if any), and b ...

living together, 4.1% were cohabitating couples, 25.0% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present and 17.6% had a male householder with no spouse or partner present. 36.4% of all households were non-families. 32.9% of all households were made up of individuals, 16.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years old or older. The median age in the city was 39.3 years. 28.7% of the residents were under the age of 20; 4.4% were between the ages of 20 and 24; 23.7% were from 25 and 44; 21.3% were from 45 and 64; and 21.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.2% male and 50.8% female.

2010 census

As of the

of 2010, there were 2,549 people, 1,083 households, and 689 families living in the city. The

was . There were 1,207 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 98.2%

, 0.2%

African American African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...

, 0.1% Native American, 0.1% Asian, 0.8% from other races, and 0.6% from two or more races.

Hispanic The term Hispanic () are people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or broadly. In some contexts, Hispanic and Latino Americans, especially within the United States, "Hispanic" is used as an Ethnici ...

or Latino of any race were 1.8% of the population. There were 1,083 households, of which 28.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.2% were

living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 36.4% were non-families. 33.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.92. The median age in the city was 42.1 years. 24.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23% were from 25 to 44; 24.6% were from 45 to 64; and 21.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.1% male and 52.9% female.

2000 census

As of the

of 2000, there were 2,573 people, 1,085 households, and 720 families living in the city. The population density was . There were 1,160 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 99.14%

, 0.16%

, 0.04% Native American, 0.35% Asian, 0.04% from other races, and 0.27% from two or more races.

or Latino of any race were 0.23% of the population. There were 1,085 households, out of which 27.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.7% were

living together, 6.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.6% were non-families. 31.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.86. 23.5% are under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 22.5% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 26.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.8 males. The median income for a household in the city was $35,135, and the median income for a family was $47,688. Males had a median income of $30,691 versus $19,425 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...

for the city was $18,035. About 3.4% of families and 7.5% of the population were below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line, or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...

, including 7.0% of those under age 18 and 12.5% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Rock Rapids is served by the Central Lyon Community School District. The town of Doon is also included in this school district.

Parks and recreation

One of the highlights of Rock Rapids is Island Park, so named because part of the park is completely surrounded by the Rock River. Island Park features a Rock Island railroad trestle that has been resurfaced as part of a new recreation trail and a museum in the nearby retired depot. There are two small dams in the park. Another notable park is Emma Sater Park, which is home to the Melan Bridge.

Mural Society

The Rock Rapids Mural Society was formed in 2002 to restore its historic past in artistic form.

Residents

* Bruce B. Brugmann, editor and publisher of the ''San Francisco Bay Guardian'' * Constance Congdon, American playwright and librettist. * Donald J. Grout, Professor and author of A History of Western Music *

Jerry Mathers Gerald Patrick Mathers (born June 2, 1948) is a former American actor best known for his role in the television sitcom ''Leave It to Beaver'', originally broadcast from 1957 to 1963. He played the protagonist Beaver Cleaver, Theodore "Beaver" Cle ...

, ''

Leave It to Beaver ''Leave It to Beaver'' is an American television sitcom that follows the misadventures of a suburban boy, his family and his friends. It starred Barbara Billingsley, Hugh Beaumont, Tony Dow and Jerry Mathers. CBS first broadcast the show ...

'' star

References

External links

City of Rock Rapids

Comprehensive Statistical Data and more about Rock Rapids {{authority control Dutch-American culture in Iowa Cities in Lyon County, Iowa Cities in Iowa County seats in Iowa

History

Geography

Climate

Demographics

2020 census

2010 census

2000 census

Education

Parks and recreation

Mural Society

Residents

See also

References

External links