Rock Rapids, Iowa

Rock Rapids, Iowa
City
Motto(s):  "Our River Flowing, Our Community Growing"
Location within Lyon County and Iowa
Coordinates: 43°25′41″N 96°10′7″W / 43.42806°N 96.16861°W / 43.42806; -96.16861Coordinates: 43°25′41″N 96°10′7″W / 43.42806°N 96.16861°W / 43.42806; -96.16861
Country	United States
State	Iowa
County	Lyon
Area [1]
• Total	4.25 sq mi (11.00 km2)
• Land	4.24 sq mi (10.98 km2)
• Water	0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2)
Elevation	1,388 ft (423 m)
Population  (2010)[2]
• Total	2,549
• Estimate  (2019)[3]	2,522
• Density	594.81/sq mi (229.68/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	51246
Area code(s)	712
FIPS code	19-68160
GNIS feature ID	0460743
Website	rockrapids.com

Rock Rapids is a city in Lyon County, Iowa, United States. It is the county seat of Lyon County.^[4] The population was 2,549 in the 2010 census, a decline from 2,573 in the 2000 census.^[5][6]

History[]

A post office called Rock Rapids has been in operation since 1871.^[7] The city was named from the falls on the Rock River.^[8]

Geography[]

Rock Rapids is located at

43°25′41″N 96°10′7″W / 43.42806°N 96.16861°W / 43.42806; -96.16861 (43.427933, -96.168640),^[9] along the Rock River.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.96 square miles (10.26 km²), all land.^[10]

Demographics[]

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1890	1,394		—
1900	1,766		26.7%
1910	2,005		13.5%
1920	2,172		8.3%
1930	2,221		2.3%
1940	2,556		15.1%
1950	2,640		3.3%
1960	2,780		5.3%
1970	2,632		−5.3%
1980	2,693		2.3%
1990	2,601		−3.4%
2000	2,573		−1.1%
2010	2,549		−0.9%
2019 (est.)	2,522	[3]	−1.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]

2010 census[]

As of the census^[2] of 2010, there were 2,549 people, 1,083 households, and 689 families living in the city. The population density was 643.7 inhabitants per square mile (248.5/km²). There were 1,207 housing units at an average density of 304.8 per square mile (117.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.2% White, 0.2% African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.1% Asian, 0.8% from other races, and 0.6% from two or more races. Hispanic 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 married couples 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 census^[12] of 2000, there were 2,573 people, 1,085 households, and 720 families living in the city. The population density was 650.2 people per square mile (250.9/km²). There were 1,160 housing units at an average density of 293.1 per square mile (113.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 99.14% White, 0.16% African American, 0.04% Native American, 0.35% Asian, 0.04% from other races, and 0.27% from two or more races. Hispanic 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 married couples 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 for the city was $18,035. About 3.4% of families and 7.5% of the population were below the poverty line, 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.^[13]

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, and one can drive across the river via a small bridge.

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.^[14]

Notable people[]

• Bruce B. Brugmann, editor and publisher of the San Francisco Bay Guardian (a progressive newspaper), grew up in Rock Rapids and graduated from Central Lyon High School.
• Jerry Mathers, Leave It to Beaver star, resided in Rock Rapids as a youngster prior to achieving fame as a child actor.
• Donald J. Grout, author of A History of Western Music. Professor at Harvard, Cornell and University of Texas.

See also[]

• Rock River

References[]

External links[]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rock Rapids, Iowa.

• City of Rock Rapids
• City-Data Comprehensive Statistical Data and more about Rock Rapids