Rock Rapids, Iowa

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Rock Rapids is a city in Lyon County in northwest Iowa, an area known for its strong Dutch heritage. It is the county seat of Lyon County^GR6 and home to Central Lyon High School.

1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 Notable ex-residents
4 External links

[edit] Geography

Rock Rapids is located at 43°25′41″N, 96°10′7″W (43.427933, -96.168640)^GR1, along the Rock River.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 10.3 km² (4.0 mi²), all land.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 2,573 people, 1,085 households, and 720 families residing in the city. The population density was 250.9/km² (650.2/mi²). There were 1,160 housing units at an average density of 113.1/km² (293.1/mi²). 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.

In the city the population was spread out with 23.5% 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.

[edit] Notable ex-residents

Leave It to Beaver star Jerry Mathers resided in Rock Rapids as a youngster prior to achieving fame as a child actor
Bruce B. Brugmann, editor and publisher of the San Francisco Bay Guardian (a progressive left-leaning newspaper), grew up in Rock Rapids and graduated from Central Lyon High School.