Fort Towson

Lucas County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 8,634.[1] The county seat is Chariton.[2] The county was formed in 1846[3] and was named for Robert Lucas, a Governor of the Territory.[4]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 434 square miles (1,120 km2), of which 431 square miles (1,120 km2) is land and 3.8 square miles (9.8 km2) (0.9%) is water.[5]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1850471
18605,7661,124.2%
187010,38880.2%
188014,53039.9%
189014,5630.2%
190016,12610.7%
191013,462−16.5%
192015,68616.5%
193015,114−3.6%
194014,571−3.6%
195012,069−17.2%
196010,923−9.5%
197010,163−7.0%
198010,3131.5%
19909,070−12.1%
20009,4223.9%
20108,898−5.6%
20208,634−3.0%
2022 (est.)8,689[6]0.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010-2018[11]
Population of Lucas County from US census data

2020 census

The 2020 census recorded a population of 8,634 in the county, with a population density of 19.9660/sq mi (7.7089/km2). 96.75% of the population reported being of one race. 92.76% were non-Hispanic White, 0.27% were Black, 2.29% were Hispanic, 0.08% were Native American, 0.34% were Asian, 0.00% were Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander and 4.26% were some other race or more than one race. There were 4,058 housing units, of which 3,608 were occupied.[1]

2010 census

The 2010 census recorded a population of 8,898 in the county, with a population density of 20.6666/sq mi (7.9794/km2). There were 4,238 housing units, of which 3,689 were occupied.[12]

2000 census

2000 Census Age Pyramid for Lucas County

As of the census[13] of 2000, there were 9,422 people, 3,811 households, and 2,560 families residing in the county. The population density was 22 people per square mile (8.5 people/km2). There were 4,239 housing units at an average density of 10 units per square mile (3.9 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.44% White, 0.13% Black or African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.37% from other races, and 0.65% from two or more races. 0.87% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,811 households, out of which 28.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.70% were married couples living together, 7.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.80% were non-families. 28.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.40% under the age of 18, 7.30% from 18 to 24, 24.60% from 25 to 44, 23.40% from 45 to 64, and 19.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 94.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,876, and the median income for a family was $38,352. Males had a median income of $31,243 versus $21,293 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,341. About 8.40% of families and 13.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.10% of those under age 18 and 9.60% of those age 65 or over.

Athletics

  • Lucas County is well known for its baseball program. As recently as 2009, Lucas County's Babe Ruth All-star teams have made it to, or past, the Iowa State Tournament. They have won 5 Babe Ruth State Titles, with the most recent coming in 2008. They have not, however, won any national titles.

Communities

Cities

Townships

Unincorporated areas

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Lucas County.[1]

county seat

Rank City/Town/etc. Municipal type Population (2020 Census)
1 Chariton City 4,193
2 Russell City 472
3 Lucas City 172
4 Williamson City 120
5 Derby City 90

Notable people

Politics

Lucas county is a stronghold for the GOP. Republicans have won the county every year since 2000, with Donald Trump receiving a stellar 70% of the vote in 2020.

United States presidential election results for Lucas County, Iowa[14][15]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 3,287 70.99% 1,284 27.73% 59 1.27%
2016 2,877 66.08% 1,239 28.46% 238 5.47%
2012 2,254 52.14% 1,987 45.96% 82 1.90%
2008 2,330 52.06% 2,029 45.33% 117 2.61%
2004 2,543 55.63% 1,987 43.47% 41 0.90%
2000 2,262 52.57% 1,934 44.95% 107 2.49%
1996 1,586 37.68% 2,168 51.51% 455 10.81%
1992 1,734 37.10% 2,072 44.33% 868 18.57%
1988 1,776 41.86% 2,454 57.84% 13 0.31%
1984 2,630 51.72% 2,422 47.63% 33 0.65%
1980 2,593 52.61% 1,989 40.35% 347 7.04%
1976 2,071 42.32% 2,733 55.84% 90 1.84%
1972 2,851 60.79% 1,759 37.51% 80 1.71%
1968 2,543 53.18% 1,942 40.61% 297 6.21%
1964 1,935 36.79% 3,310 62.93% 15 0.29%
1960 3,512 59.88% 2,344 39.97% 9 0.15%
1956 3,397 58.25% 2,431 41.68% 4 0.07%
1952 3,921 63.09% 2,217 35.67% 77 1.24%
1948 2,656 48.51% 2,697 49.26% 122 2.23%
1944 3,139 54.94% 2,526 44.21% 48 0.84%
1940 3,806 53.24% 3,255 45.53% 88 1.23%
1936 3,414 46.25% 3,773 51.11% 195 2.64%
1932 2,381 39.84% 3,434 57.46% 161 2.69%
1928 3,811 66.01% 1,888 32.70% 74 1.28%
1924 3,288 52.64% 824 13.19% 2,134 34.17%
1920 3,775 68.56% 1,463 26.57% 268 4.87%
1916 1,672 47.91% 1,536 44.01% 282 8.08%
1912 939 32.11% 968 33.11% 1,017 34.78%
1908 1,757 55.41% 1,267 39.96% 147 4.64%
1904 2,259 65.73% 878 25.55% 300 8.73%
1900 2,225 57.58% 1,488 38.51% 151 3.91%
1896 1,859 52.43% 1,621 45.71% 66 1.86%

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "2020 Census State Redistricting Data". census.gov. United states Census Bureau. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Lucas County (archived)
  4. ^ Stuart, Theodore M. (1913). Past and Present of Lucas and Wayne Counties, Iowa: A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Volume 1. S. J. Clarke Publishing Company. p. 10.
  5. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  6. ^ "QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
  7. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 1, 2013.
  8. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  9. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  10. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  11. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved July 18, 2014.
  12. ^ "Population & Housing Occupancy Status 2010" (PDF). United States Census Bureau American FactFinder. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 16, 2020. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  13. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  14. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
  15. ^ The leading "other" candidate, Progressive Theodore Roosevelt, received 855 votes, while Socialist candidate Eugene Debs received 110 votes, Prohibition candidate Eugene Chafin received 52 votes.

Further reading

  • Franklin D. Mitchell. Locale and Universe: The Shared Story of the Heartland's Lucas County, Iowa, and the American Nation, 1846-2012 (Self-published, 2016). 480 pp online review

External links

41°01′34″N 93°19′42″W / 41.02611°N 93.32833°W / 41.02611; -93.32833