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INTRODUCTION
Housing impacts development and growth substantially in regard to the
availability, quality, and quantity of existing stock. When either a county or city economy is
experiencing a strong growth, the need for available housing is crucial to
achieve long-term economic stability.
At times, the labor pool may
shift from region to region throughout the United States following employment
opportunities. This influx of
additional labor participants can only be retained with adequate housing
availability. If the housing stock is
very substandard or is at full capacity, the movement towards rural areas or
“bedroom communities” is accelerated.
In recent years, this lack of housing has led to urban flight and the
explosion of growth areas around communities.
This section will discuss the following housing characteristics: the regional housing distribution; housing
tenure; age of the structures; and the conditions of the housing stock.
HOUSING
ELEMENTS
Regional
Housing and Population Comparison
In Table 24, the population and housing units figures for 1980-2000
are displayed for all the incorporated communities in Lee County. As the table shows, the town of Houghton
was the only community to have a rise in both population and housing units
since 1980. Donnellson was the only
community to have an increase in population and slight decline in the number
of housing units. The City of
Montrose saw a jump in housing units since 1980 and a steady population since
1990. The entire county has seen an
increase in the number of housing units since 1990, but a decrease in
population.
Table 24:
Housing Units per Population.
|
|
1980 Population
|
1980 Housing Units
|
1990 Population
|
1990 Housing Units
|
2000 Population
|
2000 Housing Units
|
|
Lee County
|
43,105
|
16,684
|
38,687
|
16,443
|
38,052
|
16,612
|
|
Donnellson
|
972
|
384
|
940
|
416
|
963
|
415
|
|
Ft.
Madison
|
13,520
|
5,328
|
11,618
|
5,209
|
10,715
|
5,106
|
|
Franklin
|
142
|
53
|
152
|
58
|
136
|
58
|
|
Houghton
|
124
|
48
|
127
|
47
|
130
|
61
|
|
Keokuk
|
13,536
|
5,667
|
12,451
|
5,582
|
11,427
|
5,327
|
|
Montrose
|
1,038
|
380
|
957
|
362
|
957
|
399
|
|
St.
Paul
|
141
|
52
|
120
|
49
|
118
|
55
|
|
West
Point
|
1,133
|
408
|
1,079
|
422
|
980
|
450
|
Source: U.S. Census of
Population and Housing, 1980,1990, 2000
Housing
Tenure
Table 25 shows the tenure for the housing
units in Lee County. According to the
table, the number of housing units has increased since 1990, as well as the
total occupied units. Of the total
occupied units in 2000, the majority of them are owner-occupied.
Table 25: Tenure of Housing Units, Lee County
|
|
1990
|
2000
|
|
Total Housing Units
|
16,443
|
16,612
|
|
Total
Occupied Units
|
14,936
|
15,161
|
|
Owner
Occupied
|
11,061
|
11,442
|
|
Renter
Occupied
|
3,875
|
3,719
|
|
Vacant
Units
|
1,507
|
1,451
|
Source: Iowa PROfiles
Table 26 has the 1990 figures of household sizes and types for Lee
County. The majority of the
households in Lee County, according to the table, are composed of two or more
persons; of which, approximately 95 percent are married.
Table 26: Household Size and
Type for Lee County, 1990
|
Total
Households
|
14,936
|
|
One Person:
|
3,998
|
|
Female Householder
|
2,542
|
|
Male Householder
|
1,456
|
|
Two or More
Persons:
|
10,938
|
|
Family Households:
|
10,483
|
|
Married-Couple Family:
|
8,641
|
|
With Related Children
|
3,926
|
|
No Related Children
|
4,715
|
|
Other Family:
|
1,842
|
|
Female Householder, No Husband
Present
|
1,453
|
|
With Related Children
|
1,018
|
|
No Related Children
|
435
|
|
Male Householder, No Wife
Present
|
389
|
|
With Related Children
|
236
|
|
No Related Children
|
153
|
|
Non-Family Households:
|
455
|
|
Female Householder
|
144
|
|
Male Householder
|
311
|
Source: U.S. Census of
Housing, 1990
The tenure and vacancy status for Lee County for
1990 and 2000 are displayed in Table 27.
According to the table, the number of housing units has increased by
169 units since 1990. The number of
vacant units has declined by 3.7 percent since 1990.
Table
27: Tenure and Vacancy Status for Lee
County
|
|
1990
|
2000
|
|
Total
Housing Units
|
16,443
|
16,612
|
|
Total
Occupied Units
|
14,936
|
15,161
|
|
Owner
Occupied
|
11,061
|
11,442
|
|
Renter
Occupied
|
3,875
|
3,719
|
|
Vacant
Units
|
1,507
|
1,451
|
|
For Rent
|
508
|
402
|
|
For Sale Only
|
250
|
190
|
|
Rented or Sold, not occupied
|
298
|
128
|
|
For Seasonal, Recreational, or
Occasional use
|
119
|
120
|
|
For Migrant Workers
|
1
|
0
|
|
Other Vacant
|
331
|
611
|
Source: U. S. Census of Housing
Figure 10 illustrates the
occupied housing units by age of householder in Lee County for 1990. As graphed, there is a trend that the
younger age groups occupy more rental units than their older counterparts.
However, when population life cycles move to 75 years and older, the need for
rental units again increases.
Source: U.S. Census of Housing, 1990
Housing
Values
Table 28 has the value of housing units for
Lee County for 1980 and 1990.
According to the table, the median value of owner-occupied units has
risen by $2,500 since 1980. And the
median contract rent for renter-occupied units has also increased by
$50. The largest increase has
occurred in the median income per household, which increased by $7,965 since
1980.
Table 28: Value of Housing Units for Lee County
|
|
1980
|
1990
|
|
Median
Value of Owner Occupied Units
|
$33,800
|
$36,300
|
|
Median
Contract Rent of Renter Occupied Units
|
$158
|
$208
|
|
Median Income per
Household
|
$ 16,706
|
$24,671
|
Source: Iowa PROfiles
Age
of Housing Stock
Illustrated in Figure 11, are the years the
housing units in Lee County were built according to the 1990 Census. There was a large jump in housing
construction during 1989 to 1990 with over 7,000 units built. The last time a large amount of housing
was built in the county was between 1960 and 1979, with about 7,800 units.
Source:
U.S. Census, 1990
SUMMARY
The county as a whole has a growing housing base, but due to the age
of the housing stock their conditions may need to be examined to determine if
they are safe to live in. A thorough
housing study is in order, to help understand the existing housing market and
the needs of the residents of Lee County.
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