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SECTION D. POPULATION ANALYSIS
INTRODUCTION
In this section, the past
population trends, population characteristics, and population migration for
the county are examined. Considering
these characteristics and trends, the county’s population can be estimated
and projected. The information
generated from this section will be valuable for future county planning, as
well as having a complete understanding on the makeup of the county and the
residents living within it.
Population trends are
influenced by a number of indicators, such as the following:
¨
Population Movement into and out of the county;
¨
Employment (local and regional);
¨
Economic Factors and Activity;
¨
Income;
¨
Housing Affordability and Availability; and
¨
Quality of Life Issues.
In 2000, Lee County’s population was 38,052, 635
persons less than in 1990. In Table
1, the population of Lee County and the State of Iowa from 1850-2000 are
compared.
Iowa’s population has increased substantially
from 1850-1900. In 1910, the state’s
population fell by 0.3 percent; however, after 1910 the population grew at a
slow rate. Lee County population
growth hasn’t been as steady as Iowa’s total population has been over the
years. In 1880, the county’s
population decreased by 6.3 percent.
After 1880, the population for Lee County increased slowly, with a
drop in populations every 30 years until 1990. In 1990, the county’s greatest population decline took place
with a loss of 10.3 percent and by 2000 the county shows another slight
decline.
Table 1:
Past Populations of Lee County and Iowa
|
|
Lee
County
|
State
of Iowa
|
|
Year
|
Population
|
%
Change
|
Population
|
%
Change
|
|
1850
|
18,861
|
--
|
192,214
|
--
|
|
1860
|
29,232
|
5.5%
|
674,913
|
251.1%
|
|
1870
|
37,210
|
27.3%
|
1,194,020
|
76.9%
|
|
1880
|
34,859
|
-6.3%
|
1,624,615
|
36.1%
|
|
1890
|
37,715
|
8.2%
|
1,912,297
|
17.7%
|
|
1900
|
39,719
|
5.1%
|
2,231,853
|
16.7%
|
|
1910
|
36,702
|
-7.3%
|
2,224,771
|
-0.3%
|
|
1920
|
39,676
|
8.1%
|
2,404,021
|
8.1%
|
|
1930
|
41,268
|
4.0%
|
2,470,939
|
2.8%
|
|
1940
|
41,074
|
-0.4%
|
2,538,268
|
2.7%
|
|
1950
|
43,102
|
4.5%
|
2,621,073
|
3.3%
|
|
1960
|
44,207
|
2.6%
|
2,757,537
|
5.2%
|
|
1970
|
42,996
|
-2.7%
|
2,825,368
|
2.5%
|
|
1980
|
43,106
|
0.2%
|
2,913,808
|
3.1%
|
|
1990
|
38,687
|
-10.3%
|
2,776,831
|
-4.7%
|
|
2000
|
38,052
|
-1.6%
|
2,926,324
|
5.4%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Source:
U.S. Census Bureau
Table 2 shows the populations of all the
incorporated cities of Lee County from 1950 to 2000. According to the table, Houghton is the
only city in the county with a growing population. The cities of Keokuk and Ft. Madison reached their highest
population counts in 1960 and have slowly declined ever since.
Table 2: Cities in Lee County’s Population 1950-2000
|
|
Donnellson
|
Ft. Madison
|
Franklin
|
Houghton
|
Keokuk
|
Montrose
|
St. Paul
|
West Point
|
|
2000
|
963
|
10,715
|
136
|
130
|
11,427
|
957
|
118
|
980
|
|
1990
|
940
|
11,618
|
152
|
127
|
12,451
|
957
|
120
|
1,079
|
|
1980
|
972
|
13,520
|
142
|
124
|
13,536
|
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