Iowa

Lee

33,555
2020 population
1840
first census record
19
census records

About Lee

Lee, Iowa, first appears in the United States federal census in 1840, when it recorded a population of 6,093. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 33,555.

Its recorded population peaked at 44,207 in 1960, and has since declined by roughly 24 percent.

On the ground today, 6 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Fort Madison Siege, Fort Madison Siege (1812–1813), Fort Madison Siege and Evacuation, and 49 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202033,555
201035,862
200038,052
199038,687
198043,106
197042,996
196044,207
195043,102
194041,074
193041,268
192039,676
191036,702
190039,719
189037,715
188034,859
187037,210
186029,232
185018,861
18406,093
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Lee

Military engagements that took place in Lee, Iowa.

Fort Madison Siege
1812
Fort Madison Siege (1812–1813)
1812
Fort Madison Siege and Evacuation
1813
Siege of Fort Madison
1813
Battle of the Mississippi – Fort Madison Evacuation 1813
1813
Black Hawk War — Fort Madison Raids 1832
1832

Historic places in Lee

National Register of Historic Places listings in Lee, Iowa.

St. Peter Church
Keokuk
Saint Barnabas Episcopal Church
Montrose
Herschler, Christian and Katharina, House, Barn and Outbuildings Historic District
Franklin
St. John's Episcopal Church and Parish Hall
Keokuk
Miller, Justice Samuel Freeman, House
Keokuk
Hotel Iowa
Keokuk
Faeth Farmstead and Orchard District
Fort Madison
Cattermole Memorial Library
Fort Madison
Curtis, Gen. Samuel R., House
Keokuk
St Mary of the Assumption Church
Fort Madison
Fort Madison Bridge
Fort Madison
Belknap, Gen. William Worth, House
Keokuk
GEO. M. VERITY
Keokuk
Keokuk Union Depot
Keokuk
Weber, Alois and Annie, House
Keokuk
Lee County Courthouse
Fort Madison
Sample, Hugh W. and Sarah, House
Keokuk
Fort Madison High School
Fort Madison
Joy, C. R., House
Keokuk
Denmark Congregational Church
Denmark
The Park Place-Grand Avenue Residential District
Keokuk
Keokuk National Cemetery
Keokuk
Bridgeport Bridge
Denmark
Weess, Frank J., House
Keokuk
Browse all Iowahistoric sites ›

Other counties in Iowa

Explore census history and historic records for more Iowa counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Lee County, Iowa

This page charts the census history of Lee County, Iowa. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Lee

When does Lee first appear in the US census?
Lee, Iowa first appears in the federal census in 1840, with a recorded population of 6,093.
What is the population of Lee?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Lee had a recorded population of 33,555.
When did Lee's population peak?
Lee's recorded population peaked at 44,207 in 1960.
Were any battles fought in Lee?
6 documented military engagements took place in Lee, including Fort Madison Siege, Fort Madison Siege (1812–1813), Fort Madison Siege and Evacuation.
How many historic places are in Lee?
49 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Lee, Iowa.
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