Iowa

Lyon

11,934
2020 population
1870
first census record
16
census records

About Lyon

Lyon, Iowa, first appears in the United States federal census in 1870, when it recorded a population of 221. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 11,934.

Its recorded population peaked at 15,431 in 1920, and has since declined by roughly 23 percent.

On the ground today, 10 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202011,934
201011,581
200011,763
199011,952
198012,896
197013,340
196014,468
195014,697
194015,374
193015,293
192015,431
191014,624
190013,165
18908,680
18801,968
1870221
Source

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

Historic places in Lyon

National Register of Historic Places listings in Lyon, Iowa.

Klondike Bridge
Larchwood
Reynolds, Charles B., Round Barn
Doon
Melan Bridge
Rock Rapids
Burlington, Cedar Rapids, and Northern Railroad-Rock Rapids Station, Railroad Track and Bridge
Rock Rapids
Blood Run Site
Sioux Falls
First Methodist Church
Rock Rapids
Big Sioux Prehistoric Prairie Procurement System Archaeological District
Klondike
Broad View Ranch Historic District
Sheldon
Duncan-Duitsman Farm Historic District
George
Lyon County Courthouse
Rock Rapids

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Everything a full report reveals about Lyon County, Iowa

This page charts the census history of Lyon 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 Lyon

When does Lyon first appear in the US census?
Lyon, Iowa first appears in the federal census in 1870, with a recorded population of 221.
What is the population of Lyon?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Lyon had a recorded population of 11,934.
When did Lyon's population peak?
Lyon's recorded population peaked at 15,431 in 1920.
How many historic places are in Lyon?
10 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Lyon, Iowa.
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