Lucas County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 8,634. The county seat is Chariton.

The county was formed in 1846 and was named for Robert Lucas, a Governor of the Territory.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (0.9%) is water.

Major highways

  • x20px U.S. Highway 34
  • x20px U.S. Highway 65
  • x20px Iowa Highway 14

Adjacent counties

  • Warren County (northwest)
  • Marion County (northeast)
  • Monroe County (east)
  • Wayne County (south)
  • Clarke County (west)

Demographics

2020 census

thumb|right|Population of Lucas County from the U.S. census data

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 8,634 and a population density of . The census counted 96.75% of residents as belonging to a single race—92.76% were non-Hispanic White, 0.27% were Black, 0.08% were Native American, 0.34% were Asian, 0.00% were Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, and 4.26% identified with some other race or more than one race.

The racial makeup of the county was 95.1% White, 0.3% Black or African American, 0.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, 1.0% from some other race, and 3.3% from two or more races; Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.3% of the population.

There were 3,608 households in the county, of which 27.1% had children under the age of 18 living in them; 52.5% of households were married-couple households, 20.1% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 21.9% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 31.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

2010 census

The 2010 census recorded a population of 8,898 in the county, with a population density of . There were 4,238 housing units, of which 3,689 were occupied.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 9,422 people, 3,811 households, and 2,560 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 4,239 housing units at an average density of . 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.

Communities

Cities

  • Chariton
  • Derby
  • Lucas
  • Russell
  • Williamson

Townships

  • Benton
  • Cedar
  • English
  • Jackson
  • Liberty
  • Lincoln
  • Otter Creek
  • Pleasant
  • Union
  • Warren
  • Washington
  • Whitebreast

Unincorporated areas

  • Norwood

Population ranking

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

  • Chariton Community School District
  • Clarke Community School District
  • Mormon Trail Community School District
  • Southeast Warren Community School District
  • Wayne Community School District

Former school districts:

  • Russell Community School District - Involuntarily dissolved on January 1, 2008.

Notable people

  • T. J. Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings tight end (2022–Present)
  • John L. Lewis, labor union

Politics

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See also

  • National Register of Historic Places listings in Lucas County, Iowa
  • Lucas County Courthouse
  • Red Haw State Park

References

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

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  • Lucas County Sheriff's Office