Larchwood, Iowa facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Larchwood, Iowa
City
Location of Larchwood, Iowa
Country	United States
State	Iowa
County	Lyon
Area
• Total	1.04 sq mi (2.69 km2)
• Land	1.04 sq mi (2.69 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	1,476 ft (450 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	926
• Density	892.96/sq mi (344.85/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	51241
Area code(s)	712
FIPS code	19-43410
GNIS feature ID	0458230

Larchwood is a city located in Lyon County, Iowa, in the United States. It is a small community with a population of 926 people, according to the 2020 census.

History of Larchwood

Larchwood was started around 1872 by two land developers from McLean County, Illinois: Jesse W. Fell and Charles W. Holder. Jesse Fell was born in Pennsylvania and moved to Bloomington, Illinois, in 1831. He helped create many towns in Illinois, like Clinton and Normal.

Fell was a good friend of Abraham Lincoln, who later became president. Fell and his brother, Kersey Fell, even convinced Lincoln to write his famous autobiography. Jesse Fell was also known for his love of trees. Charles Holder worked with Fell on many projects, and the town of Holder, Illinois was named after him.

In 1869, Fell visited northwestern Iowa and chose a large area of land, more than 25,000 acres (about 100 square kilometers). He thought it was a beautiful area with no wasted land. Larchwood was then built in the middle of this land. In May 1873, Fell personally oversaw the planting of about 100,000 young trees and tree cuttings in the new town.

The town did not grow as fast as they hoped. In 1881, Fell and Holder sold their land development to an Englishman named Richard Sykes.

Geography of Larchwood

Larchwood is located in the very northwest corner of Iowa. It is the community farthest away from Iowa's capital city, Des Moines.

The city covers a total area of about 1.04 square miles (2.69 square kilometers). All of this area is land, meaning there are no large lakes or rivers within the city limits.

Population and People

Larchwood in 2020

In 2020, Larchwood had a population of 926 people. There were 391 households and 252 families living in the city. The population density was about 893 people per square mile (345 people per square kilometer).

About 27.6% of households had children under 18 living with them. The median age in the city was 39.7 years old. This means half the people were younger than 39.7 and half were older. About 28% of the residents were under 20 years old.

Larchwood in 2010

In 2010, the city's population was 866 people. There were 353 households, with 257 of them being families. The population density was about 875 people per square mile (338 people per square kilometer).

About 36.5% of households had children under 18. The median age in Larchwood was 34.8 years. About 28.3% of the people living there were under 18 years old.

Education in Larchwood

Students in Larchwood attend schools within the West Lyon Community School District. This school district also serves students from nearby towns like Lester, Alvord, and Inwood. It also includes many children from farming families in the surrounding rural areas.

Grand Falls Casino Resort

The Grand Falls Casino Resort is located near Larchwood, right along the border with South Dakota. This resort opened on June 9, 2011.

The resort was built by Kehl Management Company. Besides the casino, it has a hotel with 97 rooms. There is also an 18-hole golf course at the resort.

Notable People from Larchwood

• Ellis Yarnal Berry: He was a U.S. Congressman from South Dakota for 10 terms, from 1951 to 1971.
• Cheri Blauwet (born 1980): A Paralympic athlete who competes in wheelchair racing.
• Kyle Vanden Bosch (born 1978): A former professional football player who played as a defensive end for teams like the Detroit Lions.
• LeVar Woods: A former professional football player.

See also

In Spanish: Larchwood (Iowa) para niños