Rock Rapids, Iowa facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Rock Rapids, Iowa
City
Motto(s):  "Our River Flowing, Our Community Growing"
Location within Lyon County and Iowa
Country	United States
State	Iowa
County	Lyon
Area
• Total	4.26 sq mi (11.03 km2)
• Land	4.21 sq mi (10.90 km2)
• Water	0.05 sq mi (0.13 km2)
Elevation	1,388 ft (423 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	2,611
• Density	620.34/sq mi (239.52/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	51246
Area code(s)	712
FIPS code	19-68160
GNIS feature ID	0460743

Rock Rapids is a cool city in Iowa, United States. It's also the main town, or county seat, of Lyon County. In 2020, about 2,611 people lived here. That's a little more than the 2,573 people who lived here in 2000.

History of Rock Rapids

Rock Rapids got its name from the Rock River. There are some fast-moving parts of the river, called "rapids," near the city. A post office opened here in 1871, helping the community grow.

Geography and Location

Rock Rapids is located right next to the Rock River. You can find it at these coordinates: 43°25′41″N 96°10′7″W / 43.42806°N 96.16861°W / 43.42806; -96.16861. The city covers an area of about 3.96 square miles (10.26 square kilometers). All of this area is land.

Rock Rapids Climate

Rock Rapids has a climate with cold winters and hot summers. This type of weather is called a humid continental climate. It means you'll experience all four seasons clearly.

Population and People

2020 Population Details

In 2020, there were 2,611 people living in Rock Rapids. There were 1,049 households, which are groups of people living together. Most people in the city were White. A small number of people were Black, Native American, or Asian. About 3.5% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

The average age in the city was about 39 years old. Many residents were under 20, and a good number were 65 or older. The population was almost evenly split between males and females.

2010 Population Details

In 2010, Rock Rapids had 2,549 people. There were 1,083 households. Most of the people were White. A small percentage of the population was Hispanic or Latino. The average age was about 42 years old.

Education in Rock Rapids

Students in Rock Rapids go to schools in the Central Lyon Community School District. The nearby town of Doon is also part of this school district.

Parks and Fun Things to Do

Rock Rapids has some great parks!

• Island Park: This park is special because part of it is surrounded by the Rock River, making it like an island! It has a cool old railroad bridge that's now a walking trail. There's also a museum in the old train station nearby. You can see two small dams in the park too.
• Emma Sater Park: This park is home to the Melan Bridge. It's another nice spot to visit.

Rock Rapids Mural Society

The Rock Rapids Mural Society started in 2002. This group works to bring the city's history to life through amazing murals and art. They help keep the past alive in a colorful way!

Famous People from Rock Rapids

Many interesting people have connections to Rock Rapids:

• Bruce B. Brugmann: He was a well-known editor and publisher of a newspaper called the San Francisco Bay Guardian. He grew up in Rock Rapids.
• Jerry Mathers: You might know him as Beaver from the TV show Leave It to Beaver. He lived in Rock Rapids when he was a kid before he became famous.
• Donald J. Grout: He wrote a famous book called "A History of Western Music." He was also a professor at top universities like Harvard and Cornell.
• Tom Pringle: He was the voice of the Silly Rabbit in the Trix Cereal commercials for many years. He was born and raised right here in Rock Rapids.
• Constance Congdon: She is a very talented American playwright. She has won many awards for her plays and has been called "one of the best playwrights our country, and our language, has produced."

See also

In Spanish: Rock Rapids (Iowa) para niños