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Lester, Iowa



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Lyon County

Population in 2011: 294. Population change since 2000: +17.1%
 

Males: 143  (48.6%)
Females: 151  (51.4%)

Median resident age:  34.0 years
Iowa median age:  42.7 years

Zip codes: 51242.

Estimated median household income in 2009: $46,711 (it was $38,750 in 2000)
Lester:

$46,711
Iowa:

$48,044
Estimated per capita income in 2009: $19,862

Lester city income, earnings, and wages data

Estimated median house or condo value in 2009: $94,819 (it was $75,400 in 2000)
Lester:

$94,819
Iowa:

$122,000
Mean prices in 2009: All housing units: $105,198; Detached houses: $105,819; In 5-or-more-unit structures: $98,598

Lester, IA residents, houses, and apartments details

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Lester races chart
  • White alone - 275 (93.5%)
  • Hispanic - 16 (5.4%)
  • Black alone - 1 (0.3%)
  • American Indian alone - 1 (0.3%)
  • Asian alone - 1 (0.3%)

Races in Lester detailed stats: ancestries, foreign born residents, place of birth


Mar. 2012 cost of living index in Lester: 82.9 (low, U.S. average is 100)

Lester, IA forum
Recent posts about Lester, Iowa on our local forum with over 1,500,000 registered users:
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Latest news from Lester, IA collected exclusively by city-data.com from local newspapers, TV, and radio stations

Ancestries: German (42.6%), Dutch (33.1%), Swiss (15.5%), Norwegian (10.8%), Swedish (5.6%), Irish (5.2%).

Current Local Time: CST time zone

Incorporated on 12/26/1892

Elevation: 1388 feet

Land area: 1.81 square miles.

Population density: 162 people per square mile 
 
  (very low).

Lester,IA real estate house value index trend





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Lester, Iowa map

For population 25 years and over in Lester:

  • High school or higher: 76.3%
  • Bachelor's degree or higher: 5.0%
  • Graduate or professional degree: 1.9%
  • Unemployed: 0.7%
  • Mean travel time to work (commute): 23.8 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Lester city:

  • Never married: 28.5%
  • Now married: 62.8%
  • Separated: 0.0%
  • Widowed: 5.8%
  • Divorced: 2.9%

0 residents are foreign born

This city:  0.0%
Iowa:  3.1%

Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with mortgages in 2009: $881 (1.1%)
Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with no mortgage in 2009: $975 (0.8%)
Lester satellite photo by USGS

Nearest city with pop. 50,000+: Sioux Falls, SD (21.1 miles , pop. 123,975).

Nearest city with pop. 200,000+: Omaha, NE (151.5 miles , pop. 390,007).

Nearest city with pop. 1,000,000+: Chicago, IL (453.7 miles , pop. 2,896,016).

Nearest cities: Larchwood, IA (2.3 miles ), Hills, MN (2.5 miles ), Steen, MN (2.5 miles) , Alvord, IA (2.6 miles) , Rock Rapids, IA (2.9 miles ), Inwood, IA (3.2 miles ), Valley Springs, SD (3.5 miles ), Doon, IA (3.5 miles ).

Latitude: 43.44 N, Longitude: 96.33 W

Area code: 712

Lester household income distribution Lester home values distribution

Unemployment in August 2012:
Here:

2.7%
Iowa:

5.3%

Unemployment by year (%)


Population change in the 1990s: -2 (-0.8%).

Most common industries in 2005-2009 (%)
Males Females
  • Construction (38%)
  • Transportation and warehousing (19%)
  • Manufacturing (14%)
  • Retail trade (8%)
  • Administrative and support and waste management services (8%)
  • Wholesale trade (5%)
  • Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting (3%)
  • Health care and social assistance (24%)
  • Other services, except public administration (24%)
  • Finance and insurance (17%)
  • Manufacturing (15%)
  • Retail trade (15%)
  • Educational services (4%)
  • Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting (0%)
Most common occupations (%)
Males Females
  • Driver/sales workers and truck drivers (22%)
  • Other sales and related workers including supervisors (8%)
  • Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations (5%)
  • Construction trades workers except carpenters, electricians, painters, plumbers, and construction laborers (5%)
  • Metal workers and plastic workers (5%)
  • Financial managers (4%)
  • Computer specialists (4%)
  • Customer service representatives (12%)
  • Registered nurses (9%)
  • Financial clerks except bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks (8%)
  • Information and record clerks except customer service representatives (8%)
  • Accountants and auditors (6%)
  • Cooks and food preparation workers (6%)
  • Special education teachers (5%)

Work and jobs in Lester: detailed stats about occupations, industries, unemployment, workers, commute

Average climate in Lester, Iowa

Based on data reported by over 4,000 weather stations

Lester, Iowa average temperatures Lester, Iowa average precipitation
 
Lester, Iowa humidity		  
Lester, Iowa wind speed
 
Lester, Iowa snowfall		  
Lester, Iowa sunshine
 
Lester, Iowa clear and cloudy days		  

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Tornado activity:

Lester-area historical tornado activity is slightly above Iowa state average. It is 181% greater than the overall U.S. average.

On 6/16/1992, a category F5 (max. wind speeds 261-318 mph) tornado 29.6 miles away from the Lester city center killed one person and injured 35 people and caused between $5,000,000 and $50,000,000 in damages.

On 6/7/1993, a category F4 (max. wind speeds 207-260 mph) tornado 35.3 miles away from the city center injured 5 people and caused between $5,000,000 and $50,000,000 in damages.

Earthquake activity:

Lester-area historical earthquake activity is slightly above Iowa state average. It is 99% smaller than the overall U.S. average.

On 2/6/1996 at 15:10:28, a magnitude 3.6 (3.6 LG, Depth: 3.1 mi, Class: Light, Intensity: II - III) earthquake occurred 88.5 miles away from the city center
On 10/19/2005 at 02:43:46, a magnitude 3.1 (3.1 LG, Depth: 3.1 mi) earthquake occurred 74.7 miles away from Lester center
Magnitude types: regional Lg-wave magnitude (LG)

Natural disasters:

The number of natural disasters in Lyon County (8) is smaller than the US average (12).
Major Disasters (Presidential) Declared: 6
Emergencies Declared: 2

Causes of natural disasters: Floods: 3, Floods: 3, Storms: 3, Tornadoes: 2, Heavy Rain: 1, Drought: 1, Hurricane: 1 (Note: Some incidents may be assigned to more than one category).
Lester topographic map

Hospitals/medical centers near Lester:

  • SANFORD HOSPITAL ROCK RAPIDS (Critical Access Hospitals, Voluntary non-profit - Private, provides emergency services, about 9 miles away; ROCK RAPIDS, IA)
  • SANFORD LUVERNE MEDICAL CENTER (Critical Access Hospitals, Voluntary non-profit - Private, provides emergency services, about 16 miles away; LUVERNE, MN)
  • AVERA HEART HOSPITAL OF SOUTH DAKOTA LLC (Acute Care Hospitals, Proprietary, about 20 miles away; SIOUX FALLS, SD)

Political contributions by individuals in Lester, IA

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Lester:

  • University of South Dakota (about 55 miles; Vermillion, SD; Full-time enrollment: 5,598)
  • South Dakota State University (about 65 miles; Brookings, SD; FT enrollment: 9,084)
  • Western Iowa Tech Community College (about 67 miles; Sioux City, IA; FT enrollment: 2,536)
  • Southwest Minnesota State University (about 76 miles; Marshall, MN; FT enrollment: 2,730)
  • Buena Vista University (about 80 miles; Storm Lake, IA; FT enrollment: 2,241)
  • Wayne State College (about 90 miles; Wayne, NE; FT enrollment: 2,780)
  • Northeast Community College (about 111 miles; Norfolk, NE; FT enrollment: 2,268)

Click to draw/clear city borders

Notable locations in Lester: Lester (A), Lester Fire and Rescue Squad (B). Display/hide their locations on the map

Churches in Lester include: Bethel Reformed Church (A), Apostolic Christian Church (B), Lester United Methodist Church (C). Display/hide their locations on the map

 
Lyon County has a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L (pico curies per liter) - Highest Potential
Air pollution and air quality trends
(lower is better)
AQI  Ozone  PM10 PM2.5 SO2 NO2

Air Quality Index (AQI)

Air Quality Index (AQI) level in 2010 was 30.9. This is about average.
City:

30.9
U.S.:

32.0
Ozone [ppb] level in 2010 was 26.8. This is about average. Closest monitor was 18.8 miles away from the city center.
City:

26.8
U.S.:

28.3
Particulate Matter (PM10) [µ/m3] level in 2010 was 16.6. This is better than average. Closest monitor was 18.8 miles away from the city center.
City:

16.6
U.S.:

22.1
Particulate Matter (PM2.5) [µ/m3] level in 2010 was 9.15. This is about average. Closest monitor was 18.8 miles away from the city center.
City:

9.15
U.S.:

9.59
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) [ppb] level in 2010 was 0.203. This is significantly better than average. Closest monitor was 14.8 miles away from the city center.
City:

0.203
U.S.:

2.433
Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) [ppb] level in 2010 was 5.59. This is significantly better than average. Closest monitor was 18.8 miles away from the city center.
City:

5.59
U.S.:

9.39


Percentage of residents living in poverty in 2009: 6.9%

Average household size:
This city:  2.7 people
Iowa:  2.4 people

Percentage of family households:
This city:  73.4%
Whole state:  66.4%

Percentage of households with unmarried partners:
This city:  1.9%
Whole state:  4.9%

No gay or lesbian households reported

Lester compared to Iowa state average:

  • Unemployed percentage significantly below state average.
  • Hispanic race population percentage significantly above state average.
  • Foreign-born population percentage significantly below state average.
  • Renting percentage significantly below state average.
  • Number of college students below state average.
  • Percentage of population with a bachelor's degree or higher significantly below state average.


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Banks with branches in Lester (2011 data):

  • Peoples Bank: Lester Branch at 501 Thomas St, branch established on 1977/05/09. Info updated 2008/03/27: Bank assets: $362.4 mil, Deposits: $309.2 mil, headquarters in Rock Valley, IA, positive income, Agricultural Specialization, 7 total offices, Holding Company: Peoples Bancorp

Educational Attainment (%)

School Enrollment by Level of School (%)


Lester travel time to work - commute
Lester mode of transportation to work chart

Most commonly used house heating fuel:

  • Bottled, tank, or LP gas (72%)
  • Fuel oil, kerosene, etc. (17%)
  • Electricity (10%)
  • Solar energy (2%)


2004 Presidential Election results in Lyon County Iowa:


2008 Presidential Election results in Lyon County Iowa:
Detailed 2008 election results.


Religion statistics for Lester (based on Lyon County data)

Percentage of population affiliated with a religious congregations: 87.57%
Here87.6%
USA50.2%

Adherents


Breakdown of population affiliated with a religious congregations

NameReformed Church in AmericaEvangelical Lutheran Church in AmericaCatholic ChurchChristian Reformed Church in North AmericaPresbyterian Church (USA)
Adherents19.7%16.8%14.8%9.2%8.5%
Congregations16.2%13.5%8.1%5.4%10.8%
Name Inc. Apostolic Christian Church of AmericaLutheran ChurchUnited Methodist ChurchNorth American Baptist ConferenceOther
Adherents6.9%5.3%4.8%3.8%10.3%
Congregations2.7%5.4%8.1%8.1%21.6%
Source: Jones, Dale E., et al. 2002. Congregations and Membership in the United States 2000. Nashville, TN: Glenmary Research Center.
Tables represent county-level data.

Food Environment Statistics:

Number of grocery stores: 7
Here:

6.22 / 10,000 pop.
Iowa:

2.14 / 10,000 pop.
Number of convenience stores (with gas): 9
This county:

8.00 / 10,000 pop.
State:

5.55 / 10,000 pop.
Number of full-service restaurants: 6
Lyon County:

5.33 / 10,000 pop.
Iowa:

8.01 / 10,000 pop.
Adult diabetes rate:
Lyon County:

7.8%
State:

7.8%
Adult obesity rate:
Here:

26.2%
State:

27.3%
Low-income preschool obesity rate:
This county:

12.2%
Iowa:

14.5%

Local government employment and payroll (March 2007)
Function Full-time employees Monthly full-time payroll Average yearly full-time wage Part-time employees Monthly part-time payroll
Financial Administration 0$0 1$107
Other Government Administration 0$0 8$646
Sewerage 0$0 1$213
Parks and Recreation 0$0 2$277
Water Supply 0$0 1$191
Totals for Government 0$0 13$1,434

Lester government finances in 2002:

  • Charges - Sewerage: $14,000 ($47.62)
  • Construction - Regular Highways: $22,000 ($74.83)
  • Current Operations - Regular Highways: $14,000 ($47.62)
    Parks & Recreation: $13,000 ($44.22)
    Sewerage: $9,000 ($30.61)
    Water Utilities: $8,000 ($27.21)
    General - Other: $8,000 ($27.21)
    Police Protection: $7,000 ($23.81)
    Financial Administration: $6,000 ($20.41)
    Central Staff Services: $3,000 ($10.20)
    Fire Protection: $1,000 ($3.40)
  • Miscellaneous - Interest Earnings: $5,000 ($17.01)
    General Revenue, NEC: $2,000 ($6.80)
    Rents: $1,000 ($3.40)
  • Other Capital Outlay - Parks & Recreation: $6,000 ($20.41)
  • Other Funds - Cash & Deposits: $229,000 ($778.91)
  • Revenue - Water Utilities: $15,000 ($51.02)
  • State Intergovernmental - Highways: $20,000 ($68.03)
    General Support: $6,000 ($20.41)
  • Tax - Property: $29,000 ($98.64)
    Total General Sales: $12,000 ($40.82)
  • Total Salaries & Wages: $15,000 ($51.02)

4.26% of this county's 2006 resident taxpayers lived in other counties in 2005 ($31,609 average adjusted gross income)

Here:

4.26%
Iowa average:

6.30%

10 or fewer of this county's residents moved from foreign countries between 2005 and 2006.


Top counties from which taxpayers relocated into this county between 2005 and 2006:
from Minnehaha County, SD  0.91% ($29,395 average AGI)
from Sioux County, IA  0.60% ($31,840)


5.64% of this county's 2005 resident taxpayers moved to other counties in 2006 ($33,238 average adjusted gross income)

Here:

5.64%
Iowa average:

6.47%

10 or fewer of this county's residents moved to foreign countries between 2005 and 2006.


Top counties to which taxpayers relocated from this county between 2005 and 2006:
to Minnehaha County, SD  1.55% ($30,727 average AGI)
to Sioux County, IA  0.66% ($47,500)
to Lincoln County, SD  0.56% ($29,125)

Strongest AM radio stations in Lester:

  • KXRB (1000 AM; 10 kW; SIOUX FALLS, SD)
  • KSOO (1140 AM; 10 kW; SIOUX FALLS, SD; Owner: SOUTHERN MINNESOTA BROADCASTING CO.)
  • KELO (1320 AM; 5 kW; SIOUX FALLS, SD; Owner: MIDCONTINENT RADIO OF S.D., INC.)
  • KNWC (1270 AM; 5 kW; SIOUX FALLS, SD; Owner: NORTHWESTERN COLLEGE)
  • KLOH (1050 AM; 9 kW; PIPESTONE, MN; Owner: WALLACE CHRISTENSEN)
  • KWSN (1230 AM; 1 kW; SIOUX FALLS, SD; Owner: MIDCONTINENT RADIO OF S.D., INC.)
  • WNAX (570 AM; 5 kW; YANKTON, SD; Owner: SAGA COMMUNICATIONS, INC.)
  • KQAD (800 AM; 1 kW; LUVERNE, MN; Owner: THREE EAGLES OF LUVERNE, INC.)
  • KFAB (1110 AM; 50 kW; OMAHA, NE; Owner: CAPSTAR TX LIMITED PARTNERSHIP)
  • KOIL (1020 AM; 50 kW; PLATTSMOUTH, NE; Owner: WAITT RADIO, INC.)
  • WCCO (830 AM; 50 kW; MINNEAPOLIS, MN; Owner: INFINITY MEDIA CORPORATION)
  • KKAR (1290 AM; 50 kW; OMAHA, NE; Owner: WAITT RADIO, INC.)
  • KFAN (1130 AM; 50 kW; MINNEAPOLIS, MN; Owner: AMFM RADIO LICENSES, L.L.C.)

Strongest FM radio stations in Lester:

  • KELO-FM (92.5 FM; SIOUX FALLS, SD; Owner: MIDCONTINENT RADIO OF SOUTH DAKOTA, INC.)
  • KNWC-FM (96.5 FM; SIOUX FALLS, SD; Owner: NORTHWESTERN COLLEGE)
  • KMXC (97.3 FM; SIOUX FALLS, SD; Owner: SOUTHERN MINNESOTA BROADCASTING CO.)
  • KLQL (101.1 FM; LUVERNE, MN; Owner: THREE EAGLES OF LUVERNE, INC.)
  • KYBB (102.7 FM; CANTON, SD; Owner: SOUTHERN MINNESOTA B/C COMPANY)
  • KISD (98.7 FM; PIPESTONE, MN; Owner: WALLACE CHRISTENSEN)
  • KJOE (106.1 FM; SLAYTON, MN; Owner: WALLACE CHRISTENSEN)
  • KIHK (106.9 FM; ROCK VALLEY, IA; Owner: WMMP, LLC)
  • KRRO (103.7 FM; SIOUX FALLS, SD; Owner: MIDCONTINENT RADIO OF S.D., INC.)
  • KSOU-FM (93.9 FM; SIOUX CENTER, IA; Owner: WMMP, LLC)
  • KDCR (88.5 FM; SIOUX CENTER, IA; Owner: DORDT COLLEGE, INC.)
  • KKLS-FM (104.7 FM; SIOUX FALLS, SD; Owner: SOUTHERN MINNESOTA BROADCASTING CO.)
  • KNSW (91.7 FM; WORTHINGTON-MARSHALL, MN; Owner: MINNESOTA PUBLIC RADIO)
  • KUSD (89.7 FM; VERMILLION, SD; Owner: S/DAKOTA BD OF DIR FOR ED. TELECOMUN)
  • KWOA-FM (95.1 FM; WORTHINGTON, MN; Owner: THREE EAGLES OF LUVERNE, INC.)
  • K261CI (100.1 FM; SIOUX FALLS, SD; Owner: SOUTHERN MINNESOTA B/CNG COMPANY)

TV broadcast stations around Lester:

  • KELO-TV (Channel 11; SIOUX FALLS, SD; Owner: YOUNG BROADCASTING OF SIOUX FALLS, INC.)
  • KSFY-TV (Channel 13; SIOUX FALLS, SD; Owner: ELCOM OF SOUTH DAKOTA, INC.)
  • KDLT-TV (Channel 46; SIOUX FALLS, SD; Owner: RED RIVER BROADCAST CO., LLC)
  • K67GH (Channel 67; OTTUMWA, IA; Owner: MS COMMUNICATIONS, LLC)
  • KAUN (Channel 36; SIOUX FALLS, SD; Owner: RAPID BROADCASTING COMPANY)
  • K25AA (Channel 25; ROCK RAPIDS, ETC., IA; Owner: IOWA PUBLIC BROADCASTING BOARD)
  • KTTW (Channel 17; SIOUX FALLS, SD; Owner: INDEPENDENT COMMUNICATIONS, INC.)
  • K56GF (Channel 56; SIOUX FALLS, SD; Owner: TRINITY BROADCASTING NETWORK)
  • KMEG (Channel 14; SIOUX CITY, IA; Owner: WAITT BROADCASTING, INC.)
  • KPTH (Channel 44; SIOUX CITY, IA; Owner: PAPPAS TELECASTING OF SIOUX CITY)
  • KTIV (Channel 4; SIOUX CITY, IA; Owner: KTIV TELEVISION, INC.)
  • KSMN (Channel 20; WORTHINGTON, MN; Owner: WEST CENTRAL MINNESOTA EDUCATIONAL TV COMPANY)
  • K53EG (Channel 53; SIOUX FALLS, SD; Owner: SIOUXLAND CHRISTIAN BROADCASTING)
  • KCSD-TV (Channel 23; SIOUX FALLS, SD; Owner: SOUTH DAKOTA BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR ED. TELECOMMUNICATIONS)


FCC Registered Private Land Mobile Towers:

1
  • 304 Hogie St (Lat: 43.437500 Lon: -96.335833), Type: Tower, Structure height: 30.5 m, Overall height: 32.5 m, Call Sign: WQKI600
    Assigned Frequencies: 44.5800 MHz
    Grant Date: 06/03/2009, Expiration Date: 06/03/2019, Certifier: Robert Leedham
    Registrant: Keller And Heckman LLP, 1001 G Street Nw, Suite 500 West, Washington, DC 20001, Phone: (202) 434-4282, Fax: (202) 434-4646, Email:



Most common first names in Lester, IA among deceased individuals
NameCountLived (average)
Edward276.4 years
Emma291.0 years
Elvin278.6 years
Harry270.5 years
Lena291.5 years
Ernst282.9 years
Henry272.0 years
Jacob287.5 years
Karoline287.6 years
Leslie286.6 years
Most common last names in Lester, IA among deceased individuals
Last nameCountLived (average)
Moser874.0 years
Metzger682.7 years
Gage484.8 years
Ageson373.7 years
Knobloch372.7 years
Feucht381.6 years
Kellenberger382.0 years
Stuerman373.7 years
Selken373.3 years
Boom284.5 years

Lester on our top lists:

  • #8 on the list of "Top 101 cities with largest percentage of males working in industry: Other health and personal care stores"
  • #14 on the list of "Top 101 cities with largest percentage of females in occupations: Law enforcement workers including supervisors"
  • #26 on the list of "Top 101 cities with largest percentage of males working in industry: Farm supplies merchant wholesalers"
  • #31 on the list of "Top 101 cities with largest percentage of females in occupations: Life, physical, and social science technicians"
  • #32 on the list of "Top 101 cities with largest percentage of females working in industry: Truck transportation"
  • #35 on the list of "Top 101 cities with largest percentage of males in occupations: Agricultural workers including supervisors"
  • #36 on the list of "Top 101 cities with the largest temperature differences during a year"
  • #55 (51242) on the list of "Top 101 zip codes with the largest percentage of Dutch first ancestries"
  • #90 (51242) on the list of "Top 101 zip codes with the largest percentage of Swiss first ancestries"

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