Rock Rapids, Iowa
Rock Rapids is a city of 2,661 people in Lyon County, Iowa, founded in 1868.
Why visit Rock Rapids
Townapedia lists 3 museums and landmarks, 4 parks and trails, 6 places to eat, 2 places to stay and 2 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Burlington, Cedar Rapids, and Northern Railroad-Rock Rapids Station, Railroad Track and Bridge, Melan Bridge and Lyon County Courthouse.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 85°F; January lows average 6°F, and about 35 inches of snow fall in a normal year.
Weather in Rock Rapids
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Rock Rapids
Rock Rapids is a city in and the county seat of Lyon County, Iowa, United States. The population was 2,611 in the 2020 census, an increase from 2,573 in the 2000 census.
From the Wikipedia article Rock Rapids, Iowa (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do2
Burlington, Cedar Rapids, and Northern Railroad-Rock Rapids Station, Railroad Track and Bridge
Bridge · National Register of Historic Places · 0.4 mi
Historic district in Rock Rapids, Iowa
Melan Bridge
Bridge · National Register of Historic Places · 0.7 mi
Bridge in United States of America
Museums and landmarks3
Lyon County Courthouse
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Listed on the NRHP in Lyon County, Iowa
Parks, trails and playgrounds4
Restaurants and cafes6
JJ's Drive In
Restaurant · American, Ice Cream · 0.5 mi
701 South Union Street, Rock Rapids
Mo-Su 11:00-20:30
History
A post office called Rock Rapids has been in operation since 1871. The city was named from the falls on the Rock River.
From the History section of Rock Rapids, Iowa on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay2
Churches and places of worship10
First Methodist Church
Church · National Register of Historic Places
Shopping1
Gas and EV charging4
Schools, colleges and libraries7
Healthcare2
Map of Rock Rapids
41 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 25°F | 6°F | 0.6 in | 6.0 in |
| Feb | 30°F | 10°F | 0.7 in | 7.3 in |
| Mar | 43°F | 22°F | 1.5 in | 5.6 in |
| Apr | 58°F | 34°F | 3.0 in | 3.5 in |
| May | 70°F | 47°F | 4.0 in | 0.1 in |
| Jun | 81°F | 58°F | 5.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 85°F | 62°F | 3.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 82°F | 59°F | 3.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 75°F | 50°F | 3.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 61°F | 36°F | 2.2 in | 0.4 in |
| Nov | 44°F | 23°F | 1.4 in | 3.6 in |
| Dec | 30°F | 12°F | 0.8 in | 8.4 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Rock Rapids Hcn (0 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Lyon County has had 11 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2024-06-24: Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes (Severe Storm)
- 2020-03-23: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2019-03-23: Severe Storms And Flooding (Flood)
- 2018-08-20: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2014-07-24: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding (Flood)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Canton Municipal Airport (CTK) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 22 miles away.
- Larchwood 14 mi west, about 22 min by car
- Brandon 24 mi northwest, about 38 min by car
- Sioux Falls 29 mi west, about 47 min by car
- Orange City 30 mi south, about 48 min by car
- Alton 31 mi south, about 51 min by car
- Worthington 32 mi northeast, about 51 min by car
- Hawarden 34 mi southwest, about 54 min by car
- Primghar 36 mi southeast, about 58 min by car
- Lake Park 42 mi east, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Le Mars 45 mi south, about 1 h 15 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Lyon County IA Courthouse, Scott Romine, CC BY-SA 4.0
- First Methodist Church Rock Rapids, Vwester, CC BY-SA 4.0
- BURLINGTON, CEDAR RAPIDS, AND NORTHERN RAILROAD ROCK RAPIDS STATION, RAILROAD TRACK AND BRIDGE, JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ MD, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Melan Arch Bridge, Joseph Elliott, Public domain
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