Iron Mountain Lake, Missouri

Iron Mountain Lake is a city in southwestern St. Francois County, Missouri. It had a population of 737 at the 2010 census.

History

Iron Mountain Lake derives its name from the once-famous Iron Mountain, lying just to the north, a formation known in the early 19th century for its rich deposits of iron ore. At the time, the mountain was the subject of national interest, with some claiming the ore was so pure it could be directly forged into finished products without need of smelting or refining. Though an exaggeration, the metal at Iron Mountain was certainly of a very high quality, and in 1836 the Missouri Iron Company was incorporated to exploit it. Over the next several decades, intensive mining operations took place, first on the surface and then underground; initially, the ore was transported eastward by wagon to the Mississippi River for shipment to market, but after the completion of the St. Louis and Iron Mountain railroad in the late 1850s, it could be sent directly to St. Louis and other major cities.

In order to rinse impurities from the ore after its excavation, a lake was formed in 1847 by damming two nearby streams, Mud Creek and Middlebrook Creek, thus providing a sufficient water supply as well as opportunities for fishing and the production of ice during the winter. Despite periodic flooding from heavy rain and structural failures of the dam, the lake held, and came to bear the name of the nearby mountain. Gradually, the ore deposits at Iron Mountain were depleted, and mining operations had ceased before 1900 (though intermittent activity continued until the 1960s); however, the lake remained, and indeed flourished as a recreational center, as locals flocked to it for camping, group picnics, and even occasional baptisms.

Beginning in 1917, the site passed into the hands of outside developers, who put in cabins and other facilities, and in the late 1930s permanent residents started to move in. In the early 1950s, the local property owners formed an association to supervise the grounds and provide needed maintenance; eventually, though, it was decided a more regular system of governance was needed. In 1983, therefore, Iron Mountain Lake was incorporated as a city. It had a population of 632 at its first census in 1990, and has grown steadily thereafter.

Geography

Iron Mountain Lake is located in the southwestern corner of St. Francois County, along the southeastern edge of State Route N. It is about five miles south of Bismarck, and 12 miles southwest of Farmington. Its exact coordinates are 37°41’20”N 90°37’23”W.

Iron Mountain Lake is significantly different in its layout than most cities in the area, having been laid out around its namesake lake and for purely residential purposes, rather than with a commercial or industrial hub. The lake itself is in the geographic center of the community, with widely spaced lots extending back from it on all sides, giving it the appearance more of a campground or park than of an organized city. It has a total area of 2.09 square miles (the lake taking up some 70 acres or 0.12 square miles), and an average elevation of 1,060 feet.

Demographics

At the 2010 census, Iron Mountain Lake had a total of 737 inhabitants, grouped into 295 households, with a population density of 376.0 people per square mile. This figure marked a moderate increase from the 2000 census, when Iron Mountain Lake had a population of 693. 96.20% of the inhabitants were White, 2.17% were Native American, 0.14% were Asian, 0.14% were from some other race, and 1.36% were from two or more races. Hispanics of any race were 1.90% of the population.

The median age in Iron Mountain Lake was 41.8 years, with 22.7% of inhabitants under the age of 18, 7.7% between 18 and 24 years old, 24.0% between 25 and 44, 29.9% between 45 and 64, and 15.6% 65 years old or older. The sex ratio was 48.8% male, 51.2% female.

According to the 2018 American Community Survey, Iron Mountain Lake had a median household income of $28,698, and a median family income of $38,355. The unemployment rate was 14.1%. The per capita income was $15,909. About 30.5% of the population lived below the poverty line, including 51.2% of people under the age of 18 and 16.2% of people 65 years old or older.

Education

Iron Mountain Lake is part of the Bismarck R-V School District. All school facilities are located in or near the city of Bismarck.