Iron County, Missouri
Iron County is a county located in the Lead Belt region in the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 9,537. The largest city and county seat is Ironton. Iron County was officially organized on February 17, 1857, and was named after the abundance of iron ore found within its borders.
Iron County | |
|---|---|
County courthouse in Ironton | |
Location within the U.S. state of Missouri | |
Missouri's location within the U.S. | |
| Coordinates: 37°33′N 90°46′W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Missouri |
| Founded | February 17, 1857 |
| Named for | Iron ore |
| Seat | Ironton |
| Largest city | Ironton |
| Area | |
| • Total | 552 sq mi (1,430 km2) |
| • Land | 550 sq mi (1,400 km2) |
| • Water | 1.8 sq mi (5 km2) 0.3% |
| Population (2020) | |
| • Total | 9,537 |
| • Density | 17/sq mi (6.7/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 8th |
Iron County includes the 6-mile (9.7 km)-long, 2-mile (3.2 km)-wide Arcadia Valley, the site of Pilot Knob, Ironton, and Arcadia, communities established by immigrants in the 19th Century. The valley is surrounded by the Saint Francois Mountains of the Ozarks Plateau. Iron County is also home to dozens of mountains, including the 1,772-foot (540 m) Taum Sauk Mountain, the highest point in Missouri.
The county is home to a number of state parks and historical sites including Taum Sauk Mountain State Park, Elephant Rocks State Park and Fort Davidson State Historic Site as well as 96,047 acres (390 km2) of Mark Twain National Forest.