Lost Nation 20090125 Cemetery, 2009
Lost Nation’s story
155 years in pictures
The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 2004.
- 1871Lost Nation is settled
Lost NationIA
A town of 425, settled in 1871.
Photo: Farragutful · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
425
2025 Census estimate · −1.6% since 2020
Typical home
$166K
+9.3% in a year
Household income
$57K
median
Median age
41.6
years
Jobs based here
30
A commuter town
Is Lost Nation a good place to live?
Lost Nation has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
425 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Lost Nation: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Lost Nation, and how to reach them.
PowerInterstate Power and Light17.8¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterLost Nation Water SupplyNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet2 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Lost Nation’s trash rules yet
Register to voteOnlineIn Iowa you can register online until 15 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 15 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereClinton County AuditorClinton County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Nov 2025
ZIP code5225452254 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Lost Nation.
Work & commute
In Lost Nation, the average trip to work runs longer than in the typical Iowa or U.S. town
The share of working residents in Lost Nation who work locally is 0.5%, against 31% in Iowa’s towns and 8% across U.S. towns. The town’s median household income comes in at $57,000. The top destinations are Maquoketa (15%), Davenport (9%) and Dubuque (8%). Among residents here, 14% live below the poverty line.
0%work in town
| Lost Nation | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 46 minutes | 19 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Working residents who work in town | 0.5% | 31% | 8% |
| Below the poverty line | 14% | 11% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $57,000 | $69,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Lost Nation0%
Maquoketa15%
Davenport9%
Dubuque8%
DeWitt7%
30 mi
median commute distance
30
jobs based in Lost Nation
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Housing
The typical home in Lost Nation: about $166K
Over the 12 months to September 2026, the typical home gained 9.3% in value. The share of households in Lost Nation who are owner-occupiers is 69%, where Iowa’s towns sit at 70% and U.S. towns at 73%.
$166KZillow home value
Typical home value
Lost Nation$166K
Iowa$237K
+9.3%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Climate
Four seasons and pleasant summers: that is Lost Nation’s year
The range runs from 13° on a January night to 84° on a July afternoon, with about 30 inches of snow a winter.
30″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter16–32°
Spring38–60°
Summer61–82°
Fall41–62°
Oct 14
typical first frost
Apr 25
typical last frost
+0.8°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Health
How healthy Lost Nation is
Against the Iowa average, Lost Nation comes out ahead on 2 CDC measures out of 32, and behind on 6. The share of adults in Lost Nation who have diabetes: 13%. Two figures for adults in the town: 20% have been diagnosed with depression, 20% binge drink.
| Lost Nation | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 40% | 35% | 35% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 21% | 23% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 20% | 16% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 16% | 15% | 14% |
32 measures vs. Iowa
2 better24 too close to call6 worse
| What stands out | Lost Nation | IA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 9.5% | 11.6% |
| More adults getting cholesterol checked | 86.3% | 84.1% |
| More adults with heart disease | 8.2% | 6.6% |
Jackson County Regional Health Center
10.4 mi away · emergency room
2 of 3
care shortages: primary care, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazards
The biggest natural risk in Lost Nation is inland flooding, at a moderate overall level
FEMA expects more storm and flood damage in Lost Nation than in 52% of U.S. communities. Federal disaster aid has reached households in Lost Nation after 2 declared disasters, most recently in 2020.
52risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingDroughtStrong wind
2
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
0%conserved
0%
conserved · 0 of 488 acres
0.0 mi
of trails · 0 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Gilroy Rustic Park | — | 16 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Lost Nation
18pages on Lost Nation
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Lost Nation; the nearest are
Cornell CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Mount Vernon31.3 mi$52,660 tuitionEastern Iowa Community College DistrictCommunity college · Public · Davenport33.2 mi$4,848 in-state tuitionUniversity of IowaUniversity or college · Public · Iowa City42.6 mi$11,283 in-state tuition
About 4 of every 100 Lost Nation residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Iowa.
A commuter town
100% of working residents leave Lost Nation for work
Where Lost Nation’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
30jobs based in Lost Nation
0%of working residents work in town
30 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
Famous people from Lost Nation
4 notable people were born in Lost Nation.
About Lost Nation
City in Iowa, United States
Lost Nation is a city in Clinton County, Iowa, United States. The population was 434 at the time of the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1872
- Area
- 0.6 sq mi
- Elevation
- 755 ft
- ZIP code
- 52254
- Area code
- 563
Questions about Lost Nation
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Lost Nation, IA a good place to live?
Lost Nation has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
What is Lost Nation, IA known for?
4 notable people were born here, including George Stone and Joe Seng.