| Official Name: | Ironton, Missouri |
| Settlement Type: | City |
| Nickname: | Queen City of the Francois Mountains |
| Mapsize: | 250px |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | United States |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Name1: | Missouri |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name2: | Iron |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
| Area Footnotes: | [1] |
| Area Total Km2: | 3.60 |
| Area Land Km2: | 3.48 |
| Area Water Km2: | 0.12 |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 1.39 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 1.34 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 0.05 |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Total: | 1475 |
| Population Density Km2: | 424.04 |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | 1098.29 |
| Timezone: | Central (CST) |
| Utc Offset: | -6 |
| Timezone Dst: | CDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | -5 |
| Elevation Ft: | 938 |
| Coordinates: | 37.6008°N -90.6278°W |
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP code |
| Postal Code: | 63650 |
| Area Code: | 573 |
| Blank Name: | FIPS code |
| Blank Info: | 29-35468[2] |
| Blank1 Name: | GNIS feature ID |
| Blank1 Info: | 2395440 |
Ironton is a city and the county seat of Iron County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,475 at the 2020 census.[3] [4]
Ironton was designated county seat in 1857, soon after the formation of Iron County.[5] Like the county, Ironton was named from the deposits of iron ore found in the vicinity.[6] A post office called Ironton has been in operation since 1858.[7]
In early August 1861, Brigader General Sam Grant led a force of four regiments in the area. In a letter to his wife he described the area as “one of the most delightful places I have ever been in.”[8]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.39sqmi, of which 1.34sqmi is land and 0.05sqmi is water.[9]
As of the census[10] of 2010, there were 1,460 people, 639 households, and 375 families living in the city. The population density was 1089.6PD/sqmi. There were 745 housing units at an average density of 556/sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 96.16% White, 1.71% Black or African American, 0.34% Native American, 0.07% Asian, 0.14% from other races, and 1.58% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.51% of the population.
There were 639 households, of which 25.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.2% were married couples living together, 13.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 41.3% were non-families. 37.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.88.
The median age in the city was 41.9 years. 20.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.1% were from 25 to 44; 26.6% were from 45 to 64; and 20.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.2% male and 52.8% female.
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,471 people, 615 households, and 389 families living in the city. The population density was 1083.2sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 683 housing units at an average density of 502.9sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the city was 94.97% White, 3.06% African American, 0.41% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.20% from other races, and 1.16% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.61% of the population.
There were 615 households, out of which 29.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.2% were married couples living together, 13.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.7% were non-families. 31.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.88.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 23.9% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 24.9% from 25 to 44, 24.9% from 45 to 64, and 18.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $23,808, and the median income for a family was $31,458. Males had a median income of $28,800 versus $18,162 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,710. About 17.4% of families and 22.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.1% of those under age 18 and 18.9% of those age 65 or over.
Ironton students are served by the Arcadia Valley School District. Arcadia Valley High School is a small, rural school.
Ironton has a public library, a branch of the Ozark Regional Library.[11]