Lone Tree is a city in southeastern Johnson County, Iowa, United States.

[3] Lone Tree derives its name from a giant elm that grew nearby in the pioneer era and served as a prairie landmark.

Local legend has it that the tree was so large, buffalo grazed under its expansive branches.

The tree succumbed to the Dutch Elm disease of the 1960s, although valiant efforts were made to save it.

On December 9, 1985, during the 1980s farm crisis, a local farmer, Dale Burr, became distraught over his growing debt.

He then went to Hills Bank & Trust in the neighboring town of Hills and attempted to cash a check and when rebuffed, returned with a shotgun and killed bank president John Hughes.

Next on his list was his neighbor Richard Goody, who had recently won a court settlement against Burr's son.

When pulled over by Johnson County sheriffs, Burr shot himself fatally.

"[6] The story was captured in Bruce Brown's book Lone Tree.

[7] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.04 square miles (2.69 km2), all land.

26.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.