Next CF Bracket Best Iowa Towns/Cities Nomination Thread

[1SEIACLONE]

There's a pretty good book about the history of Centerville... Centerville:A Mid-American Saga. Some very interesting history in that town and in that part of the state.

Lot of history happened in the bottom row of counties, the Mormon Trail past right through that region of the state, you had cannons firing in Davis Co during the civil war, the Underground Railroad, Southern slave raids and other things.

The hope for Centerville was after Lake Rathbun was built that it would bring in people from DM and other areas to use the lake, and it did for a few years, but then Saylorville opened up and that ended it. The state owned resort and golf course on the lake are wonderful areas, but they put them on the North side of the lake, instead of the south side which would have benefitted Centerville. Only way to save the area would be if the Corp of engineers started to allow people to build vacation homes close to the lake, mostly on the southern side up from the dam, to bring people down from DM and CR and they could shop and eat in Centerville. They need something to kick start the economy in that part of the state. Tourism and vacation homes might do the trick.

 

[dcg20]

Lot of history happened in the bottom row of counties, the Mormon Trail past right through that region of the state, you had cannons firing in Davis Co during the civil war, the Underground Railroad, Southern slave raids and other things.

The hope for Centerville was after Lake Rathbun was built that it would bring in people from DM and other areas to use the lake, and it did for a few years, but then Saylorville opened up and that ended it. The state owned resort and golf course on the lake are wonderful areas, but they put them on the North side of the lake, instead of the south side which would have benefitted Centerville. Only way to save the area would be if the Corp of engineers started to allow people to build vacation homes close to the lake, mostly on the southern side up from the dam, to bring people down from DM and CR and they could shop and eat in Centerville. They need something to kick start the economy in that part of the state. Tourism and vacation homes might do the trick.

This is my first comment but I can't imagine there's too many other Centerville residents on here. I'm pretty suprised to see Centerville get mentioned in a best Iowa towns thread given the reputation we have. They're trying to get things going in the right direction but the last 20+ years have not been great for the area

 

[pourcyne]

El Kader!!! The Only Town Named for an Algerian!!! And very good falafel at Schera's.

Emir Abdelkader - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[pourcyne]

This is my first comment but I can't imagine there's too many other Centerville residents on here. I'm pretty suprised to see Centerville get mentioned in a best Iowa towns thread given the reputation we have. They're trying to get things going in the right direction but the last 20+ years have not been great for the area

There's something to be said for being the World's Largest Square.

Everybody else thinks that's Lawrence Welk.

 

[nfrine]

Pella looks nice, but it sucks. But they do have a Chic Fil A. So they have that going for them.

Don't forget Culver's too....

 

[pourcyne]

Lot of history happened in the bottom row of counties, the Mormon Trail past right through that region of the state, you had cannons firing in Davis Co during the civil war, the Underground Railroad, Southern slave raids and other things.

The hope for Centerville was after Lake Rathbun was built that it would bring in people from DM and other areas to use the lake, and it did for a few years, but then Saylorville opened up and that ended it. The state owned resort and golf course on the lake are wonderful areas, but they put them on the North side of the lake, instead of the south side which would have benefitted Centerville. Only way to save the area would be if the Corp of engineers started to allow people to build vacation homes close to the lake, mostly on the southern side up from the dam, to bring people down from DM and CR and they could shop and eat in Centerville. They need something to kick start the economy in that part of the state. Tourism and vacation homes might do the trick.

No. I loathe Okoboji for that very reason. You can't see the lake for the houses.

Nope. Noperoo. Nyet.

 

[AppleCornCy]

El Kader!!! The Only Town Named for an Algerian!!! And very good falafel at Schera's.

Emir Abdelkader - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Didn’t know that. That’s cool!

 

[AuH2O]

No. I loathe Okoboji for that very reason. You can't see the lake for the houses.

Nope. Noperoo. Nyet.

I think there can be a happy medium between Okoboji and a modestly developed Rathbun. But yes, Okoboji is a crowded mess in the summer.

 

[Gonzo]

Lot of history happened in the bottom row of counties, the Mormon Trail past right through that region of the state, you had cannons firing in Davis Co during the civil war, the Underground Railroad, Southern slave raids and other things.

The hope for Centerville was after Lake Rathbun was built that it would bring in people from DM and other areas to use the lake, and it did for a few years, but then Saylorville opened up and that ended it. The state owned resort and golf course on the lake are wonderful areas, but they put them on the North side of the lake, instead of the south side which would have benefitted Centerville. Only way to save the area would be if the Corp of engineers started to allow people to build vacation homes close to the lake, mostly on the southern side up from the dam, to bring people down from DM and CR and they could shop and eat in Centerville. They need something to kick start the economy in that part of the state. Tourism and vacation homes might do the trick.

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One of the great accounts from that book was about a guy who was arrested for murder and jailed. This would've been in the 1800s, it's been quite a while since I read the book. He somehow escaped and made it out to the western part of the state. The law was able to track him down and find him. This was in the dead of winter, February I believe. Instead of bringing him back to Centerville they decided to take care of him then and there. They cut a hole in the ice of a nearby river, bound his hands and feet, attached some sort of weights to his feet, and dropped him into the river.

 

[BillBrasky4Cy]

Le Mars.... i mean it's the ice cream capital of the world.

Orange City is also a really, really nice town.

Orange City is great if you are allowed to live there...

 

[BillBrasky4Cy]

I don't have as much connection to specific places in Iowa anymore, so I'm not much of a source. At one time, Storm Lake probably would be on the list, not sure if it's worthy now or not. I'm sure others can assess.

Growing up Storm Lake was a really nice town. I would say the down hill slide started around 1994.

 

[pourcyne]

One of the great accounts from that book was about a guy who was arrested for murder and jailed. This would've been in the 1800s, it's been quite a while since I read the book. He somehow escaped and made it out to the western part of the state. The law was able to track him down and find him. This was in the dead of winter, February I believe. Instead of bringing him back to Centerville they decided to take care of him then and there. They cut a hole in the ice of a nearby river, bound his hands and feet, attached some sort of weights to his feet, and dropped him into the river.

Centerville was not a good place to commit a crime, it would seem.

 

[BillBrasky4Cy]

Southern Iowa was settled by a lot of people from Missouri, Tennessee, Kentucky and Virginia.

If you would just cut off the bottom two counties in Iowa and gave them to Missouri, both states IQ's would increase.

 

[pourcyne]

If you would just cut off the bottom two counties in Iowa and gave them to Missouri, both states IQ's would increase.

That's usually how I feel about Des Moines.

 

[cyclonespiker33]

McGregor is pretty high on my list

 

[cyclonespiker33]

I think 25,000 is a fair max population. If you go up to 50,000 you can add someplace like Marion.

 

[coolerifyoudid]

Le Mars.... i mean it's the ice cream capital of the world.

Orange City is also a really, really nice town.

Le Mars should be called the Frozen Treat capital of the World.

Orange City should be called Birthplace of Greatness.

 

[aauummm]

How about Atlantic. Had a chance to look around the town last summer and I was surprised how nice the downtown was.

 

[Cyinthenorth]

Without giving it much thought, I would go with 50,000. Maybe even 30,000.

I like 30k

 

[Cyinthenorth]

As far as nominees, tough to think of one I am familiar with that hasn't been mentioned. I live near Peosta which is growing somewhat rapidly, some say the lines between it and Dubuque could be almost negligible in 10-15 years time. Probably mostly just a bedroom community for now, it doesn't have much of a city center or remarkable main street or anything.

I am originally from Charles City, and while growing up there it seemed great, it has definitely been on a steady decline over the last 20 years or more. A lot of poverty etc. A bit surprising that they struggle while nearby cities of similar size seem to have the right recipe for success. Waverly, Decorah etc. Even Osage while having a lower population has for a long time felt like the better town.

I'll throw noms out for Waverly and Osage.