good/nice/lazy towns in iowa (Dubuque, Fort Dodge: theater, colleges, live)

[Mason Peargate]

Originally Posted by jonny d

im looking for a small lazy town in Iowa were everyone knows everyone,and everybody is nice to everyone. i was born and raised in a small rural town in florida, but then me and my family moved to a big city in maryland. and iv always been longing to move out to a rural town or area. i work now in consturction but i can also work on a farm. i need some names of towns were i can find all of this, thanks.

I have always been partial to Colo or Zearing.... nice small towns... very pleasent.... centrally located!

Real little farm towns!!!

Mason Peargate, III

[Periwinkle04]

Manchester is perfect - right in the middle of Dubuque, Cedar Rapids, and Waterloo (about 45 miles each way) and only 70 miles north of Iowa City. 5000 nice people, large parks, one with a first-rate new swimming pool, and Backbone State Park only 15 miles to the north.

Manchester has a quaint downtown that still has thriving businesses, even though there's been a WalMart on the outskirts of town for several years. It has a couple of golf courses and good schools, including a good Catholic elementary school.

There are some beautiful homes there from all architectural eras. Nice place.

[Stevie]

I agree with Mason about Colo. I also like State Center as well. It's just a little further east of Colo and just a little bit bigger.

[The_Road]

Hampton and Latimer are also good places. Very laid back and friendly and surrounded by family-owned farms.

[AmeliaJohn]

Originally Posted by The_Road

Hampton and Latimer are also good places. Very laid back and friendly and surrounded by family-owned farms.

Funny you'd say Latimer without sister city Coulter... across #3 and couple more miles.

[Alt Dach]

One thing people dont mention about a lot of those small midwestern towns is that
industrial monoculture corn agriculrure requires massive amounts of fertilizer and pesticides which leaves the water table highly toxic. Nebraska has highest known cancer rate in the world.

[capitalcityguy]

Originally Posted by Alt Dach

One thing people dont mention about a lot of those small midwestern towns is that
industrial monoculture corn agriculrure requires massive amounts of fertilizer and pesticides which leaves the water table highly toxic. Nebraska has highest known cancer rate in the world.

Can you cite a source for your claim that NE has the highest cancer rate in the world?

[minnimouse]

Wilton is a great small town. The people are friendly and the schools are good.

[iowagirl1977]

Originally Posted by L4truth

I lived in Norway, IA. for 5 years and wish I never left. It is a pretty small town and doesn't have as much as it used to (used to have a restaurant, high school and grocery store that are no longer there) but it has grown with new residential areas on the outskirts. The people are mostly nice and caring. I really loved it. Too bad Southern Benton county doesn't have a whole lot of good paying job opportunities, but it does have some. Frontier Herbs Coop is right there in Norway and Cedar Rapids is right nearby. Any body else have thoughts on the S. Benton County area?

Also, I would like to hear more about "lazy, etc." towns in the Scott county area and/or comparisons of that area and the Cedar Rapids area. Thanks so much!

Scott county area...i lived in Davenport/Bettendorf for about 3 yrs. in a little town called Princeton. loved it!! but i grew up in FT MADISON iowa. state pen. lovely. but very nice little old fashioned town. just south of Burlington. i really like that area.

[primalclaws1974]

There are people saying look at Newton, no bad idea, now that Maytag's gone the economy is horrible. People suggesting Dyersville, where everyone is very stuck up. I'm sorry but they are! If you weren't born there you won't fit in.
I live in Grinnell and its big enough where not everyone knows your biz, but small enough where crime is low. It's about 10,000 people. There are 10-15 factories here for work, and plenty of farmland around the town. The town is self-sustaining.