Info on Grinnell, IA please (Des Moines, Cedar Rapids: homes, employment, movie theater)

[DWKelley]

You may note that I have placed a very simlar request for info for the region of Sioux City, IA. I appreciate your tolerance of my multiple info reuqests.

Again, I am considering an employment opportunity in Grinnell, IA & would sincerely appreciate any inside poop that can be offered onj life in & around Grinnell, IA.

Thanks in advance for your time & efforts.


Dave

[mfrerkes]

Grinnell is typically what you find in rural central Iowa: a town in the range of 5,000 to 10,000 people. The cost of living will be relatively low when compared to a Des Moines or Cedar Rapids, but so will the retail and recreational amenities. There is a fairly well-known (at least within Iowa) college located there.

Grinnell is roughly 55 miles east of Des Moines and 70 miles west of Iowa City. If you're an unapologetic urbanite, you'll likely see Grinnell as being in the middle of nowhere. However, if you're accustomed to rural Midwestern environs...Grinnell is probably quite suitable to your tastes.

[SharpHawkeye]

Grinnell is, as mfrerkes said, a nice small town around 10k people. For a small town, it's doing quite well. Not exactly a boom town, but it's holding its own. The town has an interesting feel--Grinnell College is a very liberal liberal arts college, and carries an elite academic, intellectual vibe; there's also the kind of small-town folks you find everywhere in rural Iowa.

Mrfrerkes is also right in saying that Grinnell is, well, pretty much in the middle of nowhere. It's close and easy enough to make a daytrip to Iowa City or Des Moines now and again--but not close enough to satisfy the "unapologetic urbanite".

Given that you're looking at Sioux City and Grinnell--I would take Grinnell any day.

[msturms]

Should mention that Grinnell College makes all of its events free-of-charge to the community. So you might not get the same choices as you would in a larger town, but you might find yourself taking greater advantage of what's there: concerts, athletic events, etc. And the College has the budget to bring in some interesting events.

Pretty town: very walkable/bikeable in good weather (winter can be miserable! -- but that's all over the midwest, of course).

[ksbd4]

I live very close to Grinnell, and I think it's a gorgeous town in its own right. The old victorian style homes on the north side of town are unique and gorgeous. It's a place where kids can play outside with their friends without worry. There are things to keep you occupied in town like golf courses, movie theater, many restaurants both sit down and fast food (my favorite is Pagliais), pools, and much more. The college activities are free and very exciting. Their basketball team has been featured on ESPN.
Plus Grinnell is right by Interstate-80 so travel to most places is easy. I like to call it a "central" location instead of "middle of nowhere" because your options are not limited. I don't know where you plan on working but there are a lot of major businesses in town. The hospital, Grinnell Mutual, Jeldwen, Donaldsons, Wells Fargo, etc. If I had to choose between Sioux City and Grinnell, I'd pick Grinnell any day!