Questions concerning Cedar Rapids and Iowa City (Ames, Rockwell: best town, job market)

[jimdc58]

Can someone answer some simple questions, as they relate to Cedar Rapids and as they relate to Iowa City?

1. What is the business/job climate?
2. What is the social environment (liberal or conservative)? I realize both areas are Democratic, but that could be as a result of labor unions, or as a result of being progressive socially.
3. Are there good places in either town for a used bookstore, and is the business climate right for one?
4. What about physical climate as they relate to allergies, humidity, and tornadoes?

Most likely, I'll be visiting in November, and hope to check some things out then.

[Luke9686]

Questions concerning Cedar Rapids and Iowa City

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Can someone answer some simple questions, as they relate to Cedar Rapids and as they relate to Iowa City?

1. What is the business/job climate?
2. What is the social environment (liberal or conservative)? I realize both areas are Democratic, but that could be as a result of labor unions, or as a result of being progressive socially.
3. Are there good places in either town for a used bookstore, and is the business climate right for one?
4. What about physical climate as they relate to allergies, humidity, and tornadoes?

Most likely, I'll be visiting in November, and hope to check some things out then.



I'll chime in on this one. I know more about Iowa City, a little about Cedar Rapids.

1. Business climate is fair in Cedar Rapids, better in Iowa City. They both are somewhat college towns, with Iowa City having the bigger college (U of I, about 25,000 students). I would say more jobs are in Iowa City.

2. Social climate will be more liberal in Iowa City, but still on the conservative side. No matter where you go in Iowa, the most liberal you will see is middle of the road. Not right, not left. Iowa City will be a little more liberal than other places, due to the University, but still nothing like bigger cities.

3. The best town for the used bookstore will be Iowa City, simply because the strong student presence. You may also want to check out Ames, which is where Iowa State is. Check to see how many stores of this type are in these cities. Competition will be the biggest issue, but I think it will do ok.

4. Physical climate-hot humid summers, cold winters, excellent spring and fall. Has the typical four seasons. Not as humid and hot as in the south so it is bearable. When I lived in Iowa I had allergies due to high pollen, dust, ect. Tornadoes definately do happen in Iowa, but usually you don't have to worry. It's like earthquakes on the west coast and hurricanes on the east. They do happen but your chances of getting injured are slim.

Hope this helps.

Luke

[jds]

im from cedar rapids.....
1. job market in CR okay Rockwell is about it ICity have more jobs and the u of I
2. iowa city is liberal
3.Cedar rapids has a used bookstore called used books on Collins road NE which is the East side of Cr good place i go there often
Icity i would think they would due to the College

4. Summers are Hot and really Humid cold winters and snow is extremely common untill late feb! High allergies from high levels of dust and pollen! Tornados do happen as a matter of fact they had one in Iowa city and it was bad but they dont happen that often!
Gr8 place for a family wiht kids schools are gr8 and those Iowa hawkeyes footballs game are fun to go to.... if u live in Cr its only about a 25 min drive to kinnick stadium1