Clinton, Iowa

[SortaMobile]

Originally Posted by SharpHawkeye

I agree. It seems that Iowa has a lot of nice small towns in the 10k and below range (Decorah, Pella, Boone, etc.), then several really troubled cities in the 20-30k range (Ottumwa, Clinton, Marshalltown, etc.), then a lot of nice cities in the 35-100k range (Ames, Davenport, Iowa City etc.), then Cedar Rapids, the QC and Des Moines, which are also nice.

It's troubling why there is this big gap in livability.

It's troubling, but the answer is clear. Manufacturing has been hammered in the US over the last twenty years. That's been the bread and butter of Iowa's small cities in the 20-30k range. I grew up near Ottumwa, and the loss of Ottumwa as a viable economic engine hurts the whole area, just the same as the other small cities in the 20-30k range. And nearly all of these cities haven't been able to find replacement "big drivers" for their economies. What they need are budding little Vermeers and Pella Windows, but big, home-grown entities like that take a generation or more to grow.

Then there's Indian Hills in Ottumwa which trains lots of young people in solid, often high tech trades. But, almost all of them have leave the area to find jobs in their fields. I wish I knew the answer to help the economies of these small cities, but I don't. Meanwhile Iowa's economy continues to consolidate in the CR/IC and Ames/DM corridors.

[amgrjs0514]

I am going to be moving to Clinton from Rockford, IL and have been having ridiculously tough time finding apartment info on the internet. I will be visiting soon but it would be nice too have narrowed my search before I got there. Any suggestions?

[dlpatte1]

My spouse interviewed for a job at Ashford and I went along to see what the city is like. Ashford is small and old. I didn't like it at all. I hated Clinton. I think it had to have been on of the most sad and depressed places I have ever been. Lots of slums, run down downtown, the neighborhoods are inconsistant and the city is not planned very well. There are a few factories in the city which make it even worse. I like the Quad Cites a lot better!

[Northern Traveler]

Originally Posted by SortaMobile

Meanwhile Iowa's economy continues to consolidate in the CR/IC and Ames/DM corridors.

This is not true, there is Davenport, Waterloo-Cedar Falls, & Sioux City which play large roles in the state economy.... possibly Council Bluffs. Where are you from?

[QuadCityImages]

Don't forget Dubuque.

[Northern Traveler]

Originally Posted by QuadCityImages

Don't forget Dubuque.

thanks

[CutiePie24]

Erm... That plant that makes the corn to the ethonal? There's one in CR... There's just something about the smell that makes me not want to go around that part. Thats my only problem with that... Other than that I have only droven through Clinton.

And I like the advice NT gives