So is it really as bad as some posters say?

[Chicago60614]

Originally Posted by kev6690

Agreed, but I still stand by the fact that most of the people in these towns are related, and there are some 2nd cousins and things that do end up marrying.

What 4 or 5 metros? DSM and the Quad Cities are the only two areas with any real type of suburbs.



Oh yes, I agree. The bigger cities are fairly normal.

Omaha CSA: 858,720
Des Moines CSA: 604,626
Cedar Rapids + Iowa City: 388,887
Quad Cities: 377,291

These areas are spread out so that most people in the state, especially the eastern part, can get there in an hour or so. I know the QC's and Omaha have populations in other states, but they're just across the rivers, and easily accessable for anyone in Iowa living within 40-60 miles. I included Iowa City and Cedar Rapids, just cause you can go to the northern areas of the Iowa City metro and be in southern Cedar Rapids in literally 15-20 minutes. I use to date someone in Cedar Rapids, and I could go from downtown Iowa City to downtown Cedar Rapids in 30 minutes. It takes me that long to go 3 miles in Chicago

[scimitar12]

Having been born and raised in Davenport I can tell you that the town is basically what you make of it. The people for the most part are pretty friendly, the public schools are at least above average, and, much better than schools in larger cities in the U.S.

The city is basically sinking all its money into its continuing struggle to revitalize downtown, and building the northeast corner of the city. From what I understand the rest of the city is ignored. A big plus for the area are all the cool big and little music festivals and simlar cultural activities. When I grew up there in the 60s and 70s there was really nothing to do in the QCs. Now the Bix fest, blues fest and lots of other goings-on have grown a lot.

The job market has always been cyclical in Davenport and the rest of the area. The QCs never really recovered from the blood-letting of high-paying union and blue collar jobs in the early 80s. If someone is not with Deere or with one of the hospital chains, I am not sure if he/she can make decent money in the area.

[scimitar12]

Originally Posted by K-Luv

So the only way to get culture is raise the population of a minority group? For a predominately white state, Des Moines is just slightly less then the national average for Black and Hispanic populations (for a city of it's size).

For those who know anything about the K.C. metropolitan area and Johnson County Kansas: What is the difference between yogurt and Johnson County? Yogurt has culture.

Given the messages on this thread, I just thought I would throw this in. Course, if none of you know the lay of the land in K.C.....

[mrsb24]

I was raised in the same areas as ft. madison and keokuk. every community around there is great. i would love to live there again someday.