Iowa is a state full of small towns. Although we do have some pretty great cities, the small towns are what really make up our state’s unique personality. We told you about some great small towns in this article, and now we’re bringing you 10 more little towns in Iowa where life moves a little slower and the sense of community is strong:
- Anita
Jared Winkler/Wikipedia With a population of just over 1,100, Anita is a true small town. The very popular Lake Anita State Park sits just outside of town lines. Anita’s adorably ironic town slogan is “A Whale of a Town.” Anita, IA 50020, USA
- Belle Plaine
flickr/David Wilson With a population of 2,534, Belle Plaine is a bit larger than some of the other small towns here. It exudes a small-town feel, however, with quiet streets and friendly people. Random fun fact: there’s a river that flows beneath the town! Belle Plaine, IA 52208, USA
- Belmond
City of Belmond Belmond, in Wright County, is home to 2,376 people. It’s a beautiful little town that values green public spaces and features a gorgeous paved walking trail right through the town. Belmond, IA 50421, USA
- Cascade
By Billwhittaker at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=21179062 This beautiful eastern Iowa town of 2,207 calls itself “The Place We Call Home.” Cascade has a fantastic downtown shopping district and plenty of great festivals every year to keep residents entertained. Cascade, IA 52033, USA
- Clear Lake
flickr/photolibrarian Clear Lake is one of the best small towns in Iowa – and it’s criminally overlooked! It sits on the shores of the beautiful Clear Lake, which brings in lots of tourist traffic. This town was the location of the last performances of Ritchie Valens, Buddy Holly, and The Big Bopper before their tragic plane crash in 1959. Clear Lake, IA 50428, USA
- Clermont
flickr/Allen Just 585 people call Clermont home, giving the town a close-knit feel. Clermont sits on the banks of the Turkey River and boasts a number of historic sites, making it the perfect place to spend an afternoon exploring.
- LeClaire
CC BY 3.0, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=33600294 Situated right on the Mississippi River, LeClaire is a beautiful little town that’s one of the larger locales on this list, with a population of 4,710 as of 2020. One of the best small towns in Iowa, LeClaire features lots of stunning 19th century architecture. LeClaire is the home of Antique Archaeology, the antique store owned by the star of the show “American Pickers.”
- Marquette
flickr/Tony Webster With a tiny population of just over 400, Marquette is home to Lady Luck Casino, a winery, antique shops, and a beautiful river boardwalk. For nature lovers, Pikes Peak State Park and Effigy Mounds National Monument are both nearby.
- Shenandoah
flickr/dave gill This sweet little southwestern Iowa town is another “big little city” – it’s home to a little over 4,700 people. With great public schools and a low cost of living, Shenandoah, Iowa, is an excellent place to settle down and raise a family.
- Winterset
flickr/Jimmy Emerson, DVM Located in Madison County, Winterset is a gem of a small town in Iowa. It’s also home to six covered bridges made famous by the book and movie The Bridges of Madison County. Winterset is the birthplace of silver screen legend John Wayne.
Small Iowa towns are some of the sweetest places you’ll ever visit. Stop on by any of these places to enjoy the scenery and be treated like a neighbor. What do you think; are these not the best small towns in Iowa? If we missed your favorite little locale, please share it with us in the comments below!
Jared Winkler/Wikipedia
With a population of just over 1,100, Anita is a true small town. The very popular Lake Anita State Park sits just outside of town lines. Anita’s adorably ironic town slogan is “A Whale of a Town.”
Anita, IA 50020, USA
flickr/David Wilson
With a population of 2,534, Belle Plaine is a bit larger than some of the other small towns here. It exudes a small-town feel, however, with quiet streets and friendly people. Random fun fact: there’s a river that flows beneath the town!
Belle Plaine, IA 52208, USA
City of Belmond
Belmond, in Wright County, is home to 2,376 people. It’s a beautiful little town that values green public spaces and features a gorgeous paved walking trail right through the town.
Belmond, IA 50421, USA
By Billwhittaker at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=21179062
This beautiful eastern Iowa town of 2,207 calls itself “The Place We Call Home.” Cascade has a fantastic downtown shopping district and plenty of great festivals every year to keep residents entertained.
Cascade, IA 52033, USA
flickr/photolibrarian
Clear Lake is one of the best small towns in Iowa – and it’s criminally overlooked! It sits on the shores of the beautiful Clear Lake, which brings in lots of tourist traffic. This town was the location of the last performances of Ritchie Valens, Buddy Holly, and The Big Bopper before their tragic plane crash in 1959.
Clear Lake, IA 50428, USA
flickr/Allen
Just 585 people call Clermont home, giving the town a close-knit feel. Clermont sits on the banks of the Turkey River and boasts a number of historic sites, making it the perfect place to spend an afternoon exploring.
CC BY 3.0, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=33600294
Situated right on the Mississippi River, LeClaire is a beautiful little town that’s one of the larger locales on this list, with a population of 4,710 as of 2020. One of the best small towns in Iowa, LeClaire features lots of stunning 19th century architecture. LeClaire is the home of Antique Archaeology, the antique store owned by the star of the show “American Pickers.”
flickr/Tony Webster
With a tiny population of just over 400, Marquette is home to Lady Luck Casino, a winery, antique shops, and a beautiful river boardwalk. For nature lovers, Pikes Peak State Park and Effigy Mounds National Monument are both nearby.
flickr/dave gill
This sweet little southwestern Iowa town is another “big little city” – it’s home to a little over 4,700 people. With great public schools and a low cost of living, Shenandoah, Iowa, is an excellent place to settle down and raise a family.
flickr/Jimmy Emerson, DVM
Located in Madison County, Winterset is a gem of a small town in Iowa. It’s also home to six covered bridges made famous by the book and movie The Bridges of Madison County. Winterset is the birthplace of silver screen legend John Wayne.
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The OIYS Visitor Center
best small towns in Iowa September 12, 2021 Sarah What’s the most scenic small town in Iowa? We can’t pick just one scenic small town in Iowa as the superlative superstar, so here are 10! While each one is delightful and full of character, these Iowa towns somehow manage to shine a bit brighter than the rest. On the list, Pella, The Amana Colonies, Decorah, and Orange City are particularly lovely. We also love Mount Vernon and Lisbon, two lovely little towns perfect for exploring. While you’re in the area, spend a day (or two) at Palisades-Kepler State Park, and when you get hungry, check out Skillet Cafe. Make sure to visit again in early May so you can check out the Chalk the Walk Festival, where artists from all across Iowa gather to create beautiful chalk art on the street. Visit the Mount Vernon-Lisbon website to peruse a calendar of events and other information about visiting both lovely little locales. What are the best small towns in Iowa for day trips? We simply adore the small Iowa town of Pella. Known for its Dutch culture and postcard-perfect downtown, Pella really is the perfect destination for a family-friendly getaway in Iowa. Less than an hour from Des Moines, Pella is a small town that feels like entering another time and place – and country! Founded by immigrants from Holland in 1847, Pella is a place that celebrates its Netherlands culture and heritage. The downtown is absolutely resplendent, filled with whimsical windmills, Dutch architecture and shops, and lovely green areas that, during the spring, come alive with the color of thousands of tulips! What’s the smallest town in Iowa? While the above towns in Iowa are small, they’re nowhere near as tiny as Le Roy! As of 2020, the population of Le Roy, Iowa is (are you ready for this?) 14. Yep – just 14 residents call Le Roy home! This teeny-tiny town is often paired with Beaconsfield, another little locale in Iowa that edges out Le Roy’s population… but just barely. As of 2020, the population of Beaconsfield was just 15. Talk about tiny!
The OIYS Visitor Center
best small towns in Iowa
September 12, 2021
Sarah
What’s the most scenic small town in Iowa? We can’t pick just one scenic small town in Iowa as the superlative superstar, so here are 10! While each one is delightful and full of character, these Iowa towns somehow manage to shine a bit brighter than the rest. On the list, Pella, The Amana Colonies, Decorah, and Orange City are particularly lovely. We also love Mount Vernon and Lisbon, two lovely little towns perfect for exploring. While you’re in the area, spend a day (or two) at Palisades-Kepler State Park, and when you get hungry, check out Skillet Cafe. Make sure to visit again in early May so you can check out the Chalk the Walk Festival, where artists from all across Iowa gather to create beautiful chalk art on the street. Visit the Mount Vernon-Lisbon website to peruse a calendar of events and other information about visiting both lovely little locales. What are the best small towns in Iowa for day trips? We simply adore the small Iowa town of Pella. Known for its Dutch culture and postcard-perfect downtown, Pella really is the perfect destination for a family-friendly getaway in Iowa. Less than an hour from Des Moines, Pella is a small town that feels like entering another time and place – and country! Founded by immigrants from Holland in 1847, Pella is a place that celebrates its Netherlands culture and heritage. The downtown is absolutely resplendent, filled with whimsical windmills, Dutch architecture and shops, and lovely green areas that, during the spring, come alive with the color of thousands of tulips! What’s the smallest town in Iowa? While the above towns in Iowa are small, they’re nowhere near as tiny as Le Roy! As of 2020, the population of Le Roy, Iowa is (are you ready for this?) 14. Yep – just 14 residents call Le Roy home! This teeny-tiny town is often paired with Beaconsfield, another little locale in Iowa that edges out Le Roy’s population… but just barely. As of 2020, the population of Beaconsfield was just 15. Talk about tiny!
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
We can’t pick just one scenic small town in Iowa as the superlative superstar, so here are 10! While each one is delightful and full of character, these Iowa towns somehow manage to shine a bit brighter than the rest. On the list, Pella, The Amana Colonies, Decorah, and Orange City are particularly lovely. We also love Mount Vernon and Lisbon, two lovely little towns perfect for exploring. While you’re in the area, spend a day (or two) at Palisades-Kepler State Park, and when you get hungry, check out Skillet Cafe. Make sure to visit again in early May so you can check out the Chalk the Walk Festival, where artists from all across Iowa gather to create beautiful chalk art on the street. Visit the Mount Vernon-Lisbon website to peruse a calendar of events and other information about visiting both lovely little locales.
What are the best small towns in Iowa for day trips?
We simply adore the small Iowa town of Pella. Known for its Dutch culture and postcard-perfect downtown, Pella really is the perfect destination for a family-friendly getaway in Iowa. Less than an hour from Des Moines, Pella is a small town that feels like entering another time and place – and country! Founded by immigrants from Holland in 1847, Pella is a place that celebrates its Netherlands culture and heritage. The downtown is absolutely resplendent, filled with whimsical windmills, Dutch architecture and shops, and lovely green areas that, during the spring, come alive with the color of thousands of tulips!
What’s the smallest town in Iowa?
While the above towns in Iowa are small, they’re nowhere near as tiny as Le Roy! As of 2020, the population of Le Roy, Iowa is (are you ready for this?) 14. Yep – just 14 residents call Le Roy home! This teeny-tiny town is often paired with Beaconsfield, another little locale in Iowa that edges out Le Roy’s population… but just barely. As of 2020, the population of Beaconsfield was just 15. Talk about tiny!
