Yes, I would have electricity in my garage. That same town made crap out of me when I had a honda in the 90's. They'll get there
Worst city in Iowa?
- Thread starter Cfinnerty16
- Start date
My hometown Sioux City shows up in this debate far less now that sewage treatment and the stockyards aren't right next to I29 creating the worst "welcome" smell imaginable.
The stockyards economic impact actually was worth the smell but that wasn't the perception.
The stockyards economic impact actually was worth the smell but that wasn't the perception.
I drive through a lot of depressing small towns on the back roads to Waterloo. Albion is one that comes to mind.
Interesting thread. I've traveled the entire state for the last 25 years and there aren't many towns or cities I haven't passed thru. I can find something to like in almost all of them! Mason City has amazing Prairie Style architecture. I like Ottumwa and Burlington - too many idle buildings but they're trying to do something with them. Fort Dodge has some beautiful churches. Sioux City boasts amazing architectural diversity in their downtown. I'm not going to name a "worst" city, but the two which make me saddest are Fort Madison and Keokuk.
Gotta be Keokuk or Fort Dodge, both are so bleak. Ottumwa only slightly better. Those are my podium winners.
I invest in Cedar Valley and have numerous projects going on, so I'm fully aware of what is going on. In the last 10+ years our projects in commercial real estate have turned more to CF for numerous reason and has proven to be the better investment. This graph is pretty good indication of what has happen to the
Waterloo...
As I mentioned earlier, I'm glad to see them investing in the schools. Unfortunately the city can't maintain 2-high schools anymore(use to be 3) and had to make major changes. For Waterloo to be competitive vs CF they needed this new high school. Jared Smith your Superintendent is a true Waterloo guy and will do wonders for that district.
Those new builds are closer to Hudson then Waterloo. Which I'm glad to see them building, but doesn't help the heart of the city.
Like I said, I'm Waterloo guy and have great pride for the city, but it has taken a step back. I view it as a less desirable city within Iowa.
Ottumwa isn't that bad.
The north side of town around Indian Hills has nice homes and I've done a bike ride through the west part of town out to Highway 34 and its fine.
Honestly, there aren't many bad towns in Iowa compared to most other states.
The north side of town around Indian Hills has nice homes and I've done a bike ride through the west part of town out to Highway 34 and its fine.
Honestly, there aren't many bad towns in Iowa compared to most other states.
My last year in the CV was 2006 and Waterloo was rough at the time. A lot of gang, drug issues and poor performing schools (East High was drop out U/highest drop out rate and it wasn't even close). Way back in the day CF was just UNI and the hill. CF seized their opportunity the last 25 years and they have capitalized on it.
I think it’s a lot more than just not bad. I don’t see how anyone can travel this state and not see Dubuque as one of the bright spots. It seems like one of the few large towns in Iowa that isn’t either a dump or boring, sterile chain-filled suburbia.
And there are some nice mid- and small towns, but in my travels over the past decades these seem to mostly be in gradual decline.
Spring Hill (not a city) between Norwalk and Indianola would be up there on the list. If you like meth then this is the place for you.
Meth is illegal in Iowa. I'm sure there isn't any meth in Spring Hill or anywhere else in God's Country
Can you even classify Gilbert as a town? It’s just houses and schools, an orthodontist and some dump where you can pay to cook your own steak.
Decorah, if you could call it a city. Most beautiful place in Iowa
There is a Casey's out to east and it has an elevator and seed store. Beautiful little town, built a new high school a few years ago and are starting to build a new elementary building this year I believe. Easy drive to Ames, what 10 minutes from the Ames mall and North Wal Mart. You could live in a lot of worst places than Gilbert.
Had a buddy that was an EMT. Said he would bring spare clothes in case he had to go to Lehigh. Then those clothes went into the garbage. He said there weren’t always bedbugs or fleas, but only in the places where the meth cooking made for too inhospitable environment.
i had a dream once where i united the autonomous zone of missouri, kentucky, arkansas and illinois. i made cairo my capital. it was awesome
