Pat Kinney / IowaWatch

Iowa's shrinking towns could be state, regional mentors

Some Iowa towns may be shrinking in population, but they may have an impact on other communities in Iowa and beyond. Officials with the Iowa League of Cities and researchers

By Pat Kinney / IowaWatch

/ 25 Feb 2022

Iowa's shrinking towns could be state, regional mentors

Generations of local leaders propel Bancroft, population 699

BANCROFT – The city of Bancroft, called “the garden spot of Iowa” for almost 90 years, may not be growing in population. But like a good perennial plant with solid roots,

By Pat Kinney / IowaWatch

/ 25 Feb 2022

Generations of local leaders propel Bancroft, population 699

Elma, population 505, meets town needs through bridge building, $1.4 million project

ELMA – This town is all about building bridges – even though you normally won’t find an expanse of water much wider than Mead Creek on the northwest edge of town.

By Pat Kinney / IowaWatch

/ 25 Feb 2022

Elma, population 505, meets town needs through bridge building, $1.4 million project

Sac City, population 2,000, builds on its good bones

SAC CITY – This city is home to the World’s Largest Popcorn Ball, but there’s more than that popping in Sac City. The city initiated a successful streetscape project,

By Pat Kinney / IowaWatch

/ 25 Feb 2022

Sac City, population 2,000, builds on its good bones

How 3 Iowa towns are getting smaller but smarter through Iowa State program

A handful of Iowa communities and a group of Iowa State University researchers are trying to demonstrate that less can, in fact, be more, and small can, in fact, be

By Pat Kinney / IowaWatch

/ 24 Feb 2022

How 3 Iowa towns are getting smaller but smarter through Iowa State program

Parkersburg grits through pandemic

PARKERSBURG, Iowa – After a killer tornado in 2008 and the murder of a beloved community leader a year later, many folks in Parkersburg felt they could take just about any

By Pat Kinney / IowaWatch

/ 6 Oct 2021

Belmond makes sweet music out of COVID

BELMOND, Iowa – Rob and Melissa Arnold are emerging from the pandemic of the past year and a half. Instead of waiting it out, the Arnolds took advantage of the opportunity

By Pat Kinney / IowaWatch

/ 5 Oct 2021

Denver, Iowa, aiming for new heights after pandemic

DENVER, Iowa – The Bremer County community of Denver, which has dubbed itself “The Mile Wide City,” in contrast to its altitudinally enhanced Colorado counterpart, had quite a mountain to climb

By Pat Kinney / IowaWatch

/ 26 Aug 2021

Denver, Iowa, aiming for new heights after pandemic

La Porte City 'rumbles' through pandemic

LA PORTE CITY, Iowa – This town emerged from the pandemic “ready to rumble” – literally. The city of La Porte City completed a $3 million “streetscape” renovation of Main Street downtown

By Pat Kinney / IowaWatch

/ 26 Aug 2021

Iowa's shrinking towns could be state, regional mentors

Generations of local leaders propel Bancroft, population 699

Elma, population 505, meets town needs through bridge building, $1.4 million project

Sac City, population 2,000, builds on its good bones

How 3 Iowa towns are getting smaller but smarter through Iowa State program

Parkersburg grits through pandemic

Belmond makes sweet music out of COVID

Denver, Iowa, aiming for new heights after pandemic

La Porte City 'rumbles' through pandemic

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