Rich rail history and new opportunities coming to pasture
At the center of Iowa, Boone continues its legacy as an industrial hub. The city has a long history of coal mining and agriculture, with rich farmlands surrounding Boone's core. The Union Pacific Railroad expanded the city's sphere of influence, making it a major employer today. An economic development commission works to bring more business to Boone, such as a new Daisy Brands dairy processing facility proposed to be operating by 2029. Cherie Angstrom, a 47-year city parks department staffer, expects the factory to attract many more families —and cows — to the city. "I come from a small town, so I've always liked that Boone has more to offer without being too big," she says. "And if you can't find what you need in Boone, it's less than an hour's trip to Des Moines and half an hour to Ames."
Boone's railroad history is apparent right when you get into town.
Boone residents take pride in their homes, their city, and their community.
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Riding the rails and cliff trails
J.B. McHose Park is the city's largest, featuring six playgrounds, several sports courts, a dog park, nature trails and even an equestrian area. The park also has the Boone Municipal Pool. John Hansen Memorial Skate Rink is open in winter, and Franklin Park's playground was recently renovated to include an obstacle course suited for older kids. While not inside the city, Ledges State Park welcomes camping, fishing, canoeing and cycling along its streams and sandstone cliffs. A major attraction is the Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad. The heritage rail offers passenger train rides daily and hosts the Rail Explorers. This experience lets people travel the rails via an open-air, pedal-powered vehicle. Railfans come from all over the state to enjoy the city's rail-centered attractions. "We have lots of tourist things here, and we welcome visitors. We need them to keep the economy going," Angstrom says.
Legdes State Park is just south of Boone as is a Midwest destination.
The Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad operates tours, programs, and a museum.
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New construction boom due to lucrative city incentive
Bungalows, ranch-style homes and two-story houses are typical. Most homes look nothing like their neighbors', sporting architectural quirks like asymmetrically slanted roofs, Queen Anne-style turrets and porthole windows. Median prices are around $195,000, less than half the national median. A housing-incentive program encourages new construction by offering homeowners $10,000 for each custom single-family home or townhome built to city specifications.
Large trees shade older Boone homes in the center of town.
New construction homes are popping up around the edges of Boone.
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Home of Fareway and Casey's General Store
Downtown's mom-and-pop shops stand alongside locally owned restaurants. In 1938, the first Fareway store opened in Boone. Now, the grocery store chain is a top 10 employer in the state, with more than 120 locations throughout the Midwest. The city is also the home of Casey's General Store, the nation's fourth-largest convenience store chain. Programs such as Jump Start Boone and the Boone Downtown Incentive Fund support the city's central businesses. "We were just named a Main Street USA, and that's brought a lot of money in to revitalize the downtown," Angstrom says.
Theaters, shops, restaurants, and local businesses can all be found in historic Downtown Boone.
Fareway was established in Boone and now has a newer store on the south side of town.
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Just a city over from Iowa State University
Over 2,000 students attend the Boone Community School District, which has a C-plus Niche grade. Des Moines Area Community College has operated its Boone campus since 1969, and the city is within 14 miles of Iowa State University. The institutions have B-minus and A ratings, respectively, with Niche ranking ISU as the state's top value college.
Boone High School is home to around 700 area high school students.
Boone also has a small Des Moines Area Community College Campus in town.
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Short commutes and low traffic
The city's thoroughfares are Story Street, Fourth Street and Highway 30. Angstrom says, "It's a 5-minute commute from one end of town to the other. You don't even notice the traffic until you get close to Des Moines." Union Pacific Railroad's mainline and Boone County Hospital are both beside downtown. The closest airport is Des Moines International Airport, 54 miles away.
Playing host to the annual Farm Progress Show
Pufferbilly Days celebrate the city's railroad heritage. The celebration is considered one of Iowa's top five festivals, with over 30,000 attendees. The Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad hosts "Days Out with Thomas," featuring children's favorite Thomas the Tank Engine and the Boone Speedway holds the Speedway Motors IMCA SuperNationals. Boone also hosts the annual Farm Progress Show, which draws more than 200,000 attendees. During the college sports season, the city sees an influx of visitors. "We're really close to ISU in Ames, so we get some overflow when all their hotels are full on game days," Angstrom says. "People get a little peek of what it's like here and end up coming back because they didn't know we have so much."
Crime
Crime data for the city of Boone is currently available.
Written By
Isabel Butler
Photography Contributed By
Drew Davis
Video By
Rebecca Askin
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