Cherokee offers a rural setting with plenty to keep busy
Surrounded by expansive corn and soybean fields, Cherokee is a small community in northwest Iowa offering a slow pace of life about an hour from Sioux City. “It’s a rural farming community, where most people know one another,” says Karen Peterson, a local Realtor with Northwest Realty who has over 25 years of experience selling homes in the area. “It’s a safe community. Cherokee is where I’ve lived all my life and raised my kids here. Now they are grown up and raising their families as well.” While its secluded setting offers separation from big-city bustle, a selection of local businesses and abundant outdoor recreation offer ways for locals to stay active.
Parks, the Little Sioux River and more offer year round recreation
Much of the area’s recreation centers around the outdoors. “Kayaking and fishing on the Little Sioux River is popular here,” Peterson says. Westcott Park on the river’s southern banks offers a public launch for motorless watercraft. Koser Spring Lake Park has playgrounds, dozens of campsites and a lake for casting a line. A series of hiking trails also dot the area. Cherokee Parks and Recreation is working to connect all of these pathways as a part of its ongoing Cherokee Trails Expansion Project. The recently built Magnetic Park will serve as its centerpiece. Cherokee Golf & Country Club offers a private nine-hole course, and Sanford Planetarium and Museum features rotating exhibits ranging from art to astronomy.
Homes range from historic Victorians to newly built ranch styles
Cherokee primarily consists of single-family homes, with build dates spanning more than 200 years. “A lot of our older homes were built in the early 1900s, and many are two-story traditional styles,” Peterson says. Cottages and Victorians also fill the central portion of the community, where narrow sidewalks pass beneath the mature black walnut and silver maple trees. Mid-to-late-20th-century ranch and split-level styles fill the outskirts of the community, where acreage can reach just under a half-acre. A development on the north side offers a selection of ranch styles built over the last 25 years. The median sales price is $135,000.
Residents dine locally downtown and shop big-box stores in Sioux City
More than a dozen locally owned businesses fill downtown Cherokee. “A lot of people will go down and walk the district,” Peterson says. “We have an amazing bookstore and several clothing boutiques. It’s an artsy downtown community.” Gasthaus Bar & Grille is a popular spot known for its large menu and vintage décor. Across the street, Mud on Main serves the morning crowd with coffee and breakfast, and pairs wine and beer with occasional live music in the evening. U.S. Route 59 offers more dining options, alongside Bomgaars for groceries and Dollar General. Peterson says most residents make the 55-mile trip southwest into Sioux City to shop big-box retailers like Walmart Supercenter.
Cherokee Washington High School offers dual enrollment
Roosevelt Elementary School and Cherokee Middle School earn C-plus ratings from Niche. Cherokee Washington High School scores a B. The high school offers dual enrollment courses taught on site or at Western Iowa Tech Community College's campus. The program allows students to earn college credits while exploring career fields like psychology and accounting.
Neighbors get together in late May for Cherokee PRCA Rodeo
Cherokee PRCA Rodeo has brought the community together for more than 55 years. The event occurs over a weekend in late May, when crowds gather to watch various rodeo performances and competitions, from barrel racing to team penning. A golf tournament, themed parade and Miss Rodeo Cherokee pageant are also a part of the festivities.
Major roadways connect Cherokee to surrounding cities
U.S. Route 59 and state Route 3 intersect on the community’s north side, supporting local and regional travel. “You can get anywhere in town in 5 to 10 minutes,” Peterson says. The latter links the area to Le Mars, 34 miles west. Sioux City is 55 miles southwest via U.S. Route 20, and is home to Sioux Gateway Airport. Cherokee Regional Medical Center is closer to home on Sioux Valley Drive.
Written By
Matthew Simmons
