Marengo offers schools, health care and county government services
Marengo, a city in eastern Iowa with a population of around 2,500, serves as the seat of Iowa County and hosts its schools and government offices. In more recent years, the hospital has also been updated. “For a small community hospital, this one has been amazing,” says Julie Howe, a broker associate with Sandersfeld Realty Company who has lived in the area for more than 20 years. “Up until a few years ago, I think the last baby born there was in the mid-1960s, and now we’re having babies delivered and hip and knee surgeries.” With the newly-improved health care offerings, as well as schools and county services, residents can enjoy Marengo’s relatively calm setting without needing to rely heavily on larger cities like Cedar Rapids.
Homes in Marengo range from 19th-century builds to newer designs
Most of the community’s streets are laid out in a grid pattern, and sidewalks and alleys are relatively common in the center of the city. Off-street parking is prevalent throughout the area. While a few homes date back to the late 1800s, most were built in the 20th century. “There are also some newer ones, but you don’t see them for sale quite as often,” Howe says. Designs include bungalows, American Foursquares and ranch-style houses. Fixer-uppers typically sell between $30,000 and $100,000, depending on their condition, though most sales fall in the $100,000 to $430,000 range. Parts of the city are prone to flooding, so lenders may require flood insurance.
Iowa Valley schools hold B ratings
Some homes are within walking distance of Marengo’s two schools. Children can attend Iowa Valley Elementary School, followed by Iowa Valley Junior-Senior High School. Both get a B from Niche. The junior-senior high offers several extracurricular activities, including cheer, football, esports and Future Farmers of America.
Marengo’s outdoor spaces include ball fields and a riverside park
Marengo has a variety of spaces for both passive and active recreation. The centrally located Marengo City Park features shaded play structures, a picnic pavilion and a small bandstand. Local baseball and softball teams practice on the ball fields at Marengo Lions Park. Gateway Park and Preserve spans more than 100 acres beside the Iowa River, and it includes boat ramps, walking trails and a lake. The Marengo Aquatic Center, which has an outdoor pool and children’s spray area, opened in 2025, while Lucky 6 Lanes, the locally owned bowling alley, has been a community staple since the 1950s.
Just a few miles north of Marengo is the nearly 70-acre Gunderson Wildlife Area, a popular hunting and fishing destination. To the south of the city is the Marengo Golf Club, with a nine-hole golf course that is open to the public.
A few local businesses, driving to Coralville or Cedar Rapids for more
A walkable downtown area surrounds Marengo City Park, featuring a handful of local businesses in historical brick row buildings. DK’s Eatery serves traditional American fare, and Casa Magnolia offers Mexican food. For burgers and pizza, some people head to Lucky 6 Lanes, which has a small restaurant. At Brewed+Bronzed Boutique, patrons can shop for plants while they wait for their specialty lattes or dirty sodas. Larger businesses, including Big "G" Foods and Marengo Farm & Home, are located in the southern part of the city.
Amana, less than 15 miles east, boasts several German restaurants, and The Shops at Williamsburg outlet mall is roughly 10 miles south. Coralville and Cedar Rapids, both within a 35-mile drive, offer additional retail and dining options.
The Iowa County Fair and the third of July are big events
Community members gather for activities throughout the year, including a seasonal farmers market and a fall festival. “The third of July is very big,” Howe says. “We do everything you’d do on the Fourth of July — fireworks, some live music in the park and kids’ games. That way, you can go somewhere else on the fourth and you get two days out of it.”
July also brings county residents to Marengo for the Iowa County Fair. “It’s focused mainly on the kids in 4-H,” Lowe says. “When we moved here and our son started 4-H, probably 20 years ago, there were no rides, just 4-H animals and shows. Since then, they’ve expanded to a few small rides.”
Some jobs in Marengo, and access to U.S. Route 6 for commuter travel
Iowa County Transportation provides on-demand transportation for residents without vehicles. Most people rely on cars for travel, however, and U.S. Route 6 is the main thoroughfare. Marengo has several employers, including the schools and Compass Memorial Healthcare, although some residents commute to Middle Amana, just over 10 miles east, where there is a Whirlpool manufacturing plant. The Eastern Iowa Airport is about 30 miles away in Cedar Rapids.
Freight tracks run through the southern part of the city, and trains periodically make stops at the grain elevator. Passing trains may cause delays on Eastern and Western avenues.
EPA oversaw cleanup after 2022 asphalt plant explosion
In late 2022, there was an explosion at C6-Zero, an asphalt recycling plant on the eastern edge of the city. The EPA monitored cleanup efforts, which included removing polluted soil, and the site was removed from the Superfund list in 2024.
