History preserved - just like a winning blue ribbon
Near the southeastern corner of Iowa, Mount Pleasant is connected to several metropolitan areas but keeps its sights set inward toward its heritage. The city boasts a few hometown heroes, and it's dedicated to preserving its natural beauty and agricultural roots — the industry that built Mount Pleasant. Its farming past is celebrated through festivals, annual traditions and The Midwest Old Threshers Heritage Museums, the community's biggest attraction. A Walmart distribution center near downtown is the city's largest employer, employing over 600 people. Manufacturing companies like Lomont Molding, Hearth & Home Technologies and Staats Awards are also job creators. "If you go to a state fair competition and win a really big, beautiful ribbon, it was most likely made here in Mount Pleasant," says Mount Pleasant Chamber of Commerce director Rachel Lindeen. Staats Awards is Mount Pleasant's oldest manufacturer, founded in 1898.
Mount Pleasant residents take pride in their town and the communities within it.
Mount Pleasant is home to around 9,250 people.
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Sunset vistas and vaudeville history
A network of bike trails passes through the city, offering a little over 4 miles of paved pathways. Several mid-sized city parks feature ponds, playgrounds and wide-open pastures. East Lake Park is a favorite for its fishing lake and gated dog park. In summer, the Mount Pleasant Family Aquatic Center opens its waterpark to the public. Outside the community, Oakland Mills Park offers stunning sunrise and sunset vistas. People also come for the park's primitive camping sites, fishing piers, nature trails and a disc golf course. The Midwest Old Threshers Heritage Museums & Business Office is a year-round attraction. The museums document the city's farming and vaudeville history. Visitors walk past giant printing presses, retired tractors and a bonafide steam carousel. The Theatre Museum of Repertoire Americana preserves photos, costumes, music scores and stage props dating back to the 1850s.
East Lake Park is a great spot for walks, fishing, and letting the dogs run free.
Midwest Old Threshers has a museum in Mount Pleasant, but also hosts a huge annual event.
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Taking the highway, bus or Amtrak to Des Moines
"Even though we're in the corner of the state, we're centrally located between major metropolitan areas and have really good infrastructure to get to them," says Lindeen. The city is roughly 70 miles from Cedar Rapids and the Eastern Iowa Airport, 140 miles from Des Moines and 260 miles from Chicago. Highways 218 and 34 are integral thoroughfares for travel, and each has a business route cutting through the city's center. Where the highways intersect can experience traffic congestion, but heavy traffic on smaller roads is less common. Public transportation options include a Greyhound bus station and an Amtrak train station. The city is home to one hospital, Henry County Health Center.
Main Street Mount Pleasant supports downtown
The city's utility rates and property tax levies offer lower costs to local businesses than in surrounding areas. Over 150 businesses are downtown, which is overseen by the Main Street Mount Pleasant nonprofit. Four committees in the organization work toward bringing new businesses and financial opportunities to the city while preserving historic architecture, like the Temple Theatre.
Downtown Mount Pleasant's buildings house thriving small businesses and restaurants.
Central Park serves as the hub for downtown and Mount Pleasant as a whole.
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Houses gain size around the outskirts
Ranch-style homes and bungalows are the most common housing styles in the city. Two-story New Traditional homes and bi-level houses often appear away from the city center. The city's median home price is under $165,000, less than half the national median.
Mount Pleasant has many historic and beautifully-maintained older homes in the center of town.
On the outskirts of Mount Pleasant, new homes come in a variety of shapes and sizes.
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School district serves over 2,000 students
Mount Pleasant Community School District has a C-plus Niche rating and serves a little over 2,000 students.
Mount Pleasant High School serves 600 students in grades 9-12.
Van Allen Elementary School is one of four elementary schools in Mount Pleasant Community School District.
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Thousands ride the Midwest Old Threshers train
The Midwest Old Threshers Reunion is the city's biggest event, spanning five days over Labor Day weekend. The celebration preserves deeply rooted local agricultural history. Over 40,000 people come from all over the county to see demonstrations from period actors, historic machinery, antique collections and pony shows. Activities also include train and trolley rides, a tractor obstacle course and country music concerts. Throughout the rest of the year, the Old Threshers put on other events, like a haunted rail, a winter Festival of Lights and The Greater Iowa Swap Meet & Flea Market.
Vistors to Midwest Old Threshers Museum can see rare pieces of American agriculture history.
Tens of thousands of visitors descend upon Mount Pleasant every Labor Day weekend for the Midwest Old Threshers Reunion.
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Crime statistics for Mount Pleasant
The FBI reports that while property crime in Mount Pleasant remained relatively unchanged between 2022 and 2023, violent crime significantly decreased.
Written By
Isabel Butler
Photography Contributed By
Drew Davis
Video By
Colleen Carey
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
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GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
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On average, homes in Mount Pleasant, IA sell after 65 days on the market compared to the national average of 50 days. The median sale price for homes in Mount Pleasant, IA over the last 12 months is $158,000, down 7% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Move-in ready home perfectly situated within walking distance to the library and vibrant Uptown Square. The main floor features a spacious kitchen with a cozy breakfast nook and included appliances, a formal dining room, a welcoming living room with a charming fireplace, plus a versatile family room. Upstairs, you'll find a comfortable master bedroom, two additional bedrooms, a convenient laundry
Split Foyer home on the end of the cul-de-sac. Oversized yard with a large storage shed that also has a lean to for extra covered storage room. Split level home with 2 bedrooms on the main floor and the 3rd bedroom on the lower level. Dining room has a rustic wall. Kitchen appliances to remain. Finished lower level features a large family room, 3rd bedroom, laundry/storage room plus extra
Updated home offering newer furnace, a/c, roof, appliances including washer and dryer, flooring, and interior paint. Main floor offers eat in kitchen with stainless steel appliances, living room, 3 bedrooms, and full bath with handicap accessibility. Lower level provides large family room, non-conforming 4th bedroom, 3/4 bath with tile surround shower and utility room with laundry. Attached
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