Plainview offers a small community lifestyle and outdoor recreation
Considered the agricultural center of Wabasha County, the small city of Plainview is home to major food processing companies and about 3,300 residents. Located about 15 miles east of the Mississippi River and surrounded by valleys, forests and state parks, the city offers outdoor recreation, including hiking and fishing. In addition, Plainview’s residents are about 20 miles outside of Rochester, which is the area’s largest metropolitan center with an international airport, hospitals and retail hubs. “Location-wise, Plainview has a huge benefit," says Brad Jech, a Realtor at Tony Montgomery Realty & Auction with over 15 years of experience. "Many people work in Rochester on weekdays, and on the weekends, they can go to the Mississippi River or Whitewater State Park.”
Homebuyers will find eclectic housing options in Plainview
Like the city’s name suggests, Plainview lies on flat terrain, with linear streets around the city center and open fields and farmlands farther out. Homes range from workers' cottages and two-story houses built in the late Victorian Era to post-1950s ranch-styles and split-levels, with some 21st-century New Traditional properties in the mix. The median sale price is approximately $215,000, which is almost half the national median. Single-family homes typically sell from $150,000 to about $400,000, and townhouses are between $180,000 and $220,000. Yard sizes are usually around a quarter-acre, and many have grassy lawns and backyard decks. “The market is competitive for buyers because supply is limited, but we do have lots available for new construction, and builders can custom build your home," Jech says. "You might see a $150,000 property once in a while, but it’s pretty few and far between; most homes go between $200,000 and $500,000.”
Outdoor opportunities by the Mississippi River
Considered the city's recreation hub, Eckstein Park & Athletic Field has a public swimming pool, basketball and volleyball courts, a baseball field and a play area. Many residents also walk or jog along the trail at Eckstein Field. Wedgewood Park is the city’s oldest park, featuring a large open field for picnics and alfresco get-togethers. Eastwood Park is located on 3rd Avenue and has a small sports field for soccer and softball, tennis courts and a skating rink. Those into hiking can explore the 6-mile-long Great River Ridge Trail, and Carley State Park offers fishing, camping and hiking.
Public and private school options in Plainview
Plainview-Elgin-Millville (PEM) Public Schools serves the city of Plainview. PEM Elementary School has two buildings: one for prekindergarten to third grade and another for fourth through fifth grade. PEM PreK-3 gets an A-minus grade from Niche, and PEM 4-5 Building has a B-plus. PEM Middle School and PEM High School rate a B and a B-minus, respectively. The high school offers extracurricular activities and sports programs, ranging from an award-winning theater group, PEM One Act, to baseball, golf and trap teams. For private schooling, students may enroll in the PreK-8 Immanuel Lutheran School, which does not have a Niche score.
Shopping and dining options along Plainview's major thoroughfares
About a dozen restaurants, bars, coffee shops and retailers are concentrated along Plainview’s main thoroughfares, Broadway and Wabasha. Residents can get groceries and daily essentials at Bennett's Food Center and Family Dollar. Local eateries include Kim's Saloon & Grill and the breakfast spot Ma's Café. Big-box stores and shopping malls like Apache Mall are in Rochester, about 25 miles west.
Nearby hospitals and distance to Rochester
Minnesota State Highway 42 passes through Plainview, and Broadway is a major thoroughfare in the city. Residents can call Hiawathaland Transit to schedule a bus ride. Rochester International Airport is about 35 miles away. While several health clinics are in the city, general hospitals such as Olmsted Medical Center and Mayo Clinic Hospital, Saint Marys Campus, are in Rochester, which is about 25 miles away.
Traditional celebrations in Plainview
Plainview’s Corn on the Cob Days, a tradition for over 50 years, is a summer festival that takes place on the third weekend of August. The event offers a grand parade, free sweet corn, hundreds of vendors and food booths and a running race. Olde Fashioned Christmas has horse wagon rides and many Nativity scenes on display at the local Presbyterian Church.
