Postville is one of the most diverse small towns in Iowa
Postville is a small town in northeastern Iowa’s scenic Driftless Region. It began as a frontier settlement in 1843, named after Joel Post, who built the area’s first cabin, before quickly transforming into a minor agricultural hub. The economy has long depended on agriculture and livestock, both through surrounding farms and through processing. The town may be best known for its industrial kosher meat processing plant, which was founded in 1987 and drew a sizable population of Hasidic Jews to Postville that remains there today. “It’s a very diverse community, especially compared to other parts of Iowa, which I think definitely makes it a more interesting place to live. The city motto is “Hometown to the World,” says area Realtor Ryan Johnson of Allen Real Estate Company. “It definitely still has a small-town, close-knit feel, though.”
A variety of traditional midwestern housing styles
Much of Postville’s housing stock consists of modest single-family homes built in the early to mid-20th century, with some newer construction on the town’s outskirts. Similarly, most homes in the area are tightly gridded, but newer developments on the outskirts can feature larger yards. The vast majority of the land surrounding Postville is devoted to large-scale agriculture. Most homes in town sell for between $130,000 and $210,000, though larger, more modern homes can go for as high as $380,000. Farms outside of town can go for considerably more than that, though exactly how much depends on acreage.
Lulls Park and nearby hunting and fishing
There are a few midsize public parks scattered around town. Lulls Park is the largest and busiest of these, offering picnic areas, a playground and the Postville Pool. Hunting, fishing and boating are popular pastimes in the area. The Yellow River passes just a few miles north of town, while the Mississippi and a number of adjacent wilderness areas can be found 25 miles to the east.
A quaint downtown with impressive culinary diversity
The shopping and dining landscape is shaped by the community’s mix of cultures. Nowhere is this more visible than in Postville’s quaint, walkable downtown area. Visitors walking down the street will pass highly rated Mexican restaurants, hardware and appliance stores, and a Jewish Community Center and Kosher Market. Additional Midwestern diners and taverns still operate, but the presence of multiple languages on storefronts gives Postville a different look than many neighboring towns of its size. There are also two Mexican Markets and a Dollar General in town, but residents looking for a full-service supermarket have to make the 16-mile drive to Waukon. Those looking for local produce can stop by the Thursday Farmer’s Market, which runs from July through September.
Postville Community Schools
Darling Elementary and Middle School earns a C-minus grade from Niche, while Mott High School receives a B-minus. While the Jewish population isn’t as large as it once was, the local Orthodox Synagogue still runs a well-attended Torah Education Program.
The Big Four Fair showcases youth agriculture
Postville’s event schedule is somewhat sparse. That said, the local 4H group has been holding the Big Four Fair here for over 100 years. The fair, held in June, centers around youth competitions ranging from Lego building contests to pig, cow and sheep breeding.
Private transportation is a necessity
U.S. Routes 52 and 18 and state Route 51 all converge in Postville, connecting it to the outside world. There’s no regular public transportation in town, so locals generally rely on cars to get around. It’s a little over 20 miles from Postville to larger towns like Decorah and Prairie du Chien. “It can feel remote, but a lot of people in the area will make the commute to Decora or Wisconsin and not even think about it,” says Johnson. “It’s not like there’s ever any real traffic, so it’s easy to cover the distance.” The nearest small cities, La Crosse and Waterloo, are both about 70 miles away by car.
Cultural Diversity in Postville
Postville’s Orthodox Jewish community has been the subject of multiple books. The community first came to Postville in 1987 with the opening of Agriprocessors, a Kosher meatpacking plant. The plant has been the subject of controversy, and was the target of the largest immigration raid in U.S. history in 2008. However, it has also breathed new life into the local economy, becoming the area’s largest employer while drawing large numbers of Eastern Europe, Latin American, and later, Somali workers to the town.
