Small-town setting with amenities in Vinton
Vinton, located in eastern Iowa, serves as the seat of Benton County. Its location just south of the Cedar River made it ideal for early settlers to farm and trade. Today, the city is home to around 5,000 residents, and it offers “a small-town atmosphere with all the amenities of a larger town — a hospital, dentists and grocery stores,” says Tamara Stark-Mahood, a sales associate with Iowa Land Management and Real Estate who has lived in Vinton for more than 30 years. These services also provide jobs for many locals, although proximity to Cedar Rapids also attracts some commuters. “It’s a great place to live if you work in Cedar Rapids but don’t want to live in the big city,” Stark-Mahood says. “It’s about a 40-minute drive with very little traffic — you don’t have to get up and listen to the traffic report.”
Vinton’s downtown features locally owned businesses
The community has a variety of retail and dining options. “We have a traditional, old-fashioned downtown with stores, coffee shops and offices,” Stark-Mahood says. “Our stores have been here forever, so they’re doing well.” One of the downtown’s largest storefronts houses Brickside Brew-n-Chew, The Niche and Red Cedar Wines — a coffee shop, antique store and wine bar, respectively. Popular restaurants include Ron-Da-Voo Lounge & Deli, known for its nachos and wings, and Lotus Restaurant, which serves Chinese food. Beast & Bird, located on North K Avenue, is another local favorite. “It’s a fantastic smoked barbecue place with a nice, high-end bar,” Stark-Mahood says. Vinton’s two grocery stores are Fareway and Dollar Fresh. For malls and big-box retail, residents head to Waterloo or Cedar Rapids, both within a 35-mile drive.
Victorian and midcentury homes mix with newer development
Many Vinton streets are lined with sidewalks, and private driveways are also relatively common. In the central portion of the community, housing includes some well-preserved Victorian-era builds, early 1900s cottages and midcentury ranch-style homes. “We have a historical section, and other historical houses are peppered throughout the town,” Stark-Mahood says. On the outskirts of the city, there are a few newer developments with cul-de-sacs and ranch-style houses.
Modest cottages and fixer-uppers typically sell between $40,000 and $120,000, depending on the condition, but most sales range from around $120,000 to $540,000. Cedar River is prone to flooding after heavy rains, and lenders may require flood insurance.
Vinton-Shellsburg schools earn B ratings and offer extracurriculars
Tilford Elementary School has preschool through fourth grade and earns a B rating from Niche. Shellsburg Elementary School serves the district’s fifth-grade students, and it gets a B-plus. Vinton-Shellsburg Middle School also receives a B-plus, and Vinton-Shellsburg High School rates a B. The high school offers a variety of extracurricular sports, including swimming, wrestling and golf.
Vinton has parks, river recreation and indoor fitness areas
The city maintains seven parks, with Riverside and Celebration parks among the most popular. Riverside Park features a gaga ball pit and a disc golf course, while Celebration Park, beside the Cedar River, includes a gazebo that’s often rented out for proms and weddings. Vinton Parks & Recreation also operates the Skate & Activity Center, a seasonal swimming pool and a recreation center with an indoor batting cage and fitness equipment.
The river itself offers opportunities for fishing, tubing and boating. “There are two access points in Vinton, and tons of parks farther along the river where you can put in and take out,” Stark-Mahood says. Golfers can play the Vinton Country Club’s nine-hole course, which is open to the public, and the 15-mile Old Creamery Nature Trail provides space for biking and dog walking.
Driving two-lane roads toward Waterloo or Cedar Rapids
Benton County Transportation runs an on-demand shuttle service for county residents, but most people rely on cars for travel. The two-lane state Route 150 and U.S. Route 218 link commuters with U.S. Route 30 and Interstate 380. Waterloo and Cedar Rapids are both within 35 miles, and the Eastern Iowa Airport is less than 40 miles away. Vinton’s Virginia Gay Hospital has outpatient specialty clinics and diagnostic testing facilities, and it's a Level IV trauma center.
Trains regularly pass through the city and sometimes make stops at the grain elevators, which can affect north-south travel. “The busiest elevator has a spur, though, so it doesn’t really block traffic as much,” Stark-Mahood says. “Everybody knows the ways around the trains.”
Annual events include Fourth Street parades and the Benton County Fair
Vinton hosts several events, including the day-long Party in the Park each July. The Benton County Fair takes place in June, with a large midway and nightly entertainment. “Every night is something new and exciting,” Stark-Mahood says. In September, car enthusiasts come from around the region to watch the Vinton Cruise along Fourth Street, and there’s a Christmas parade down Fourth Street each December.
