Solon, Iowa is a small but fast-growing community of about 3,000 people between Iowa City and Cedar Rapids. Population grew 48% from 2010 to 2020, with many families drawn by the highly rated Solon Community School District and Solon High School. The schools sit at the center of daily life, and the Solon Spartans logo and orange-and-black colors show up on the water tower and along Main Street. Housing leans heavily toward newer construction from the past five years, with New Traditional and Craftsman-style influences, while older homes from the early 1900s through the 1970s cluster closer to the center of town. Solon is part of The Corridor in Eastern Iowa, about 20 miles from Cedar Rapids, 10 miles from Iowa City, and roughly 120 miles from Des Moines along Interstate 80. Local attractions include six parks, with Solon Nature and Recreation Area providing nearly 60 acres of green space, a splash pad, paved trail, and sports facilities. The community is a hub for Eastern Iowa Trails and sits near Lake Macbride State Park and the Coralville Reservoir for boating, swimming, fishing, and camping, plus Saddleback Ridge Golf Course. Downtown restaurants such as The Eat Shop bakery, Bluebird Cafe, El Sol Mexican Cuisine, Uncle Sang’s, and the original Big Grove Brewpub give residents several dining options, while Sam’s Main Street Market covers basic groceries. Each July, Solon Beef Days brings in close to 20,000 visitors for live entertainment, a parade, carnival rides, and a well-known hay bale toss that raises money for local causes.
