Now that the weather is finally letting up, and Spring is upon us, I made a conscious decision to go visit my cousin Rosie in Rock Valley, Iowa. And since I was up there for
Now that the weather is finally letting up, and Spring is upon us, I made a conscious decision to go visit my cousin Rosie in Rock Valley, Iowa. And since I was up there for the weekend, and it is part of my Siouxland territory, why not make this my theme for March. So, without further ado, let’s explore this surprising hidden town in Northwest Iowa.
With the first settlers arriving to what is now Rock Valley in 1868, this agriculturally rich area quickly became bountiful farmland for families looking for a place to call home after the end of the Civil War. Soon after in 1879, the town’s streets, buildings and surrounding land were mapped out and planned by Civil War veteran, Col. Warren.
After the first physical dwelling was built by Dr. E.O. Plumbe, a Civil War physician and surgeon, interest grew and more settlers broke ground, and the city began to expand. In fact, this tiny town of only 4,000 people is still growing, with interests peaking due to the successful ag industry that is housed in the Rock Valley Cooperative Farmers Elevator, which services local farmers and businesses.
Meeting several locals, I gained from them a sense of loyalty and pride they have for their hometown. During my tour of Rock Valley, we will meet up with Greg Westra, who owns and operates the local museum, my cousin Rosie, who moved here specifically to work for the growing ag industry, and various restaurants and businesses.
Overall, I can’t wait for you to be surprised with what tiny treasures you can find just by exploring the nearby towns. Plus, with spring and summer on the horizon, what better way to show your support than to shop at these locally owned small businesses and keep your money in the communities closest to you.
You can read more about the history of Rock Valley here (https://www.cityofrockvalley.com/history), and be sure to update your calendar for any upcoming events here (https://www.cityofrockvalley.com/our-community/event-calendar).
