The people of Cedar Rapids enjoy a sense of security, a sense of hope and possibility and a sense of belonging. The feelings are shared by residents of all great communities. Here, we call ourselves the City of Five Seasons. The fifth season is a time to enjoy life, to enjoy the other four seasons.

We work hard to create a quality of life that is often coveted and rarely duplicated in other parts of the country. Nowhere else in the country combines commerce, culture, leisure and education the way Cedar Rapids does. With an abundance of each, the City of Five Seasons and its surrounding communities offer fulfillment for all people, even those with the most sophisticated tastes.

Our quality of life has not gone unnoticed as numerous magazines and organizations have ranked Cedar Rapids among elite cities in a variety of categories. Cedar Rapids has placed among the top 20 Forbes Magazine Best Places and was named the No. 2 kid-friendly city in the country by an organization looking at factors such as education, crime and arts and culture.

Cedar Rapids is the manufacturing capital of Iowa and the state’s second largest city. More than 120,000 people live in Cedar Rapids and the surrounding towns make Linn County a community of more than 190,000 residents. The 2000 Census showed this area as one of the strongest growth areas in Iowa.

This is a regional hub for Eastern Iowa because of its proximity to several of the country’s largest metropolitan areas and major interstate highways. We have direct access to cities in the Midwest like Chicago, Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Omaha, St. Louis and Kansas City. However, most of the necessities of life are found right in our own backyard—great jobs, safe neighborhoods, theaters, museums, schools, symphonies, shopping, sports and recreation. Cedar Rapids is large enough to offer all the amenities of life and far enough away from the hubbub of metropolitan life to ensure a life filled with enrichment and quality.

Cedar Rapids is only part of the story. The community atmosphere found here comes from all around Linn County, of which Cedar Rapids is the seat. The communities of Marion, Hiawatha and Mount Vernon are only a heartbeat away and complement the amenities of Cedar Rapids. Each has a rich history and quaintness that residents find second-to-none. If people cannot find what they want in Cedar Rapids, they are certain to find it in the surrounding communities.

In Marion, you can experience an atmosphere that draws people who are tired of the anonymity they feel in big cities. Hiawatha, just to the north of Cedar Rapids, has grown from a sleepy bedroom community into a bustling residential and commercial area. Mount Vernon, to the east, has a flavor all its own. Mt. Vernon is the home of Cornell College and its streets are lined with beautiful Victorian homes refurbished to their original glory—a perfect place to raise a family and still only a 20-minute drive from downtown Cedar Rapids. Just to our south are Iowa City and Coralville.  These areas have wonderful museums, theatres, outstanding hospitals, the largest mall in the state and excellent restaurants

Many more small communities surround Greater Cedar Rapids. People who have lived here for years and those new to the area find that we do indeed have something for everyone. We do not measure commuting distance in miles; we measure it in minutes.

From our rich cultural heritage to our diverse leisure activities, the Cedar Rapids area is the perfect place to raise a family. Quality education has long been a priority for our area. We have among the highest educational standards in the country and an educational system that guarantees these standards are met for all students. Our neighborhoods are safe and provide the necessary social interaction we all need to feel a part of the community.

Things to do? Well, let’s just say we keep busy after working hard all week. Shopping and entertainment venues are abundant. Theater and culture are deep-rooted in our history and our expectations. We have celebrated history with the preservation of our grand Paramount Theatre and the reinvention of the riverfront of the Cedar River. We also have raced to the future with our state-of-the-art IMAX Theater and exciting new hockey arena.

Business and trade flourish in the Cedar Rapids area. With its diverse industry providing a base for thousands of business opportunities and insulation from tough economic times, the Cedar Rapids area offers a low cost of living and plentiful jobs. Combine a strong work ethic with high paying jobs and you have a prosperous community – a community of security, hope, possibility and belonging.

Additional community information from along the corridor:

Cedar Rapids Convention and Visitors Bureau

Discovery information such as: housing, churches, shopping, clubs & organizations, schools, jobs, entertainment, county officials, hospitals, voting registration, resources for seniors, emergency numbers and much much more.- A special resource guide filled with valuable community

Copyright © 2005 The Cedar Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce, All Rights Reserved.