Knoxville is a quiet Midwestern town by day and the roaring center of Sprint Car racing by night. Knoxville, Iowa is the Sprint Car Capital of the world thanks to Knoxville Speedway and the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and Museum.
Knoxville, Iowa, is located in Marion County in the Pella metropolitan area, southeast of Des Moines
Knoxville is a quiet Midwestern town by day and the roaring center of Sprint Car racing by night. Knoxville, Iowa is the Sprint Car Capital of the world thanks to Knoxville Speedway and the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and Museum.
Knoxville, Iowa, is located in Marion County in the Pella metropolitan area, southeast of Des Moines. With a population of 7,313, Knoxville is the County Seat of Marion County due to its geographic location. It is located six miles southwest of where the White Breast Creek meets the Des Moines River at Lake Red Rock and another four miles from Elk Rock State Park.
The availability of places to live in Knoxville can vary depending on the preference for a house or an apartment. Options for places to rent are limited, though single-family dwellings are the easiest housing for rent to locate. Apartment options are rather limited in Knoxville, especially for premier apartments or a studio apartment. For more options in those categories, nearby cities -- such as Newton and Pella to the northeast, and Des Moines for a more urban setting -- are often targeted for rental apartment hunters. House rentals are the most common rental option in Knoxville. The search for a rental home is easiest with the assistance of a local Realtor, who can access houses for rent which may not be advertised in popular ways.
To complete the rental process, those renting apartments should decide between leasing and month-to-month options before starting to search. Renters need to have a good credit history, be ready to supply deposits, and have proof of income before starting the rental process.
Knoxville is split north and south by Lincoln Street (State Highway 14) and east and west by Main Street and West Pleasant Street, making Knoxville neighborhoods more a matter of geography than distinct neighborhoods. The majority of available housing in Knoxville will be found east of Lincoln Street with a lesser number of options to the northwest.
Northwest Knoxville: This area is dominated by the fairgrounds and speedway, Edwards City Park, and visitor accommodations such as a campground and hotel.
Northeast Knoxville: Northeast Knoxville becomes more residential with Knoxville Northstar Elementary and Auld Park serving as anchoring features.
Southeast Knoxville: The southeastern segment of Knoxville is the heart of the town with the most density in housing and businesses, the government offices, and Pine Knolls Country Club at the outermost edge.
Southwest Knoxville: The smallest section of Knoxville, the southwest is associated with the Marion County Park and the elementary, middle, and high school.
Apartment Communities
Prairie Village: This apartment community is located in the northeast section of Knoxville, and is comprised of ranch-style apartments. Located yards from Auld Park and approximately one mile from Knoxville Northstar Elementary School, Prairie Village Apartments offers a decent selection of apartments for rent.
Windsor Ridge: In the northwest, Windsor Ridge Apartments is an affordable housing community for older adults. One-bedroom apartments in this one-story development are priced about average for the area. Windsor Ridge is located near the speedway, with a grocery store and medical facilities nearby.
Madison Heights: This is a tax credit apartment community in the southwest section of Knoxville. It is located where Madison Street and Willetts Drive meet at the edge of Marion County Park and near Knoxville High School. There are one-bedroom apartments for rent in the community, as well as two-bedroom apartments and three-bedroom apartments.
Knoxville is a small town that features suburban amenities such as big-box superstores in the town's southern corner. For greater shopping options like large shopping malls, residents travel to Des Moines, which is about 40 miles to the northwest. But that doesn't mean there isn't anything fun to do around town.
Good Eatin'!
The Rib Shack, on Lincoln Street in the northern part of town, tops the places to dine at in Knoxville, with people making the trip from Des Moines for the experience. For those looking for something more exotic, Casa Grande Mexican Restaurant on Main Street between 1st street and 2nd street is the spot where locals go. If you prefer beer over margaritas, Peace Tree Brewing Company -- just to the west of Casa Grande on Main Street -- could be just the ticket, with a range of beers on tap from blondes to IPAs and porters. For the designated driver in the party, Peace Tree Brewing also keeps tasty root beer on tap. For more suds and grub, check out the no-frills, yet yummy Swamp Fox Pub and Grill, where you can dive into simply delicious steaks and down-home dishes like sweet potato casserole.
Other Fun Things
Knoxville is most famous for the Sprint Car Hall of Fame and the Knoxville Nationals held at the speedway by the fairgrounds in the northern part of town. While racing at the track happens all season, the population of Knoxville and the surrounding area balloons in early August as racing enthusiasts and the nation's top Sprint Car drivers converge at Knoxville for the most prestigious race of the year. The start of the Knoxville Nationals main event includes incredible pomp and circumstance that follows a long tradition, like a lap with drivers riding four wide, which is an event to witness, even for those who do not follow auto racing.
For those who get an adrenaline rush from more natural settings, Pine Knolls Country Club features a semi-private, nine-hole golf course in southeast Knoxville. On the southwest edge of Knoxville, Marion County Park provides walking trails, sports, and camping in a large setting, complete with a lake. Young Park is located at the major intersection of Lincoln Street and West Pleasant with Auld Park to the east. Edwards City Park is in the north, by the fairgrounds, and has a lake as well. For those looking for an even bigger body of water to enjoy, a short drive north of Knoxville on State Highway 14 puts you at Elk Rock State Park at Red Rock Lake, where the full range of outdoor and water activities can be enjoyed.
