This city has produced not one but two astronauts. Peggy Whitson, first female commander of the International Space Station and James Van Allen, one of the leading space scientists in the U.S., both called Mount Pleasant, Iowa home.
They call it the "Best of the Midwest," but they might be biased
This city has produced not one but two astronauts. Peggy Whitson, first female commander of the International Space Station and James Van Allen, one of the leading space scientists in the U.S., both called Mount Pleasant, Iowa home.
They call it the "Best of the Midwest," but they might be biased. They are the Chamber of Commerce in Mount Pleasant, the county seat of Henry County, Iowa. Mount Pleasant, originally founded by pioneer Presley Saunders, is home to just over 8,600 residents. There are many firsts in this town. For example, Arabella Mansfield was the first woman to be awarded a license to practice law and she hung her shingle in Mount Pleasant. Life is quiet, but appealing, in the 8.53 square miles that make up Mount Pleasant. Whether you are new to the area completely, or just moving from a nearby location, Mount Pleasant is a small town worth considering.
There is a lot more going on in Mount Pleasant than you might guess given the size of the town. Mount Pleasant is home to a number of large businesses such as the West Liberty Foods meat processing plant, so many of the locals work in the area.
Mount Pleasant typically offers plenty of apartments for rent. These properties will consist of studio apartments for rent, one bedroom units and even single-family houses. Anyone considering a rental apartment in this area should plan ahead. That is always the wisest approach. Housing may fill up quickly during certain times of the year, such as August and September. Assume you will need at least one to three months to find the right place. Since vacancies tend to be high, property owners will be used to renting month-to-month. In a pinch, you might find an apartment at the last minute with all utilities paid, as well.
What to Bring When Apartment Shopping
Proprietors in this area will not be security conscious, but they will be used to dealing with college age renters. Plan on bringing a photo ID to look at one bedroom apartments for rent. Before signing a lease, property management will probably ask for at least one month's rent in advance and a security deposit.
Apartment complexes may opt to do a credit check and verify income before allowing you to rent, as well. Private owners may be more flexible when it comes to background checks, however, they may ask you to provide personal or rental references instead.
Mount Pleasant is a small town, so there are not many designated neighborhoods. The city started out as a number of small towns that eventually combined to create the Mount Pleasant of today. Some of the neighborhood designations relate back to the original towns.
Salem/ Hillsboro: The western section of town makes up the Salem/ Hillsboro neighborhood. Spend your day at one of Mount Pleasants biggest parks Big Creek with visiting this community.
Linden Heights: Linden Heights is actually a quiet subdivision of Mount Pleasant. It sits next to the City Center and is where you can go to see the Hazel Grace Pierson Carousel Pavilion.
City Center: City Center is where you find Iowa Wesleyan College, as well as Big Creek Country Park. The City Center neighborhood is home to the Mt. Pleasant Country Club.
For a small town, Mount Pleasant has a considerable number of outdoor recreational sites. This includes seven parks, a golf course, a driving range and 4.2 miles of paved trails for walking or bike riding. The largest of the parks is East Lake, a 120-acre facility that sits on the east end of town. East Lake has a surprising number of amenities, especially for the sports-minded. There is a three-field softball complex, two volleyball courts, four lighted tennis courts, and outdoor fitness complex with 10 different machines and a five-field soccer structure. East Lake also offers two playgrounds, a gazebo and a driving range to help you relax. That's a lot for a town that has less than 10,000 residents.
Golfers with a sense of humor can enjoy the Mount Pleasant Disc Golf Course. In case you are wondering, disc golf is played with Frisbees, not balls and clubs. Cranes Pond is the place to go in the summer for fishing and in the winter to conquer the official sledding hill.
Midwest Old Thresher's Reunion
Since 1950, Mount Pleasant has hosted the Old Thresher's Reunion every Labor Day week. The Old Thresher's Reunion is a festival celebrating antique and steam-powered equipment of all kinds. It features a stationary steam engine with three large Corliss engines; you can see this year-round, by the way.
The Midwest Central Railroad runs a train around the reunion exhibit each year that features a Shay locomotive. Midwest also offers rides every Independence Day, Halloween and Christmas.
The Old Thresher's Reunion isn't just about trains though. The Hazel Grace Pierson Carousel Pavilion shows a restored antique carousel that includes a Military Band Organ and rocking horses.
The Midwest Old Thresher's Reunion draws in over 100,000 visitors to Mount Pleasant each year. The event brings top-notch country acts to the area to perform at the venue pavilion. In the past, they have hosted Johnny Cash, Minnie Pearl, Tammy Wynette, Kenny Rogers and Willie Nelson.
Transportation Options in Mount Pleasant
Amtrak runs its famous California Zephyr through Mount Pleasant taking riders to Chicago in one direction and San Francisco in the other. This area offers little else in the way of transportation options. Most residents drive when they need to go somewhere. U.S. Route 34 bypasses the town to the north and Route 218 to the east.
Route 218 will take you through the state all the way to Iowa City and Waterloo. You can take the 218 to Interstate 80, as well. Once on I-80, go west to Des Moines and Omaha or east to Chicago.
Mount Pleasant even has an airport for those looking to fly. The Mount Pleasant Municipal Airport is a city-owned facility that averages about 17 flights per day.
If you are looking for small-town life with plenty to do, then Mount Pleasant, Iowa, is a fair choice. From festivals to rich history to outdoor recreation, this town has a little something for everyone.
