Founded in 1847 by Dutch immigrants, Pella is known as the "Garden City" and is famous for its annual Spring Tulip Festival.
Pella has received many acknowledgments from the state, honored as "Tourism Community of the Year"; "Attraction of the Year"; "Corporate Friend of Tourism" (Vermeer Mill and Pella Corporation); and, its county (Marion) has been awarded "County of the Year" status five times
Founded in 1847 by Dutch immigrants, Pella is known as the "Garden City" and is famous for its annual Spring Tulip Festival.
Pella has received many acknowledgments from the state, honored as "Tourism Community of the Year"; "Attraction of the Year"; "Corporate Friend of Tourism" (Vermeer Mill and Pella Corporation); and, its county (Marion) has been awarded "County of the Year" status five times. Pella boasts an Historical Village, Opera House, and the largest lake in the State of Iowa, only three miles from downtown. Its location is ideal, only 46 miles from Des Moines, 219 miles from Kansas City, 312 miles from Chicago, 288 miles from Minneapolis, and 180 miles from Omaha.
Anyone relocating to Pella and seeking educational and cultural experiences will find them in abundance. Whether you intend to rent, buy or build, Pella offers the accommodations you seek and prices that suit your budget.
Median home value in Pella is 52.6% greater than the Iowa average, and 19.8% less than the National average. The median price asked for homes in Pella is 44.5% greater than the Iowa average, and 15.6% less than the National average. Pella rents apartments and homes, and the median rental rate is 35.5% greater than the Iowa average, but 7.3% less than the National average.
Wherever you rent or purchase a home in Pella, you'll be near a park. There are 14 within one mile of city center, and all feature beautiful foliage, walking and bicycling paths, and unbelievable scenery.
Pella Historical Village: This is an outstanding community that reflects Dutch history and culture in its architecture, tourist attractions, special events, and rental and residential housing. Located here is the 134-foot-tall Vermeer Mill, the largest working windmill in the U.S. Since the mid to late 1800s, it has been grinding wheat to make flour using wind power.
The windmill is just one of the many Dutch-architecture inspired buildings and other structures that replicate a traditional village in Holland. Also, nearby in downtown is the fabulous and historic Royal Amsterdam Hotel, a "must-stay" for visitors to the city.
Franklin Street: This neighborhood borders West Market Park, another historic area in Pella. On a daily basis, residents, tourists, and visitors partake of the excellent shopping, sight-seeing, amenities, and entertainment available in this unique community. As with most other areas of the Pella, ample apartments, homes, and condominiums are available for rent or purchase.
Pearce Street: Much like Franklin Street, this neighborhood borders on a park - the Pella City Park - and exemplifies beautiful Mother Nature in the community's own "back yard." People moving into this area - whether renting or purchasing - will appreciate the wonderful scenery the well-manicured park brings to the immediate area.
Pella also provides excellent bus service, and its airport is less than 10 minutes from downtown. And, according to the local Chamber Of Commerce, the commute to the city is only 12 minutes from the surrounding neighborhoods.
Pella residents and visitors may enjoy outstanding outdoor recreation year-round, including walking or bicycling trails around Lake Red Rock - Iowa's largest body of water - and traveling the "Mile Long Bridge," another major landmark. Tremendous recreational development dominates the lakeshore, with camping, boating, and fishing. Other nearby and picturesque attractions include Elk Rock State Park on both sides of the lake, as well as Roberts Creek and Cordova Parks.
In summary, as Pella promotional literature testifies, this city is, indeed, a wonderful location in which to work, play, and live. In fact, its city information page says it all: "Pella offers what everyone wants: Low crime rate, great schools, and a nice neat clean town to live in."
Add to that an Historical Village, Opera House, working windmill, and Iowa's largest lake, and you understand why residents refer to "Positive Pella, the Tourism Treasure," and great place to visit, relocate, work, and live!
