cedar rapids iowa
cedar rapids iowa

Cedar Rapids, IA

Real Estate in Cedar Rapids

  • About

  • History

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Cedar Rapids, IA Real Estate
Cedar Rapids is in Iowa and is the county seat of Linn County.

A Vibrant Midwestern City
Cedar Rapids is known for its unique attractions, bountiful events, shopping experiences, trendy arts scene, and Instagram-worthy restaurants and nightlife. Cedar Rapids earns its nickname of the “City of Five Seasons” due to its natural beauty. As its residents slow down and appreciate this natural beauty, it’s almost like each season becomes more scintillating every year.
Its nickname is the “City of Five Seasons,” and it is one of the leading manufacturing regions in the United States. But, impressively, this city is also the largest corn-processing city in the world. So if Cedar Rapids, IA real estate already sounds appealing, read on.

History of Cedar Rapids

History of Cedar Rapids

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Modern-day Cedar Rapids was the territory of the Fox and Sac tribes, and the first colonist to set foot in Cedar Rapids was Osgood Shepherd. Shepherd claimed the land without legal title and constructed a log cabin in 1837 next to the Cedar River, known as Red Cedar. The city's founders are George Greene (a surveyor) and Nicholas Brown (a miller). In 1841, Greene and Brown formed a partnership that bought out Shepherd's claim and proceeded to plot out a town which was first called Rapid's City. The duo planned to build a mill next to the Cedar River where they could use the rapids and transport the goods downriver to the Mississippi. Rapid's city initially had its primary location around the east side of the Cedar River, but eventually, a village named Kingston formed on the west side of the river. This village was for the resident King David, who ran a rope ferry across the Cedar River. The city became formally incorporated by the Iowa State Legislature in January of 1849. At this time, it was named Cedar Rapids, after the rapids in the Cedar River. In 1849, the population of Cedar Rapids was a bit less than 400, but this grew in the 1950s when Czech immigrants inhabited the town. Residents also attempted to increase trade with other villages and markets by purchasing the town's first steamboat. Its first locomotive arrived in 1859. In 1870, Cedar Rapids annexed Kingston and built a bridge across the river to connect the two communities. The city then experienced a boom in economic growth in 1871 after establishing the Sinclair meatpacking company. This company employed 400 people and was one of the largest factories of its kind at the time. In addition, in 1873, an oatmeal mill was built and became the largest cereal mill in the world. In 1909, May's Island became the seat of government, which lies in the middle of the river between Cedar Rapids and Kingston. Officials selected this spot for the government seat because some residents on either side of the river harbored ill feelings towards each other. In 1919, Cedar Rapids became the county seat after the city donated a third of May Island for use as a new county courthouse and jail.

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Things to do in Cedar Rapids

Things to do in Cedar Rapids

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Cedar Rapids offers you entertainment on every level, so real estate investors, home buyers, tourists, and residents can enjoy a range of activities, such as:

National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library: This museum and library feature rotating exhibitions on the culture, art, and history of Czechs and Slovaks. It also has a two-room 1880s Czech immigrant house that has been home to five generations.

NewBo City Market: This market is a community-based economic development organization that brings together art, music, and learning.

Paramount Theatre: This theater seats 1,693 people and hosts a variety of concerts, theater, and live events throughout the year.

Indian Creek Nature Center: Residents appreciate that this nature center provides a space for learning, growth, and unstructured play outdoors. It also has an Indian Creek exhibit and a Creekside Forest School.

Clock House Brewing: Inside a 107-year-old Clock House building, this brewery offers crafted brews that are sure to hit the spot.

Between fantastic things to do, Cedar Rapids also offers new real estate investors and homeowners a top-quality schooling system.

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Real Estate for sale in Cedar Rapids, IA

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Location

Map showing Cedar Rapids

Location

Cedar Rapids in Linn County, Iowa, covers a total area of 72.07 square miles, of which 1.27 square miles is water. The city lies along the sides of the Cedar River, adjacent to the towns of Marion and Hiawatha. It is also roughly 25 miles northwest of Iowa City. The city has four quadrants, split by 1st Avenue and the Cedar River. First Avenue divides the north and south quadrants, while the Cedar River divides the east and west quadrants.

Cedar Rapids demographics

Cedar Rapids demographics

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According to 2019 statistics, Cedar Rapids had a population of just over 132,000 residents. This city's residents have a median age of 36.3, and more than 92% of the residents are U.S. citizens. Cedar Rapids’s population is growing at an annual rate of 0.26% and has a population density of 1,880 people per square mile.

Eighty-one point two percent of the city's population is white, making them the dominant race. Black or African American people make up 7.61%, Hispanic people account for 3.98%, mixed-race people make up 3.35%, and Asian people comprise 2.94%. All households in Cedar Rapids speak English as their primary language.

The average household income is $75,289, and 12.49% of the residents live under the poverty line. The median rental rate is roughly $767 per month, with the median house value of about $141,800. Cedar Rapids is also known for its strong Muslim culture and is home to the longest-standing mosque in North America.

This city is a leader in manufacturing, boasting almost 300 different manufacturing plants and two dozen Fortune 500 companies. Examples of the Fortune 500 companies in Cedar Rapids are Collins Aerospace, AEGON, General Mills, Cargill, Penford, Quaker Oats, Archer Daniels Midland, and Nordstrom.

Against this backdrop, all the job opportunities in Cedar Rapids make it an even more attractive prospect. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you purchase your Cedar Rapids, IA real estate with the knowledge that there is a wide choice of jobs for your children once they're grown.

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Arts in Cedar Rapids

Arts in Cedar Rapids

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Cedar Rapids has a diverse and rich arts and entertainment scene. You will find venues such as the Paramount Theatre, Theatre Cedar Rapids, Cedar Rapids, and the Opera Theatre. Cedar Rapids is also home to the Orchestra Iowa and Brucemore, a National Trust Historic Site.

The city has the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, The Cedar Rapids Ceramics Center, Legion Arts’ CSPS Hall, the National Czech, and Slovak Museum and Library, the African American Historical Museum, Kirkwood Community College's Iowa Hall Gallery, and the Grant Wood Studio at 5 Turner Alley. These venues have hosted exhibitions by Andy Warhol, Grant Wood, and the Iowa Biennial.

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Schools in Cedar Rapids

Schools in Cedar Rapids

The Cedar Rapids Community School District has 31 schools and averages about 17,000 students. Of these schools, 12 are preschools, 21 are elementary schools, 6 are middle schools, and 4 are high schools. Cedar Rapids district’s minority enrollment is 40%. The student-to-teacher ratio at Cedar Rapids schools is 15:1, and it spends approximately $12,000 on each student per year. Cedar Rapids students have above-average test scores. Sixty-one percent of the elementary students tested at or above the proficient level for reading and math. Sixty-five percent of middle school students tested at or above the required level for reading, while 57% tested at or above that level for math. Seventy-six percent of high school students tested at or above the proficient level for reading, and 67% tested at or above that level for math. If you are looking for real estate, want to buy a new home, and are searching for higher education opportunities, Cedar Rapids offers all these conveniences. The higher education institutions in Cedar Rapids are Kirkwood Community College, Coe College, and Mount Mercy University.

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Why Cedar Rapids?

Why Cedar Rapids?

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Cedar Rapids, Iowa Real Estate Is Waiting For You
Cedar Rapids is the perfect city for people with diverse histories and preferences. So, whether you want to move to the city for a better career in the manufacturing industry, want to immerse yourself in its rich art and history scene, or are simply after a better family home, Cedar Rapids offers it all.

Cedar Rapids is that inimitable Midwestern city that exudes its characteristic charm, exhibits an enviable natural beauty, and yet continues to find a balance between nature and a booming metropolis. Contact us if you are interested in becoming a proud Cedar Rapids, IA, real estate owner.

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