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cedar rapids iowa

Cedar Rapids, IA

Land in Cedar Rapids

  • About

  • History

  • Location

  • Things to do

  • Demographics

  • Culture

  • Schools

  • FAQ

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Is now a great time to buy land in Cedar Rapids, Iowa?

According to the 2020 census, Cedar Rapids has a population of approximately 137,000 people. However, the greater Cedar Rapids, Marion and Hiawatha Metropolitan Area has approximately 255,000 residents. Those who are looking to buy land in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, are probably best off looking outside the city itself, in the suburbs and the nearby small towns.

Cedar Rapids is also known as the “City of Five Seasons.” It is given this name because the fifth season is the one that gives you time to appreciate the other four. In fact, the words “Five Seasons” and the symbol of the Tree of Five seasons can be seen all over the city, in sculpture and in other art.

The Cedar Rapids flag was given a fresh update in 2021. The Cedar River is represented by the color blue, and the parks and green spaces in the city are represented by the color green. The arch represents progress, and the five stars represent the “Five Seasons.” The 1962 flag of Cedar Rapids was voted one of the worst in the entire 50 states by the North American Vexillological Association, and it is believed that as soon as the old flag was revamped, there was a sudden interest in the real estate in the city. However, there is no scientific data to actually back up this interesting, yet entertaining, fact.

History of Cedar Rapids

History of Cedar Rapids

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Before the European settlers arrived, the area that now constitutes Cedar Rapids was the territory of the Sac and Meskwaki tribes, with close links to the Sauk and Eastern woodlands cultures. In the 1830s, the Cedar River was known as the Red Cedar, and the first European settler to arrive was an outlaw named Osgood Shepherd. The town of Cedar Rapids was founded by a few men, including Nicholas Brown and George Greene, who saw the city’s position next to the rapids as a good place for a mill. Cedar Rapids was also at the junction of the Cedar and Iowa Rivers, so milled goods could be easily shipped to the Mississippi River and the rest of the nation. Initially called Rapids City, the city was formally incorporated in 1849 as Cedar Rapids. In 1859, the railroad joined Cedar Rapids to the rest of the country.

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Things to do in Cedar Rapids

Things to do in Cedar Rapids

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Before you decide on whether you want to buy land in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, consider the amenities nearby in the city and in the surrounding countryside.

No visit would be complete without a tour of the Brucemore historic home. The New Bohemia District and Czech Village should definitely be explored, and an afternoon at the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art should certainly be on your to do list. You can catch a show at the Paramount Theater, take a hike at the Indian Creek Nature Center, or enjoy a day at the park with the kids at Beaver Park.

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Land for sale in Cedar Rapids, IA

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Location

Map showing Cedar Rapids

Location

Anyone buying land in Iowa should be aware of Cedar Rapids’ location. The city has 70.8 square miles of land area and 1.27 square miles of surface water. It is situated on both banks of the Cedar River, and is approximately 20 miles north of Iowa City and 100 miles northeast of Des Moines, the state’s largest city. The Cedar Rapids/Iowa City region of Eastern Iowa includes Washington, Johnson, Jones, Iowa, Cedar, Benton and Linn Counties. The city is divided into four quadrants, along 1st Avenue running east and west, and the Cedar River running north and south. It can be noted though that both the river and the avenue run diagonally rather than to the cardinal directions. As a result, some “NW Cedar Rapids” addresses are south of some “SW Cedar Rapids” addresses. Cedar Rapids Neighborhoods Blairs Ferry Road The Blairs Ferry Road and Milburn Road neighborhood is a prime spot for Cedar Rapids land. Primarily medium and large-sized homes are built on land in this part of the city. Median home prices are upwards of $342,000, which is in the top 4% of Iowa neighborhoods. Bowman Woods Park Bowman Woods Park is a great place to buy Cedar Rapids land. Median home prices are upwards of $284,000, which is in the top 11% of Iowa neighborhoods. Covington Covington is an affluent neighborhood in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and a great place to look for Cedar Rapids land. Median home prices are upwards of $245,000, which is in the top 18% of Iowa neighborhoods. Fox Tail Park Heavily developed in the 2000s, the Fox Tail Park neighborhood in Cedar Rapids should be a good spot to buy land to build a larger home. Median home prices are upwards of $274,000, which is in the top 11% of Iowa neighborhoods. Linn Junction Linn Junction, also called New Buffalo, is another affluent neighborhood in Cedar Rapids, boasting many large single-family homes and townhomes. Median home prices are upwards of $280,000, which is in the top 12% of Iowa neighborhoods.

Cedar Rapids demographics

Cedar Rapids demographics

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Cedar Rapids has seen slow but steady growth over the past decade. According to the 2020 census, the city’s population was 137,710. This is an increase from 126,326 in 2010. This means now may be a good time to buy land in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and the neighboring vicinity.

Just under 94% of Cedar Rapids residents over the age of 25 have high school diplomas, and just under 33% have a Bachelor’s degree or higher. The median household income was $60,787 in 2020, and the median value of owner-occupied housing units was $144,500.

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Arts in Cedar Rapids

Arts in Cedar Rapids

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Cedar Rapids has plenty of arts and entertainment culture to keep the residents of Eastern Iowa busy. Anyone spending time in Cedar Rapids should explore cultural anchors like Theater Cedar Rapids, the Paramount Theater, the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library, the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, the African American Museum of Iowa and Orchestra Iowa.

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Schools in Cedar Rapids

Schools in Cedar Rapids

Before you buy land in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, have a think about what the schools in the location are like, especially if you have a young or growing family. Cedar Rapids primary and secondary schools include the Metro, Kennedy, Washington and Jefferson. There are also six separate middle schools and more than 20 elementary schools in the city. The city is divided into two districts – the Linn-Mar Community School District serves the northeast of the city, and the College Community School district serves the southwest. There are several Catholic schools run by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dubuque, including four elementary schools, two middle schools, one K-8 and one high school. There are also plenty of higher education options in Cedar Rapids including Coe College, Cornell College, Kaplan University, Kirkwood Community College, Mount Mercy University, the University of Iowa’s MBA facility, Upper Iowa University and the University of Iowa. Most of these schools are located in or are located within 30 miles of Cedar Rapids.

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Why Cedar Rapids?

Why Cedar Rapids?

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There are plenty of good reasons to buy real estate, and land specifically, in Cedar Rapids. The city is relaxed, friendly, and its midwestern culture means a lot to the people who end up living there. Plus, the strong economy and being the center of industry is a big draw for people from all over the country. Why not take a visit and see whether living in Cedar Rapids is right for you?

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