Landmass currently known as Iowa was discovered by two French explorers named Louis Joliet and Father Jacques Marquette in the summer of 1673. They found stunning green lands and fertile soils upon their arrival. To this day Iowa is well-known for its scenic beauty and its land's fecundity. 

Prior to the French discovery, however, Iowa had been home to at least 17 Native American tribes over several centuries including the Ioway, Sauk, Mesquaki, Sioux, Potawatomi, Oto, and Missouri. 

The Sauk and Meskwaki tribes were one of the largest and most influential tribes which resided in the upper Mississippi Valley. They had migrated from the Michigan region into Wisconsin and by 1730 they landed in Western Illinois and established villages. They lived in their villages for only a few months a year and for the remainder of the year, they traveled through western Illinois and eastern Iowa where they spent their time hunting, fishing, and collecting food and materials for their domesticated lives. 

It was in 1829 that the federal government informed the two tribes that they must leave the lands and abandon their villages in Western Illinois and move across the Mississippi River into Iowa. Although the move was made, it was not done so without resistance. To this day Iowa is still home to the Meskwaki tribe who reside in the Meskwaki Settlement in Tama County, Iowa. 

If you are considering buying land or real estate in Iowa, know that you will get the benefit of experiencing all four seasons in the region. The climate can vary in the northwestern section and southeast parts of the state. Winter temperatures can range from 14 degrees Fahrenheit in northwestern Iowa whereas in the southeast it can hover in the 20s. Positioned deep in the interior of the continent, Iowa gets less snowfall compared to the states on its north and east. Snow cover does not manage to remain throughout the winter months in the region although some heavy snowfall can be expected in late autumn and early spring. 

The average rainfall can be expected to be less than 26 inches although the northwestern region can see up to 38 inches a year. Summer temperatures in July can be expected to remain in the mid-80s.

Due to the land experiencing some serious flooding in its history, it worsened with the tilling of farmlands, rapid snow melts, straightening of rivers and streams, and heavy summer rainstorms. One of the worst floods happened in 1993 when the state received almost twice the amount of expected average rainfall flooding the lands for four months. In 2008, again the region was hit by devastating floods that took several thousand lives. 

For this reason, the Rathbun Dam on the Chariton River, the Red Rock and Saylorville dams on the Des Moines River, and the Coralville Dam on the Iowa River were built. They have managed to protect the land against further floods in addition to providing exciting recreational adventures to those residing in the state. Activities such as boating, fishing, Rving, and kayaking are a great source of attraction to newcomers that have recently moved into the state.

One of the best benefits Iowan residents enjoy is affordable living costs. The housing rates are far lower than the average in the country. Moreover, the state has a living cost lower than the country’s average too along with a fast-growing economy. Due to its economic growth in recent years, the region provides ample career opportunities in industries related to arts, science, manufacturing, and technology for newcomers. 

If you prefer living in the metropolitan area, West Des Moines is considered one of the strongest economic metro areas in the midwest. Its strong agricultural culture provides countless opportunities in the food and manufacturing sector in addition to the recently growing energy sector as Iowa is one of the top states to produce electricity from wind power. 

If you are considering buying real estate in the state of Iowa or moving into the region, rest assured that you will be residing in one of the safest states in the nation.  In recent years, Iowa’s crime rates have been one of the lowest in the nation and region-wise. It has been declared one of the safest states to live in as violence and property crime continues to decline in the region.

Fact that the state is mostly rural and urbanization has not overtaken the land completely, Iowa has provided residents an opportunity to live in a safe and clear environment. There are no such things as traffic jams to experience in Iowa. That means an extremely short commute from home to work and much less air pollution.