Delmar, IA

Delmar is a quiet, close-knit small town in eastern Iowa's Clinton County. Founded in 1871 along the railroad, local lore says the town got its name from the first initials of six women who rode the very first passenger train into the station: Della, Emma, Laura, Marie, Anna, and Rose. Today, it offers a peaceful rural setting where neighbors know each other and open farmland surrounds the community.

ATTRFarragutful / CC BY-SA 4.0

For families moving to the area, local schooling is a cooperative effort. Younger kids attend Delwood Elementary right in town from preschool through sixth grade, which means small class sizes and familiar faces every day. Older students make the short drive north to Maquoketa for middle and high school, giving them access to larger athletic programs, clubs, and electives while still coming home to a calm, relaxed neighborhood.