Diagonal, IA

Tucked away in northwest Ringgold County, Diagonal is a quiet, close-knit Iowa community of around 350 people. It sits about eight miles northwest of Mount Ayr, with the Grand River skirting its eastern edge and open farmland in every direction. The town owes its unusual name to its early railroad history, when tracks cut diagonally across another rail line to create a new junction. Today, it offers a relaxed rural atmosphere where peaceful streets meet wide-open country roads.

Daily life here largely centers on the local K-12 school, where students from town and the surrounding countryside all learn under one roof. The school serves as the central hub for the whole community, packing the gym on game nights and bringing families together for seasonal events throughout the year. For anyone seeking classic, unhurried small-town living in southwest Iowa, Diagonal provides plenty of charm and room to breathe.