Douds, IA

Set along the Des Moines River in northwestern Van Buren County, Douds sits directly across the water from neighboring Leando, and locals affectionately treat the two as a single community known as the county's Twin Cities. Life here moves at an easy, rural pace, with outdoor recreation right on the riverfront. Residents can fish, launch boats, or camp at the local county park, while families benefit from having an elementary school right in town. Between the quiet scenic river bluffs, local employers like Douds Stone, and the area's strong sense of neighborliness, Douds offers a peaceful slice of small-town Iowa living.