Dunkerton, IA

Located just a short drive northeast of the Waterloo-Cedar Falls metro, Dunkerton offers quiet, small-town living with easy access to bigger city conveniences. Home to around 850 residents, the town traces its roots back to the 1880s, when local farmer James Dunkerton traded a piece of his land for a new railroad depot bearing his name. That heritage is still celebrated today through the local history museum beneath the public library and community projects that preserve landmarks like the old Lincoln Depot and a historic one-room schoolhouse.

ATTRchief_huddleston / CC BY 2.0

Day-to-day life here revolves around open green spaces and local gatherings. You can take a quiet walk along the Charma Trail as it connects to the Mixdorf Nature Preserve, or spend an afternoon at one of the neighborhood parks and ball fields scattered around town. Summertime brings everyone together for Dunkerton Days, an annual weekend festival featuring a Main Street parade, car show, mud volleyball tournament, and fireworks. It makes Dunkerton a welcoming place to settle down if you appreciate a close-knit neighborhood with plenty of breathing room.