Parkersburg, IA

With around 2,000 residents, Parkersburg offers an easygoing small-town rhythm right along Beaver Creek. As the largest community in Butler County, it provides a quiet setting with plenty of ways to enjoy the outdoors. On sunny afternoons, you will usually find locals playing a round at Legend Trail Golf Club, cooling off at the municipal pool, or walking past the old train caboose in Depot Park.

The town is especially known for its strong community spirit, which shows up clearly at Miracle Park. Rebuilt by local volunteers after a devastating 2008 tornado, the park serves as a popular hangout with playgrounds, picnic shelters, sand volleyball, and a winter ice rink. Combined with the welcoming Aplington-Parkersburg schools and the Kothe Memorial Library, it is a comfortable place to raise a family and get to know your neighbors.