Iowa Self Storage

Known for its corn production and long, uninterrupted stretches of farmland, Iowa lies in the American Midwest in the north central region of the country where the winters are long and cold and the summers are hot and humid.

Although a great deal of Iowa’s land is used to grow crops or to provide grazing areas for farm animals, the state’s economy is supported only in small part by agriculture. Even one of the state’s major crops, corn, is now often being grown for a purpose other than to provide food for the world. In recent years much of the corn in Iowa has been grown to produce ethanol to fuel automobiles. Today, in addition to agriculture, manufacturing, biotechnology, finance, green energy production and other business activities provide a broad and stable base of employment and financial strength for the state’s more than three million residents.

During the twentieth century many Iowans moved from farms to towns or cities. In recent years the population in many of Iowa’s urban areas has grown while the number of people who live in the country has gone down. The most populous city in Iowa is Des Moines, which is also the state capital and home to museums, fairs, art shows and many family and cultural attractions in addition to the state government.

Rolling hills make up much of the terrain in Iowa. Steeper hills lay along the western edge and in the northeast along the Mississippi River where deep valleys surrounded by high hills make the area seem mountainous.

Several natural and manmade lakes offer scenic opportunities for outdoor adventure. Resorts around the ‘Great Lakes of Iowa’ provide a place for residents and tourists to unwind. Fishing, canoeing, swimming and boating make the lakes sought after family destinations.

Forests and wetlands also can be found in Iowa, but these and the native tallgrass of the prairies have overwhelmingly been replaced by family farms.

Education

The Hawkeye State bucks the discouraging trend found in many places in the United States of high numbers of high school dropouts. Instead, in Iowa about ninety percent of students graduate from high school. Only two other states in the country have a higher percentage of graduates. A generally low student–teacher ratio may be one factor that has helped Iowans succeed in school.

After high school those who wish to pursue a post–secondary degree may choose from several educational institutions within the state. In addition to three public universities, which are located in Ames, Cedar Falls and Iowa City, several private institutions also provide educational opportunities in the state, including religiously affiliated schools like the Iowa Wesleyan College and liberal arts schools like Grinnell College.

Sports

Although Iowans cannot claim their state as a home base for any of the most elite professional sports clubs such as National Football League or Major League Baseball lineups, fans do have many other teams in a variety of sports that they can support. In addition to competitive college teams, Iowa has several professional hockey teams, several minor league baseball teams, a couple of basketball teams, including a National Basketball Development League team, and soccer and football teams.

Places to Visit in Iowa

• Relax at the Okoboji Lakes resort area.
• Enjoy the thrill rides of Adventureland in Altoona.
• Teach the children about regional history at the State of Iowa Historical Museum in the state capital of Des Moines.
• Discover American Indian culture at the annual Pow–Wow at the Meskwaki Settlements.
• Western fans may particularly enjoy the John Wayne Birthplace Museum in Winterset.
• Learn about the Scandinavian culture of many of Iowa’s past immigrants at the Danish Immigrant Museum in Elk Horn.
• Immerse yourself in the history and traditions of another group of area immigrants at the National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library in Cedar Rapids.
• Travel the Loess Hills National Scenic Byway in the western part of the state.
• Take part in the Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa.
• Enjoy the relaxing sounds of jazz at the Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Jazz Festival in Davenport.
• View ancient animal–shaped mounds at the Effigy Mounds National Monument in Clayton and Allamakee counties.

Self Storage

Iowa offers many self storage options from outdoor storage to portable storage to climate–controlled indoor storage units that not only keep valuables safe, but also protect them from Iowa’s frigid winters and muggy summers. Iowa has many strong thunderstorms in the summer and several tornadoes each year, so it is a good idea to find a facility made to withstand strong winds and to get insurance just in case this isn’t enough to protect your belongings from severe weather. Whether you need a place to store your boat, your combine when it’s not harvest time, sporting equipment or seasonal clothes, StorageFront can help you find a self storage facility in your area.