Iowa Town Named One of the Nation’s Top Main Streets [VIDEO]

You'll find many beautiful small towns in the state of Iowa. However, only one Iowa city is home to one of the best main streets in the nation.

That town is Jefferson, Iowa. The Des Moines Register reports that the Iowa town was a recipient of one of the 2025 Great American Main Street Awards. The honor recognizes communities for "preservation-based commercial district revitalization." Only three cities in the United States were selected to receive the award.

Why Was Jefferson, Iowa, Named a Great American Main Street?

According to the Register, Jefferson received the award for its investment in its public arts program. Since 2012, Jefferson has invested $24 million to rehabilitate its downtown district. That investment has led to 45 new businesses and 100 new buildings according to the Register. Many rooftops in the town have installed art displays that can be seen from the top of the Mahanay Bell Tower.

What Makes Jefferson's Main Street so Great?

The city of around 4,100 people is best known for the Mahanay Memorial Carillon Tower, according to the Register. It is a 14-story tower that visitors can ride a glass elevator up 120 feet to an observation deck.

The Register reports that each year, Jefferson hosts the Bell Tower Festival, which features vendors, a carnival, and a street dance. The three-day event also features a sports tournament and a parade.

So if you want to visit one of the great main streets and small towns in America, you can find Jefferson, Iowa, in Green County.. It sits about halfway between Boone and Carroll on U.S. Highway 30 and is just over a two-hour drive from Cedar Rapids.

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