Let’s Talk. . . Why Rural Living? Why Jefferson?

In the past, rural living might have been viewed as restricting and dull, but that is no longer the case – far from it!

Rural living is an attractive lifestyle that provides individuals and families more space, embraces entrepreneurial opportunities, and allows the ability to take advantage of a lower cost of living.

When you experience Jefferson it is easy to immediately notice that this is not your average rural community, it is rural living rediscovered!

Today, many are discovering the benefits of rural living and taking advantage of them by making the move! Let us tell you why Jefferson should be on your list!

1.

Minutes Matter. Time is valuable, and who doesn’t crave more quality time? In Jefferson, you don’t have to deal with bumper-to-bumper traffic as most of the things you need are just minutes away. You could walk your child to school, go home over your lunch hour, and spend less time in the car and more time with family.

2.

Low Cost of Living. Affordable housing in Jefferson means you can more comfortably live the way you want! Whether you’d be interested in a new or existing home, local builders, realtors, and lender resources are available to help you.

3.

Great School System. Did you hear that in 2020 Greene County opened the new Greene County High School and Career Academy?! This new high school has top-of-the-line resources and educational opportunities. With the connected Career Academy equipped and staffed by Iowa Central Community College, education is being taken to new heights in Jefferson! Greene County students also have many opportunities to be a part of so many different activities! Whether your kids are interested in arts, music, sports, theater, or community service projects, Greene County Community Schools offer the opportunity for students to be a part of it all!

In an effort to provide our Greene County youth with outstanding learning environments, our middle school took over our previous high school location and received additional improvements and renovations in 2020 and 2021. Even our elementary school acquired a beautiful addition to their building in 2019! We are so proud that our Greene County Community School District is an amazing place to learn and grow!

4.

Safe & Secure. Safe Choice Security previously named Jefferson as the safest small town in Iowa. The study considered both property and violent crime statistics to get a realistic insight into the actual incidences of crime in Iowa’s towns and cities. Jefferson’s officers are vigilant in their role to protect residents and many have experience interacting with larger federal and state agencies. The vast majority of police calls are dedicated to public service.

5.

Local Companies are Hiring! Jefferson and the surrounding area is home to American Athletic/Spalding, Aureon, B&D Manufacturing, Bauer Built, Greene County Medical Center, John Deere, Landus Cooperative, Midland Power Cooperative, Power Lift, Scranton Manufacturing, Wild Rose Casino & Resort, and so many other wonderful businesses. Plus, companies based in Des Moines such as Accenture through The Forge and Gravitate Coworking have found a niche in rural Iowa by renovating downtown buildings to expand their footprint into Jefferson.

6.

You’ll Never Be Bored. With the changing of four seasons, there is always something to do all year round for any age! In the summer, swim at the Jefferson pool, join a recreation league, check out dozens of locally owned shops, and join the fun at the Bell Tower Festival and Greene County Fair. Fall brings outside concerts and trips to the orchard for apple picking and hayrack rides. When winter arrives, go sledding at some of our prime sledding hills and ice skating near the public pool. Spring offers camping and fishing along the Raccoon River and checking out all of Jefferson’s amazing attractions. Be sure not to miss out on taking a ride up the 168 ft. Mahanay Bell Tower located on the Courthouse Plaza where you will see amazing views as you look out at the observation deck!

7.

Many Recreational Opportunities. The Greene County Community Center, located in the heart of Jefferson, has full basketball courts, an indoor walking track, racquetball courts, exercise equipment, and wellness classes. Plus, the Raccoon River Valley Trail allows bike riders and walkers to travel from Jefferson to Des Moines on 89 miles of paved trails. Perhaps you enjoy bowling, golfing, swimming, or disc golf? No worries, we have you covered in those areas too!

8.

Arts & Culture. Jefferson has character around every corner! Get lost in the beauty of our outside downtown art scaling from alleyways to rooftops. Or stay inside and be widely entertained by the professional and local talent around town or in our state-of-the-art, 700-seat Performing Arts Center! Catch all the new movies at the Sierra Community Theatre, with the latest sound system and picture quality – you will feel like you’re right in the movie with your favorite casts! And don’t miss out on attending some amazing concerts at Wild Rose Casino & Resort! Hosting big stars such as Wynonna Judd, Kenny Rogers, Blues Traveler, Oak Ridge Boys, Travis Tritt, and Reba McIntire right here in Jefferson!

9.

Excellent Health Care. Greene County Medical Center is a community-based system, committed to providing excellence in health services. It recently completed an expansion/renovation project totaling $22.5 million.

10

Giga- What? Google might brag about offering Gigabit internet service in big cities, but you can get high-speed internet in our small town. Jefferson Telecom has invested in the community by providing fiber to all homes and businesses in Jefferson and to rural farmsteads in the surrounding area. This fiber enables Jefferson Telecom customers to get the speed they need to work from home, stream movies, do online gaming, and much more. Speaking of working from home, have you ever thought about teleworking? You may be able to keep your current job but work from your home in Jefferson!