When Did Real Estate Begin in Cedar Rapids?
Image via Wikipedia,Cedar Rapids about 1868
Real estate in Cedar Rapids really started in 1838, when notable charmer and reputed horse thief Osgood Shepherd arrived in what was soon to be our town. Pursued by Ohio vigilantes for his less than savory reputation, he set up a small cabin along the banks of the Cedar River. We don’t condone Mr. Shepherd’s activities prior to establishing our town, but he’s proof even the worst of us can, with a little effort, usually amount to something.
How Can You Be A Part of the Story?
Image via Wikipedia
Buy an acreage home in Cedar Rapids and you are buying your own piece of the Great Plains prairie, the ancient grassland that evolved over thousands of years from the effects of grazing and fire. Long before the Europeans arrived, native peoples have called it home, along with bison, elk and white tailed deer that roamed freely. We call it living history, the country around here. Isn’t it time for your family to be part of the story?
Grant Wood An American Classic
American Gothic (Photo credit: Mark Heard)
Did you know our city’s Grant Wood museum is home to one of the world’s most famous portraits? The artist Grant Wood won $300 for his canvas entitled “American Gothic” back in 1930, and the picture of a Cedar Rapids dentist and his spinster sister has captured the national imagination ever since. So consider a pitchfork and a serious expression next time you pose in front of your home in Cedar Rapids…and you too might become an American classic.
Did Al Capone Frequent Cedar Rapids?
- Image via Wikipedia
The story of real estate in Cedar Rapids has to include Al Capone, who used to frequent a certain supper club a few miles outside town back in the 20s. It’s said when things got too hot in Chicago, he and his boys would light out for the countryside and the relative quiet of Cedar Rapids. The place is still open if you want to look for ghosts. Oatmeal, engineers, the occasional Prohibition bootlegger…that’s our town.
How many Fortune 500 Companies Are Located in Cedar Rapids?
Image via Wikipedia
Even Cedar Rapids homes with acreage are located within minutes of the Technology Corridor of the Midwest. Over 30 Fortune 500 companies have offices in Cedar Rapids, along with over a dozen foreign based enterprises. We don’t just grow corn in Iowa. We grow ideas.
What is the Average Commute in Cedar Rapids?
Image via Wikipedia
Did you know the average work commute to or from houses in Cedar Rapids is about 16 minutes or less? That’s half the national average, and that number also factors in peak travel times, morning and evening. So you don’t spend half your life in your car, when you buy a home for sale in Cedar Rapids. You get to stand up, stretch your legs for awhile. Have a cookie.
Who Are They?
Image via Wikipedia
We liked this local news story, about a group calling itself “The Surprise Squad. “ It seems they’ve done good deeds all over town this month-things like paying anonymously to fill a stranger’s gas tank and dropping off coffee and doughnuts to a nearby town’s elementary school secretaries. Who are they? We don’t know. But if that isn’t the right way to describe home in Cedar Rapids, we don’t know what is.
Indian Creek Nature Center
Image by Dan Patterson via Flickr
When you’re buying Cedar Rapids real estate, you’re buying a home in prairie country. You can learn more about what “our American meadow” originally looked like by checking out the local Indian Creek Nature Center, where you can see our native Indian grass and big bluestem, and in the spring, pasque flowers and prairie smoke. How you landscape your own yard, though, is up to you.
Did You Know?
Image via Wikipedia
What do Mamie Eisenhower, Ashton Kutcher and the Wright brothers have in common? More than you might think-try a whole town. They all grew up or had houses in Cedar Rapids for some portion of their lives. Of course, our town’s most important resident may still just be looking at Cedar Rapids listings. After all, it’s hard to say. Exactly just what are you doing at the moment?
Are You An Engineer?
Image by Ian Ruotsala via Flickr
Are you an engineer? Know an engineer? Along with low crime and cereal, Cedar Rapids is known for them, with more engineers per capita than any other city in the United States. Now, to be clear, Cedar Rapids homes for sale, while extremely affordable, don’t include an engineer in the sale price. Usually.
