Welcome to Stanton, Iowa
Stanton, Iowa (pop. 678) is our featured rural community this week! We'll be sharing success stories throughout the week from local leaders and business owners who are making an impact here. Today's guest blog post is from Connie Delinger.
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this small town is packed with greatness!
Stanton, Iowa may be small (population less than 700), but it is rich in history, family values, and adventure. Located 40 miles east of Council Bluffs along Highway 34, Stanton is a town that loves its Swedish heritage. It boasts a Swedish motif coffeepot water tower as well as a larger water tower in the shape of a cup and saucer. It is the birthplace of actress Virginia Christine, who was known in the 1960s as Mrs. Olson, the spokesperson for Folger’s coffee, and you will still find Folger’s coffee served at the Fika Coffee & Bake Shoppe on Stanton’s main street.
Stanton’s K-12 schools have approximately 275 students, resulting in very focused programs, and have consistently ranked high in State academic testing, and the sports teams have racked up many conference and State championships - Vikings spirit is strong! We have a fabulous Viking Center, which includes a daycare, the public library, an indoor walking track, a fully equipped gym, meeting rooms, and a beautiful indoor basketball court.
For outdoor activities, we have a paved walking and biking trail that wanders through town for three miles and will soon be extended to the beautiful Viking Lake, which is just two miles outside of town. We have kayaking and canoeing, baseball and softball fields, basketball courts and sand volleyball courts, as well as several lovely parks with great playground equipment and picnic areas with barbecue grills. There are plenty of fishing and hunting areas around Stanton, and the A&L Supply store in our downtown would be happy to get you all fixed up!
The Swedish Heritage and Cultural Center is a treasure trove of Swedish history and culture. It is Stanton’s former school, now a museum and gift shop, and houses centuries of valuable and interesting information about the founding of Stanton, as well as Swedish history and culture. In the summer, grade schoolers can attend Swedish School, where they learn the language, dances, and other lessons. At the end of the session, they perform for the public, complete with the traditional maypole folk dance of Midsummer.
Holidays celebrated in Stanton to honor the Swedish tradition include Varfest, or Spring Festival Day, around March or April, to welcome spring.
On April 30, the Skona Maj (“Beautiful May”) singers, a group of red-vested men, sing on street corners, where they might be invited inside for treats. They go to the nursing home, and homes of shut-ins, and perform Swedish songs for the residents. This has been a tradition in Stanton for 120 years. Midsummer is a celebration of the summer solstice and takes place in June. Stanton offers a Swedish meal around Thanksgiving, and many traditional foods, such as creamed lutefisk, pickled herring, lingonberry jam, Swedish sausage, rye crisps and glogg are served. Our Santa Lucia Day program is held in early December to crown a new Santa Lucia, Queen of Lights to honor a martyred young Christian woman. On Christmas morning, the churches hold an early morning Julotta service. Jul means Christmas, and otta is the time just before dawn.
Stanton has two churches, the Stanton Covenant Church, and the Mamreland Lutheran Church, with programs for all ages. We have housing for all needs, from the historical Victorian house to build-to-suit lots, fixed-income apartments, and a large nursing home. Our Stanton Child Resource Center is an award-winning daycare, and we are currently building an even larger one to accommodate our growing need.
Stroll down our main street of downtown and stop for coffee and fresh-baked Swedish rye bread, cinnamon rolls, or Amish Friendship bread at the Fika Coffee & Bake Shoppe. They also serve made-to-order fresh salads, soups, and daily specials. If your visit is later in the day, enjoy the indoor or patio seating at Gibbs Chophouse for a great steak dinner.
The folks of Stanton welcome you, and we are always eager to answer questions or offer directions.
Find out more about the rural revival happening in Stanton, Iowa here:
EPISODE 147 // JENNA RAMSEY OF STANTON COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND KEVIN CABBAGE OF FMTC
SUPPLYING YOUR SMALL TOWN FIREARM, FISHING, AND GROCERY NEEDS
AN UNEXPECTED PHOTOGRAPHY STUDIO TURNED EVENT SPACE
GROWING A SMALL TOWN AG REAL ESTATE COMPANY
Several times throughout the year, we’ll bring in experts to interview on a particular topics that are relevant to small town business and leadership.
You’ll hear first-hand knowledge and info from people who are experiencing success as entrepreneurs and leaders in small towns across rural America.