Area Information
One Of The Most
Livable Places Around!
Before 1673, Iowa had long been home to many Native American tribe. Approximately 17 different Indian tribes had resided here at various times, including the Ioway, Sauk, Mesquaki, Sioux, Potawatomi, Oto and Missouri. In the summer of 1673, French explorers Louis Joliet and Father Jacques Marquette traveled down the Mississippi River past the land that was to become the state of Iowa. The two explorers, along with their five crewmen, stepped ashore near where the Iowa river flowed into the Mississippi. It is believed that the 1673 voyage marked the first time that white people visited the region of Iowa.
The Potawatomi, Oto and Missouri Indians sold their land to the federal government by 1830 while the Sauk and Mesquaki remained in the Iowa region until 1845. The Santee Band of the Sioux was the last to negotiate a treaty with the federal government in 1851.
The town of St. Charles was laid out in 1851 with the platting done on October 7, 1852. The first house, a single-story log dwelling, was erected in 1853.
St. Charles gets roughly 33 inches of rain per year and 37 inches of snowfall. The number of days with any measurable precipitation is approximately 90. On average, we have 205 sunny days per year in our community. The July high is around 86 degrees and January low is 11.
St. Charles is part of the Interstate 35 Community School District, along with Truro and New Virginia, with a K-12 enrollment of 727 students. A large addition was completed at the high school in Truro in 2001. This new addition made it possible to house K-12 in a central location.
Southern Iowa has some of the country's best and little-known attractions. The region is home to the Dutch-American town of Pella and the Bridges of Madison County, made famous by the novel and movie of the same name.
Our region has much to discover, from old Mississippi River ports to historic Van Buren County villages. Find actor John Wayne's birthplace in Winterset, a toy museum in Chariton, a ballooning museum in Indianola and a sprint car racing museum in Knoxville. Want to visit a piece of art history in person? Explore the farmhouse in Eldon that was used as the backdrop for American Gothic, Grant Wood's famous farm couple.
Visitors and citizens alike will find no lack of opportunities to fish, swim and boat at popular recreation areas including Lake Red Rock, Rathbun Lake and Keo-Lacy Park.
St. Charles and southern Iowa are sure to have some for everyone's tastes. Stop by our United Country office and let us share our piece of paradise with you.
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