POPULATION: 2047
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LOCATION:
Leon, the county seat of Decatur County,
sits among beautiful wooded rolling hills, filled with an abundance
of lakes, rivers, and streams in south central Iowa. Leon is strategically
located on Highway 69 and Highway 2, 4 miles east of Interstate
35 (exit 12) just 60 minutes south of Des Moines.
TELEPHONE COMPANY & SERVICES:
Grand River Mutual Telephone Corporation is a progressive local
exchange carrier with a service area covering 4,064 square miles
in southern Iowa and northern Missouri. Grand River Mutual serves
a total of 21 counties in the two states - with 44 exchanges,
12 in Iowa and 32 in Missouri.
Grand River Mutual utilizes state-of-the-art digital switches
interconnected with 339 miles of fiber optic cable to bring its
members the best in communications technology. Some of the services
that Grand River Mutual offers are highly reliable private lines,
business telephone systems, equal access, distance learning, local
dial-up and dedicated Internet access, and switched 56 KB service.
ISDN will be available in the near future.
Grand River Mutual Telephone is a member-owned cooperative which
progressively brings superior service and the latest technologies
to its customers.
SCHOOLS:
Central Decatur Schools offer quality academic education for grades
Kindergarten through grade 12. A new Junior/Senior High School,
dedicated in l985, and new addition to our grade school in l989,
have kept our educational facilities modern and updated. Our school
system offers a great sports program, including, football, basketball,
baseball, volleyball, wrestling, softball, track, cross country
and golf. The music program includes: a marching band, concert
band, jazz band, chorus and swing choir. The drama club performs
theater productions and/or musicals, two to three times a year.
641-446-4816
The approximately 650 students enrolled in the district are instructed
by well-trained and dedicated teachers. The instructional staff
is supported by four administrators and fifty other employees.
The Central Decatur Schools emphasize the dignity and worth of
each child. All district programs are directed toward helping
each child succeed.
WELCOME MESSAGE:
Our community welcomes you to Leon, a small but progressive town centrally located near the border of Southern Iowa. Leon offers a dedicated work force, profitable business climate and a quality life style. There is a cherished feeling of security here, re-enforced by honest rural values.
We invite you to come and catch the excitement as we share what
it's like to live, work, and play in our community.
TOURIST ATTRACTIONS & RECREATION:
The City has excellent park and recreation facilities which includes
Little River Recreation Area. A 787 acre lake contributes to a
rare outdoor recreational experience. There are more than 100
modern and primitive campsites available, as well as, picnic facilities,
beach areas, boat ramps, bait concessions, boat rental, playgrounds
and shelter houses. There are trails for hiking, biking, horseback
riding and snowmobiling.
Upland game and water fowl hunting is another prime attraction
with over 4500 acres of public hunting. More than a 1000 acres
of lakes and 38 miles of river waterways lie within 1/2 mile to
15 miles of the city limits.
Other facilities within the city limits include three public parks
meeting a variety of recreational needs, including Leon municipal
swimming pool, a band shelter, picnic playground areas ball fields,
tennis courts and basketball courts. The Decatur County Fair Grounds
serves as an entrance to the 1.8 mile concrete paved Little River
Scenic Pathway. Enjoy nature while hiking, biking, jogging or
exercising at various fitness areas along the trail or just take
a leisurely stroll and enjoy a picnic.
A beautiful country club with modern clubhouse has a scenic 9
hole-36 par grass green golf course with reasonable green fees
for visitors.
In downtown Leon you will find craft and antique shops as well
as the Decatur County Historical Museum. The history of Decatur
County is portrayed in vignettes, from a blacksmith shop to a
sitting room. Genealogists find this a great resource facility.
Another building is home to a collection of antique farm machinery.
A vintage vaudeville theater operated by South Central Iowa Theater
(SCIT), a nonprofit corporation supplemented by volunteers, provides
movies on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings, as well as, live
theater performances throughout the year.
BUSINESS & INDUSTRY:
Leon is a great place to work and shop. Retail and service businesses
provide a well balanced mix of jobs, products, and services. Nearly
every need from agricultural supplies to a full service hospital
is met in this community.
Manufacturing is also a significant and valued part of our community.
O'Bryan Brothers, Inc., manufacturer of Lorraine Lingerie provides
employment for about 200 people in a large modern and clean sewing
and warehousing facility. Survivor Technologies, Inc., manufacturers
of vinyl windows and doors, is another major employer of this
area.
Leon believes in taking care of our industry and business and
works to provide excellent infrastructure to meet the needs for
expansion of existing firms as well as development of potential
new enterprises.
AGRICULTURE:
Agriculture is a major industry around the Leon area, with every
size from small hobby farms to family farmsteads to corporate
operations, all being located in Decatur County. Beef cow/calf
production is the major enterprise utilizing the excellent grazing
in the local countryside. Decatur County ranks among the top in
beef cow numbers. Hogs, sheep, corn, soybeans, and hay make up
the balance of a diverse agricultural mix.
LODGING & RESTAURANTS:
Reservations for lodging can be made at either the Little River
Inn, 641-446-4883 or the Leon Motel, 641-446-4832. Both are conveniently
located on Highway 2. There are several restaurants in the area
to accommodate every dining need.
LOCAL LEGENDS & HISTORY:
On January 18, 1851, an act of the Iowa Legislature was approved,
appointing commissioners and providing a county seat town on the
main road from Fort Des Moines to Independence Missouri, to be
called Decatur City. There were many people in the county who
claimed that the selection of the county seat had been illegal.
The General Assembly accordingly ordered an election to take place
the first Monday in April 1853 to decide again on the location
of the county seat. The vote was counted and showed the majority
in favor of removing the county seat to a more central location.
The new town was to be named Independence. There being another
settlement of that name in Iowa, the name was changed to South
Independence. The Legislature in the winter of 1854-55 changed
the name to Leon in compliance with a petition of the citizens.
It is said that the name Leon was suggested by W.H. Cheevers who
became attracted by it while serving as soldier in the Mexican
War.
The first residence log cabin in Leon was located on the lot now
occupied by the city garage. After the town was surveyed, Dr.
S.C. Thompson built a house and office on the lot now occupied
by Mallatt's Apartments. I.N. Clark constructed the first commercial
business, a general store, on an adjacent lot. In 1854, the first
school was erected in Leon. At the close of that year the town
had four stores and about forty residences. Soon a sufficient
number of settlers arrived to justify the establishment of a post
office and Joshua Davis was the first postmaster.
From 1853 until the commencement of the Civil War, the growth
in population was quite rapid and the town enjoyed lucrative trade.
In 1880 the population 1,367; in l900, 1620; and in 1920, 2009.
The census has averaged around 2000 to present day. - excerpt
from speech given by Loring Miller at the Iowa Sesquicentennial
Statehood Stamp Unveiling Ceremony at Leon Post Office, Friday,
August 2, l996.
FESTIVALS & CELEBRATIONS:
Special events throughout the year keep our community on the move.
The Annual School Alumni Homecoming takes place on Memorial Day
weekend. The 4th of July celebration includes a parade, family
games and entertainment on the courthouse lawn, highlighted by
a three night performance of the award winning Leon IRCA Rodeo.
The celebration is capped off with a large fire works display.
The Decatur County 4-H and FFA Fair begins the third week of July
hosting many exhibits and a variety of entertainment for all ages.
August brings the Little River Festival, car show, and flea market.
Labor Day weekend is demolition derby time, followed in October
by Central Decatur Football Homecoming. The holiday season is
kicked off the second Saturday of November with Southern Iowa
Craft Show, featuring 50 booths of top notch crafts, demonstrations,
homemade foods, and entertainment. The annual Christmas Parade
takes place on the first Saturday after Thanksgiving. The Christmas
spirit continues through December with street decorations and
the spectacular Home Lighting and Decorating Contest.
For Leon Rodeo information call Long Creek Outfitters, 641-446-3535
day or 641-446-6474 evening.
REAL ESTATE:
There has been a consistent increase in new construction over
the past few years. Several prime building sites have recently
been added with the addition of a newly developed sub-division
. Commercial and residential properties are available throughout
the area, as well as industrial sites for development.
CHURCHES:
Many denominations of faith are available to meet spiritual needs,
with 16 churches located in Leon.
LIBRARY:
In l905 the City Council approved the donation of $6,000 offered by Andrew Carnegie for the purpose of erecting the Leon Library. Since that time the Leon Public Library has continued to provide a full line of services to meet educational and informational needs of the community.
A computer for patron use was recently added, including Internet
access courtesy of Grand River Mutual Telephone Company. e-mail
address leonpl@netins.net or 641-446-6332 or 641-446-3746
BRAGGING RIGHTS:
Sounds like heaven? Ready to make your next move? Contact Leon
City Hall 641-446-6221, Leon Chamber of Commerce 641-446-4991,
or hop on the Interstate and come on around! Whether it's to live
or work or play, we think you'll agree. Leon is the place to
be!
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For more information contact the Decatur County Development Corporation.