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Dows, Iowa

Dows, Iowa
City
Motto: A good town in a friendly community!
Location of Dows, Iowa
Location of Dows, Iowa
Coordinates: 42°39′25″N 93°30′8″W / 42.65694°N 93.50222°W / 42.65694; -93.50222Coordinates: 42°39′25″N 93°30′8″W / 42.65694°N 93.50222°W / 42.65694; -93.50222
Country  United States
State  Iowa
Counties Wright, Franklin
Area
 • Total 0.80 sq mi (2.07 km2)
 • Land 0.77 sq mi (1.99 km2)
 • Water 0.03 sq mi (0.08 km2)
Elevation 1,152 ft (351 m)
Population (2010)
 • Total 538
 • Estimate (2012) 528
 • Density 698.7/sq mi (269.8/km2)
Time zone Central (CST) (UTC-6)
 • Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code 50071
Area code(s) 515
FIPS code 19-22305
GNIS feature ID 0455978

Dows is a city in Franklin and Wright counties of the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 538 at the 2010 census.

Dows had its start in the year 1880 by the building of the railroad through that territory. Dows is named for a railroad contractor.

The Dows Historical Society and community volunteers have restored several historical buildings, three of which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Rock Island Depot in Dows was built in 1896. The historical society purchased and restored the depot in 1988 that houses an Iowa Welcome Center and historical railroad and community memorabilia. The Quasdorf Blacksmith and Wagon Museum was built in 1899 and was restored in 1990. This is one of the best equipped blacksmith shops in the Midwest. The Fillmore Building, a large cornerstone building on the south side of Main Street, was built in 1894 and has housed many businesses over the years. In 1987 the building was purchased by the historical society and restored. In 1989, the Dows Mercantile and Crème de la Crème were opened in the building. The Dows Mercantile is an antique mall covering three floors. The Crème de la Crème is a sandwich shop/ice cream parlor.

Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern Passenger Depot (later part of the Rock Island Railroad)

Quasdorf Blacksmith and Wagon Museum

Fillmore Building

The Vernon Township Schoolhouse was built in 1887 and is a typical of what one-room, country schoolhouses were like in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The building was moved to town and was restored both inside and out. The schoolhouse is furnished with original desks, blackboards, and books. Another historical building located in the downtown area is the Evans Prairie Home, located across from the Welcome Center.

Dows is located two miles (3 km) west of Interstate 35.

Dows is located at 42°39′25″N 93°30′8″W / 42.65694°N 93.50222°W / 42.65694; -93.50222 (42.656882, -93.502175).


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