GME, Residency - About Mason City
The secret of our success is that Mason City is the kind of place where people want to live. Mason City is the center of activity for North Iowa. Located in Cerro Gordo County, we are 140 miles south of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and 130 miles north of Des Moines, Iowa. The communities of North Iowa have a long history and a bright future.
Mason City is a comfortable place to live. Residents enjoy the quality of life offered in a small-town atmosphere; away from the hectic pace, the cost, the crime, and the crowds of the big city. Mason City has a charm all its own. From cultural events to museums, Mason City and the surrounding areas have a variety of exciting things for individuals and families to enjoy. The original "River City," Mason City was the model town for Meredith Wilson's "The Music Man."
Mason City is also home to the largest collection of Frank Lloyd Wright Prairie School designed homes in the country. You'll learn that cultural resources extend far beyond Meredith Willson's legacy. Area museums and attractions include the Music Man Square, Charles H. MacNider Museum, and Kinney Pioneer Museum. You also can take advantage of renowned entertainment at the famous Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake or through the North Iowa Area Community College Performing Arts and Speaker Series.
For outdoor enthusiasts, the North Iowa region lies in the heart of the "land of four seasons." The recreational activities you'll enjoy in and around Mason City are virtually unlimited.
You can enjoy activities year round from biking to camping, water sports on Clear Lake to hiking and cross-country skiing at Lime Creek Nature Center or Pilot Knob State Park. The Parks and Recreational Department offers a host of recreational leagues for all ages. For those who prefer to do their recreating indoors, the area offers tennis facilities, racquetball, fitness (exercise classes, swimming, Nautilus, and weights), ice skating, hockey, volleyball, karate, and bowling.
There are a variety of employment opportunities for spouses in the area. Major employers include: Sunny Fresh Foods, Kraft Foods, Curries and Graham Manufacturing, Winnebago Industries, Cole Sewell/Pella, Woodharbor, Principal Financial, North Iowa Area Community College, public and parochial schools as well as MercyOne North Iowa.
