Welcome to Cedar Rapids, IA
The city of Cedar Rapids is located on the Cedar River in eastern Iowa, approximately 30 miles north of Iowa City and 130 miles northeast of Des Moines. Although the area had long been occupied by Sac and Fox Native Americans, the Cedar River’s first non-Native settler was a European named Osgood Shepherd, who established his homestead in 1838 at what is now the intersection of First Avenue and First Street. Shepherd was not alone for long; as settlers began arriving from the east, a dam was built on the river to support a grist and lumber mill and by 1848, a town was born. One of the factors that helped shape Cedar Rapids from the beginning was the immigration of many Czechoslovakians who came to the area to work in nearby packing plants. After 1852, the community formed a “Little Bohemia” in the southwest portion of the young city; this neighborhood remains today as “Czech Village,” and continues to contribute to Cedar Rapids’ diverse atmosphere. Another factor that also contributed to Cedar Rapids’ growth and development was the arrival of several important companies, including T. M. Sinclair Meatpacking Company, Cherry-Burrell, Quaker Oats, as well as the arrival of telecommunication and technology companies in the 20th century that brought economic growth and national attention to the city.
Today Cedar Rapids boasts a population of around 125,000 people, and continues to be an economic driving force both locally and nationally. In the past decade, the city has received many accolades for its thriving business climate; for example, Kiplinger’s Personal Finance declared Cedar Rapids #10 among 50 “Smart” cities for its economic vitality and quality of life, and the Bureau of Economic Analysis ranked Cedar Rapids as having the #1 fastest growing economy in the Midwest. The city is home to a large number of major corporations, including General Mills, GE Commercial Finance, Cargill, Toyota Financial Services, Qwest, and Nordstrom. Cedar Rapids is also part of Iowa’s Technology Corridor, and offers an abundance of career opportunities in the technology industry.
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