11 Things Only People From Small Town Iowa Will Understand
There’s something very special about the small towns in Iowa. With their friendly atmospheres, low crime rates and charming Main Streets, you’re likely to count yourself as lucky if you had the opportunity to grow up in a small town here. And, there are some very specific experiences that we’ve all had if we spent our childhoods in one of these small towns. Here are 11 things only people from small town Iowa will understand.
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This can be a good and a bad thing. It’s nice to see familiar faces everywhere and know that people care about you. But you get used to everyone knowing your business.
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You’re so used to getting a blank look when you tell someone where you’re from that you just say, "Oh, you probably wouldn’t know it."
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Cruising Main Street, or anywhere in general, is a major form of entertainment in a small town. It’s a chance to get out of the house and hang out with friends, or flirt with that cute girl or guy you like.
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While there may have not been much to do in the form of entertainment, small town Iowans have a huge amount of free reign compared to city kids. With low crime rates and everyone knowing each other, it’s considered safe for kids to ride their bikes everywhere or meet up with neighborhood kids to play the day away, without much adult supervision.
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Pass the hot dish, rolls and jello, please. Church basement potlucks are a major staple of small town Iowa.
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In a big city, if you smiled and waved at everyone you passed on the street, people would probably just quietly wonder what insane asylum you were just released from. In a small town, it’s normal, and even rude not to exchange this basic courtesy.
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Without all of the forms of entertainment provided by larger cities, small town Iowans know how to use their imaginations and make their own fun.
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Imagine explaining that to someone who didn’t grow up in rural Iowa? And yet, those are some of the most fun parties we’ve been to.
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Supporting the hometown team is a given. Whether we’re gathering under the Friday night lights or in the high school gymnasium, local sporting events are not to be missed.
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Whether you’ve got posters of foreign cities on your wall or you just dream of moving to a town nearby that has an actual mall, dreaming of getting out to someplace big and exciting is a given.
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You don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone. Inevitably, if we leave, we realize how good we had it and that our hearts will always be with our small hometowns.
Did you grow up in a small town in Iowa? What was your experience like? Want to explore some of Iowa’s best small towns? Here Are 10 Of The Most Charming Small Towns In Iowa.
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