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Le Mars, IA

Frequently asked questions

Le Mars, IA

Le Mars is the county seat of Plymouth County, Iowa, United States. It is located on the Floyd River northeast of Sioux City. The population was 10,571 at the time of the 2020 census. Le Mars is part of the Sioux City metropolitan area.

Le Mars is the home of Wells Enterprises, Inc., the world's largest producer of ice cream novelties in one location. It so claims to be the "Ice Cream Capital of the World" although it would probably be more accurate to claim to be the “Ice Cream Novelties Capital of the World”.

Le Mars was platted in 1869, but no lots were sold until the Iowa Falls and Sioux City Railroad Company, a subsidiary of the Iowa Falls and Sioux City Railroad (later part of the Illinois Central Railroad), completed its trackage from Le Mars southwardly to Sioux City in 1870.

Railroad magnate John I. Blair hosted an excursion to the new town, which was then called St. Paul Junction because of its 1871 connection to St. Paul on the nascent Sioux City & St. Paul Railroad. Blair asked the women in the party to name the town, and they submitted an acronym based upon their first names' initials: Lucy Ford and Laura Walker, Ellen Cleghorn or Elizabeth Underhill, Martha Weare and Mary Weare, Adeline Swain, Rebecca Smith, and Sarah Reynolds. (Note that some letters represent more than one person.) There was some subsequent uncertainty about who the women of the acronym were. For example, the city's web page contains a somewhat different list.

In 1885, Frederick Brooke Close, a young Englishman who had passed up attending Cambridge University to live in Iowa, founded the Northwestern Polo League in Le Mars.

Le Mars is located at 42°47′20″N 96°9′57″W (42.788799, −96.165944). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.55 square miles (22.14 km²), of which 8.54 square miles (22.12 km²) is land and 0.01 square miles (0.03 km²) is water.

Le Mars, IA strongly emphasizes health and wellness to its residents. Floyd Valley Healthcare offers comprehensive health services, including wellness check-ups and preventive care programs. Anytime Fitness provides a comprehensive gym experience with modern equipment, group classes, and personal training services. Evolve Yoga & Wellness Center offers a serene space for yoga and meditation, promoting mental and physical health. Le Mars Swimming Pool offers swim lessons and recreational swimming for all ages. CrossFit Le Mars delivers high-intensity workouts designed to improve overall fitness and strength. These facilities collectively contribute to Le Mars's vibrant health and wellness culture, enriching its residents' lives. The Le Mars YMCA provides a comprehensive range of fitness programs, including swimming, group fitness classes, and wellness coaching. 

The top sites in Le Mars, IA are West Floyd Park, Plymouth County Historical Museum, and Willow Creek Golf Course & Banquet Hall.

Population: 10,605 (2022). ZIP Code: 51031. Area code: 712. Elevation: 1,234 ft (376 m). Area: 8.55 sq mi (22.14 km²).

FAQs

What is Le Mars, IA famous for?

Le Mars, Iowa - "The Ice Cream Capital of the World". Officially designated as such in 1994, Le Mars has been the home to Wells Enterprises Inc., makers of Blue Bunny® brand ice cream and dairy products, since the company's founding by Fred H. Wells, Jr., in 1913. Today more ice cream is produced in Le Mars, Iowa, by a single company than in any other city in the world! While we love to promote ice cream, we have so much more to offer. So, whether you are staying awhile or just passing through, we invite you to experience the “local flavors” in Le Mars… “Where Life is Sweet.”

What is the cost of living in Le Mars, IA?

The total cost of housing, food, child care, transportation, health care, taxes, and other necessities for a single adult in Le Mars is $32,879 a year — about the same as the annual cost of living for Iowa of $33,837 and less than the national figure of $38,433. Le Mars is a city in Plymouth County, Iowa, with a population of 9,894. Housing is one of the largest components of the cost of living.

What is the crime rate in Le Mars, IA?

Le Mars has an overall crime rate of 12 per 1,000 residents, making the crime rate here near the average for all cities and towns of all sizes in America. According to our analysis of FBI crime data, your chance of becoming a victim of crime in Le Mars is 1 in 87. How does Le Mars fare compared to other communities in Iowa of all population sizes? Le Mars's crime rate is lower than approximately 22% of Iowa communities.

Sources

Wikipedia

City of Le Mars

Neighborhood Scout

24/7 Wall Street

West Floyd Park

Plymouth County Historical Museum

Willow Creek Golf Course & Banquet Hall

Floyd Valley Healthcare

Anytime Fitness

Evolve Yoga & Wellness Center 

Willow Creek Golf Course

Le Mars Swimming Pool

CrossFit Le Mars

Le Mars YMCA

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