The city of Cedar Rapids, Iowa is divided into four quadrants: the east, west, north, and south. There are no slums in Cedar Rapids. Residential areas are set back from streets and broad avenues are lined with staunch old trees that form archways of green. Newer residential districts have streets that follow contours and curve. But regardless of the layout of the city, you can expect a sense of community and comfort.
Before 1838, Sac and Fox Indians lived in the area. Osgood Shepherd erected a shack on the east side of the river near what is now First Avenue. The first survey of the city was done in 1841 by N. B. Brown and George Greene, who purchased Shepherd's squatter rights and named the town Rapids City. After this, the city's population increased.
The affordability of housing in Cedar Rapids has been another reason for the city's recent growth. In 2016, Cedar Rapids homeowners paid about half of their income toward mortgages - well below the national average. The local economy improved and new housing construction continued to make modest gains. However, home prices are still below the national average. This bodes well for homeowners. And it may even lead to a stronger housing market.
In addition to these statistics, Cedar Rapids is home to the largest newspaper archive in North America, Newspaperarchive. The archive has over 250 years' worth of newspapers. While the website was down for two days after the 2008 flood, its collection of newspapers is a treasure trove. You'll be able to search through these pages and see for yourself why Cedar Rapids is such an appealing place to live.