Long Grove, Iowa facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Long Grove, Iowa
City
Location of Long Grove, Iowa
Country	United States
State	Iowa
County	Scott
Area
• City	1.15 sq mi (2.98 km2)
• Land	1.15 sq mi (2.98 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	794 ft (242 m)
Population  (2020)
• City	838
• Density	728.06/sq mi (281.03/km2)
• Metro	382,630 (135th)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	52756
Area code(s)	563
FIPS code	19-46425
GNIS feature ID	0458594

Long Grove is a small city located in Scott County, Iowa, in the United States. It's a friendly place with a population of 838 people, according to the 2020 census. Long Grove is known for its community spirit and annual Strawberry Festival.

About Long Grove's Location

Long Grove is found in Iowa, a state in the central United States. Its exact spot on a map is 41°41′49″N 90°35′6″W / 41.69694°N 90.58500°W / 41.69694; -90.58500.

The city covers a total area of about 2.98 square kilometers (1.15 square miles). All of this area is land, meaning there are no large lakes or rivers within the city limits.

Education in Long Grove

Students in Long Grove attend schools that are part of the North Scott Community School District. This school district is quite large, covering about 570 square kilometers (220 square miles) in northern Scott County.

Younger students, those in elementary school, go to Alan Shepard Elementary. Older students, who are in junior high and high school, attend North Scott Junior High and North Scott High School. These schools are located in a nearby city called Eldridge.

Fun Things to Do in Long Grove

Long Grove is famous for its yearly celebration, the Strawberry Festival. This exciting event takes place on the second Sunday of June.

The day starts early with the Strawberry Stampede, which includes fun footraces for kids and competitive races for all ages. After that, a lively parade kicks off at 11:15 AM.

At the festival, you can buy fresh strawberries from local farmers. There are also many activities for children, like games and a special Strawberry Pageant. Other fun events include a Trivia Contest, a Raffle, and a Strawberry Cooking Contest. You can also enjoy a petting zoo, pony rides, and wagon rides. Different entertainment groups perform throughout the day. You'll find lots of food choices from community groups, including delicious strawberry shortcake, ice cream, and kettle corn.

Historic Places to Visit

Another interesting spot is the Alexander Brownlie Sod House. This unique house is on the north side of the city. It's a sod house, which means it was built using blocks of earth and grass. The Brownlie Brothers built it way back in the 1830s, during Iowa's early prairie days.

You can take tours of the house, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important historical site.

About six miles north and east of Long Grove, you can visit the Dan Nagle Walnut Grove Pioneer Village. This village is located at the edge of Scott County Park. It's like stepping back in time to an 1860s settlement in Scott County. The village has 18 historic buildings, including an old church, a bank, a train depot, and a boardwalk with shops. Many special events are held there throughout the year.

Outdoor Adventures

Scott County Park is a huge park, covering about 518 hectares (1280 acres). It offers many things to do outdoors, like hiking trails and camping spots. It's a great place to enjoy nature.

Community Groups

Long Grove has several community groups that help make the city a great place to live. These include the Lion Grove Lions Club, the Long Grove Civic League, the Long Grove Sportsman's Club, and the Cub Scouts.

Long Grove's History

The story of Long Grove began in August 1838 when two brothers, Alexander and James Brownlie, arrived in the area. They traveled along the Mississippi River and then followed the Wapsipinicon River west. They bought land from a man named Coats for $160, which included timberland and as much prairie as they wanted.

Their first log cabin was built soon after, nestled among trees on the east side of the timber, just south of where the town would later be.

Early Development

A stage road, which was a main route for stagecoaches, passed through the village. This road connected Davenport to DeWitt and Dubuque. In the early days, there was a blacksmith shop and a harness shop along the streets.

In the late 1860s, a railroad line was extended from Davenport to Long Grove. The train stopped at a place first called Noel Station, named after John T. Noel, an important early settler and public servant. The town itself wasn't officially planned out until the 1890s.

A Noteworthy Event

A big event in the city's history happened in December 1921. It involved a robbery at the Stockman's Savings Bank. While the exact details are unclear, it's known that two suspects were caught and killed by a group of citizens right after they tried to rob the bank.

For many years, Long Grove remained a quiet farming community. However, it has grown quite a bit in the last 35 years. With the opening of Alan Shepard Elementary School, many new homes have been built all around the city.

Churches in Long Grove

There are a few churches located in or near Long Grove:

• Long Grove Christian Church.
• St. Ann's Catholic Church, which is about 3 kilometers (2 miles) north of the city limits.

Long Grove's Population Over Time

The population of Long Grove has changed over the years. In 1920, there were 158 people. By 2020, the population had grown to 838 residents. This shows that more people have chosen to live in Long Grove over time.

Famous People from Long Grove

Some notable people have connections to Long Grove:

• Georges Le Marinel (1860–1914): He was an American-born officer in the Belgian army. He was also an engineer, explorer, and colonial administrator.
• Paul Le Marinel (1858–1912): Georges' brother, Paul was also an American-born officer in the Belgian army. He became a well-known explorer and administrator in the Congo Free State.

Images for kids

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  Long Grove Christian Church

• 

  St. Ann's Catholic Church and Cemetery

See also

In Spanish: Long Grove (Iowa) para niños