Shady Grove, Iowa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Shady Grove, Iowa
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 Shady Grove, Iowa
Location in Iowa
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| Country | United States |
| State | Iowa |
| County | Buchanan |
| Founded | 1857 |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
Shady Grove is a small place in Buchanan County, Iowa, United States. It's not an official town or city, but it used to be a small community. Shady Grove is located between the cities of Brandon and Jesup. People started settling here in 1857.
Over time, many people moved away from the countryside. This caused the population of Shady Grove to drop to just 25 people by the 1950s. However, new houses started being built in the 1990s and 2000s. This has brought new life to the area, but it has also caused some disagreements.
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Where is Shady Grove?
Shady Grove is found where two county roads, V65 and D47, meet. It sits between the towns of Brandon and Jesup. The area is about half a mile east of the Black Hawk county line. Other nearby places include Jubilee and La Porte City in Black Hawk County. You can also find Mount Auburn in Benton County nearby.
The Story of Shady Grove
Shady Grove was started in 1857. It was on the western edge of Jefferson Township. This spot was close to the border between Buchanan and Black Hawk counties. Another community called Sunnyside was also nearby.
Early Businesses and Population Changes
In 1886, a post office opened in Shady Grove. The community attracted several businesses. These included a place that sold farm machinery, a creamery (where dairy products are made), a church, and a general store. Even with these businesses, Shady Grove was never officially made into a town.
Over the years, many people moved away from rural areas. This caused the number of people living in Shady Grove to shrink.
- In 1902, only 12 people lived there.
- By 1925, the population grew a bit to 29 residents.
- By 1958, there were 25 people, making up seven families.
The general store closed in the 1980s. Its building was later moved to a different spot on Spring Creek Road. Even in the 1990s, Shady Grove was still shown on county maps. However, there was almost nothing left of the community. Only a large machine shed with "Shady Grove" written on it remained.
Signs of the Past
You can still find some clues about Shady Grove's history. For example, a building that used to be a barber shop was on land owned by the Schares family. They took it down in 2004 to make more room for their cattle. When it was taken down, old newspapers were found lining the walls like wallpaper.
The old Shady Grove Cemetery was found on land owned by the Youngblut family. Many of the gravestones have fallen over or broken. Some might even be lost because of floods and cattle walking over them. The Buchanan County Historical Society is now taking care of the cemetery. They have made it a protected area and put up a sign to mark its existence.
New Homes and Concerns
In the mid-1990s, people started showing new interest in the Shady Grove area. Developers began selling plots of land for houses. By 2007, more than forty new homes had been built there. This growth caused some concern for the local farmers in the area.
