Fairfield: Iowa's minor miracle?

William Henry Coop, original settler of Fairfield, with a young friend

Iowa, in its small way, mirrors a lot of what's happening around the country: some cities growing and prosperous, some cities struggling, and much of the rural area also struggling. With some interesting exceptions, the vast majority of Iowa counties this decade have a shared experience of low incomes, declining working-age population, low job growth, low percentages of those with graduate and professional degrees, and Republican politics; many, though not all, have high levels of child poverty as well.

[Interesting exceptions: Poweshiek (Grinnell College) and Winneshiek (Luther College) Counties have higher-than-average educational attainment but are struggling in other ways. And there's a curious corner of prosperity in far northwestern Iowa, including Dickinson, Lyon and Sioux counties, though these are also losing population.]

And then there's Jefferson County, home of the town of Fairfield. Miles from the nearest urban center, its population is only 18,361, but that's up 9 percent since the 2010 census, making it one of only seven Iowa counties this decade that has grown faster than the nation as a whole. In 2020 it will surely break its census record; the previous mark of 17,839 was set in... 1870! Jefferson County's working-age population has increased only 3.1 percent this decade, but that still makes it one of only eight Iowa counties to gain. The other gaining counties are all in metropolitan areas.

Other fast facts:

• in job growth since 2010, in-migration (international only not domestic), and support for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Fred Hubbell in 2018, Jefferson County looks more like an urban Iowa county
• Jefferson County has the third-highest proportion of those with grad/prof degrees in the state, behind Johnson (University of Iowa) and Story (Iowa State University)
• compared to other counties of its size, Jefferson County has an unusually high working age/child ratio
• three of the counties which border Jefferson (Keokuk, Wapello and Van Buren) are among the state's most struggling

On the other hand:

• while unemployment has declined recently--most recent government numbers have it 2.4 percent--its 13-17 average of 6.7 percent was third highest in the state 
• child poverty is unusually high (24.8 percent, rank 8th among Iowa counties), particularly given its level of growth

With all this in mind, my Corridor Urbanism colleague Ben Kaplan and I--both former journalists, by the way--accompanied by my son Robbie, set out earlier this week to investigate the uniqueness that is Fairfield. Ben's report is forthcoming. Thanks to Mike for hosting us, and to Betsy for talking to us about her hometown.

Betsy is the co-owner of Revelations Coffee Shop...

...which has been doing business in downtown Fairfield since 1994...

...and also deals in books and art.

They also boast the "finest lunch in town," which we cannot validate because it was the only lunch we had in town, but it was mighty fine.

Once we pried ourselves away from the coffee--did I mention half-price refills?--we explored the downtown area. It was active and walkable, though streets are wider than they need to be.

Court Street

The commercial district was full of stores and restaurants... a hardware store across from Revelations, a bike shop down the street, several churches...

First United Methodist Church (1923), which our host Mike formerly served as pastor

...and Hy-Vee and Everybody's Whole Foods an easy walk away. The nearness of residential areas made it very walkable. (Walk Score rates downtown Fairfield 85 for walking and 69 for biking.) There are two Indian restaurants on the square, and the Istanbul Grill is a block away, which comprise more Asian food than you're likely to find in a town of similar size.

I was impressed by the plantings, which a lot of towns feature, but Fairfield's featured an unusual preponderance of wildflowers.

photo by Ben Kaplan

Central Park makes for an excellent public space at the core of the town.

photo by Ben Kaplan

Fairfield features the same mid-block crosswalks into Central Park as does Washington. Burlington Avenue (Business US 34), which runs along the south edge of the park was wider, and the traffic speed faster, than I'm comfortable with, but we made it. Unlike Washington, the central park does not have restrooms. All God's chilluns gotta... you know.

Fairfield is best known for the Maharishi Institute of Management, which occupies the campus of the former Parsons College. Their impact is everywhere: the county's unusual diversity, a lot of the local businesses, much of the wildflower plantings, and, alas, Maharishi Vedic City, a quirky but decidedly suburban subdivision about two miles out of town. Does the unusual religious influence affect outsiders' perception of the town? Negatively or positively?

Fairfield has a lot going for it: walkability, cheap rents, diverse culture, and for those with wheels proximity to Iowa City. And it has a shortage of workers: Betsy of Revelations was surprised by the unemployment numbers from earlier in the decade. "Where are they?" she asked. "I can't find them." She's faced with closing some days because of not enough staff. Young persons, take note! 

And other Iowa towns can note what a difference diversity and entrepreneurship can make.