guide to boone

Table

of C

onte

nts

2| Guide to Boone

ISU’s historic Marston Water Tower

3

Welcome/About Us ............................... 4-5

Community Overview ............................ 6-7

Living in Iowa ............................................ 8-9

School Information .................................. 10-11

Things to do .............................................. 12-15

Moving Guide .......................................... 16-17

Table of Contents

Table

of

Conte

nts

Guide to Boone |3

At Hunziker & Associates,

REALTORS®, we are proud to

introduce you to Boone,

Iowa. We have created this

guide with you in mind;

drawing from the questions

and experiences of many

families we have relocated in

the past. Please contact our

relocation department or

your Hunziker agent for

anything you need to make

Boone home.

About Us

Hunziker & Associates, Realtors® is

the largest real estate company in Ames

and a locally owned business since 1952.

We opened an office in Boone in 2006.

Our agents and staff invest their time and

resources into making this community a

great place to live.

We would be honored to assist you with

any of your real estate needs.

A Family Owned Group of Companies

Hunziker & Associates, Realtors®

Residential Homes for Sale

Commercial Property Sale/Lease

HCS Home Builders

Home Builder with design service

Hunziker Land Development

Residential & commercial lots

Hunziker Property Management

Apartment rentals

Hunziker Welcomes You!

Welc

om

e / A

bo

ut U

s

4| Guide to Boone

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

© Hunziker & Associates, REALTORS® www.HunzikerRealty.com 1-800-765-1733 or 1-515-233-4450

105 S 16 th St. Ames, IA 50010. All information deemed reliable, but not guaranteed.

HunzikerRealty.com View all the homes for sale by

Realtors® from every local

company.

Hunziker Realty

Hunziker Realty

HunzikerRealtyNews.com/blog

B

L

O

G

McHose Park

http://ankeny.hunzikerrealty.com/

http://hunzikerrealty.com/

http://twitter.com/HunzikerRealty

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ames-IA/Hunziker-Associates-REALTORS/141893161708?ref=ts

http://www.hunzikerrealtynews.com/blog/

5

Relocation Assistance

We offer complimentary relocation

assistance through our award winning

relocation department. Contact us for

concierge service from our full-time staff.

We can help you move across town, or

across the nation.

Services Offered City to city comparison reports

Community tours

Realtor® referrals

Personalized help finding an agent to

meet your unique needs (local & national)

Short term housing information

Hotel discounts

Moving company discounts

Hunziker & Associates, REALTORS® Boone Office

700 Story Street

Main Phone: 515-432-8699

Toll Free: 866-553-8699

www.HunzikerRealty.com

Relocation Department:

515-239-8662

[email protected]

Welc

om

e /

Ab

ou

t U

s

Guide to Boone |5

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________



Relocation Assistance

http://hunzikerrealty.com/

mailto:[email protected]

http://ames.hunzikerrealty.com/


Boone retains the charm

of a prosperous Victorian era

boomtown with its well

preserved older homes,

historical buildings and

quaint downtown shops. The

many recreational activities

and close proximity to metro

areas make this the perfect

blend of a friendly American

hometown with easy access

to big city amenities.

Drive in to Boone, Iowa and you will

notice many lovingly preserved Victorian

homes, expansive wooded parks, and residents

out enjoying their community as well as

visiting with each other. Boone boomed during

the railroad days of the later 1800’s, as the

Union Pacific Railroad office brought wealth

into the community. The railroad is still a large

employer in Boone today.

Boone’s population has not changed

much since the turn of the century, which is

not uncommon for Iowa towns. Boone’s

location near growing metro areas has helped

the town remain stable economically as jobs

shifted from agriculture to more diverse

professions over the years. New home

developments and retail stores have been built

near highway 30 in recent years. This has

changed the downtown area, but it is still a

lively shopping district with many quaint

locally owned restaurants, antique shops, and

retail and service businesses.

Although most services needed on a

daily basis are available in Boone, it is only a

20 minute drive to Ames, the home of Iowa

Community Overview

Co

mm

un

ity O

verv

iew

Birthplace of 1st Lady Mamie Eisenhower

6| Guide to Boone

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________



Boone Pool

Ericson Public Library


7

Boone Statistics

Population for the City of Boone: 12,993

Population of Boone County: 26,602

Population Growth Rate: 0.3% Annualized

Average Age of Residents: 38 years old

Households with Children: 29.7%

Adult Education Level: 26.5% College Graduates

Average Travel Time to Work: 20.2 minutes

Average Age of Housing: 53 years

Owner Occupied Homes: 57.5%

Average Price of Homes Sold in 2010: $104,549

Boone’s crime rate is lower than 68% of the cities in Iowa

and lower than 78% of cities in the U.S.

Average Daily High Temperature: 86 in July, 27 in January

Source: eNeighborhoods, Inc. & Central Iowa MLS Data, 2011

Co

mm

un

ity O

verv

iew

State University. Metropolitan

amenities, including an array

of shopping and dining

experiences, are widely

available in Ames. Many

national concert tours and

world renowned performing

artists are hosted there at

Hilton Coliseum and Stephens

Auditorium, Iowa’s Building

of the Century. Iowa State

athletic events are also widely

attended. The many attractions

in Iowa’s capitol city of Des

Moines and also available and

less than an hour away.

With a low crime rate,

affordable housing, quality

schools, and a wide array of

activities to enjoy, Boone

residents enjoy a tremendous

quality of life. Many people

who have moved to Boone

have been delighted with the

friendly atmosphere and how

easily they became involved in

the community. When you

speak to them, it shows they

are proud to call Boone, Iowa

home!

Guide to Boone |7

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________



Sacred Heart Church


Iowans enjoy a rich

quality of life, with a low cost

of living, stable economy,

ample employment opportu-

nities, safe neighborhoods,

thriving metropolitan areas,

top school systems, friendly

citizens, and a wealth of

recreational and cultural

activities.

Classic Iowan Mentality

Iowans tend to pride themselves on

being practical and down to earth.

Common sense and personal responsibility

are highly valued. This is mixed with a

tremendous openness to new ideas, quick

adoption of new technology, and a

friendly disposition and willingness to help

others.

Politically Influential

Iowa is the first state in the nation to

conduct caucuses to select presidential

candidates. Therefore, Iowa voters

determine who will be viewed as the front

runner or drop out of the race. Presidential

hopefuls begin making appearances in

the state 2 years before the election.

Des Moines

Des Moines, Iowa’s capitol and

largest city, is just 35 miles from Ames. The

greater Des Moines metropolitan area has

a population of 649,000 and it grew at

double the national rate between 2000-

2010. Many Iowa cities are growing, but

most rural counties are stagnant or slowly

declining in population.

Des Moines is a hub for finance and

insurance. It maintained unemployment

rates dramatically lower than the national

average during the last economic

downturn. This is just one reason it was

named by Forbes Magazine as the #1

“Best Place for Business and Careers.”

The Affect of Agriculture

Agriculture is second to manufac-

turing in terms of gross domestic product

and only a small percentage of Iowans

work directly on farms or in Ag related

businesses. However, a high percentage

of Iowans have spent time on a farm

either growing up as a child when smaller

family farms were common, or by visiting a

farm owned by relatives. The two

predominant crops are corn and

soybeans. L

ivin

g in

Iow

a

8| Guide to Boone

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________



Living in Iowa

Des Moines Skyline Photo by Tim Kiser Des Moines Botanical Center*


9

Iowa Weather: What to Expect

Iowa fully experiences all four

seasons. The summers are hot and humid,

with an average high of 84° in July. Lots of

sunshine mixed with adequate rainfall

creates a lush green landscape in the

summer along with beautiful blue skies

and as one visitor put it, “perfect clouds.”

Iowans prize summers for outdoor

recreation and entertaining opportunities.

Winters are cold enough to

produce a blanket of snow for several

weeks each winter. Sledding, snowmobi-

ling, or just building snowmen are

common winter pass times. The average

high in January is 27°.

Spring and fall are mild and

picturesque, although temperatures can

swing widely within a day or two while the

seasons are changing. Fall is usually dry

and the fields will turn brown before

harvesting.

Iowa’s severe weather includes

blizzards, thunderstorms, hail and

tornadoes. Snow and ice can cause traffic

slowdowns, but is usually cleared quickly

and road crews apply salt to minimize icy

conditions on the roadways. It is not

uncommon for school to be cancelled

due to blizzards a few times each year.

Tornados often worry newcomers,

but tornado damage affects a very small

percentage of Iowans annually. Commu-

nities sound sirens to give residents

advanced warning to take cover, so loss

of life or property is rare-although you will

likely see damage reported on the news

from somewhere in the state every year.

The most common time for tornadoes is

spring and summer late afternoons and

early evenings, although they can occur

at other times.

Thunderstorms occasionally

produce wind or hail damage, but also

create majestic white thunderheads

topping 25,000 feet, visible from halfway

across the state during the summer.

Liv

ing

in

Io

wa

Guide to Boone |9

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________




School Information

Sch

oo

l Info

rmatio

n

To learn more, click on the blue links to

visit the related websites. If you have a

printed guide, visit http://issuu.com/

hunzikerrealty to view this guide online.

Iowa schools are widely recog-

nized as some of the best in the

nation. With high test scores,

small class sizes and a wide

array of extra-curricular activi-

ties, students have many oppor-

tunities to succeed and develop

into well-rounded adults.

Boone Community School District The Boone Community School District

offers a high-quality education to students

from the community. Numerous athletic

programs and extra curricular activities

are available and college credit courses

are also available.

Sacred Heart Catholic School Preschool through 8th Grade Catholic

School with 160 students and a student-

teacher ratio of 10.8 to 1. Sacred Heart

students also have access to extra

curricular activities at the public schools.

Trinity Lutheran School

Preschool through 8th grade Christian

school with students from several

denominations. 101 students and a

student teacher ratio of 13.6 to 1. Students

earn high test scores on standardized tests

and many extra curricular activities and

athletic teams are available.

10 Guide to Boone

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________



Boone Middle School

Trinity Lutheran

Sacred Heart

http://issuu.com/hunzikerrealty/docs/guide_to_ames


http://boone.k12.ia.us/

http://www.shboone.com/

http://www.greatschools.org/iowa/boone/1703-Trinity-Lutheran-School/


11

Sch

oo

l In

form

ati

on

Des Moines Area Community College

D.M.A.C.C.'s Boone campus offers

several associate degree programs

and many students transfer their

credits to a 4 year college. D.M.A.C.C.

also offers high school students

college credit through the Hunziker

Career Academy in Ames. D.M.A.C.C.

Is Iowa’s largest community college.

Its main campus is located 40 minutes

away in Ankeny. Over 75 career

programs are offered.

Iowa State University Iowa State University is located 20

minutes from Boone in Ames. It is

known around the world as a center

for scientific research and develop-

ment and as a high-quality public

institution. Approximately 28,000

students attend I.S.U. The university

offers over 100 degree programs. It is

also the largest employer in the Ames

area, employing over 14,000 people.

Guide to Boone |11

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________



ISU’s Memorial Union

Boone Community School District Statistics

Students: 2,265

Schools: 8

Student-Teacher ratio: 13.6 to 1

Preschool program available

Boone High School

Expenditures per student: $10,268

Average ACT scores: 22

(national average is 21.1)

70% of graduates go on to higher

education

College credit courses available

Data source: eNeighborhoods, 2011

Des Moines Area Community

College Boone Campus

https://go.dmacc.edu/boone/Pages/welcome.aspx

http://www.iastate.edu/


Boone Activities*

To learn more, click on the blue links to visit the related websites. If you have a

printed guide, visit http://issuu.com/hunzikerrealty to view this guide online.

Athletic & Fitness Boone County Family YMCA (515) 432-5925 Boone National Little League (515) 432-7985

Boone Area Soccer Club

Yoga Center of Boone (515) 290-1265

Outdoor Activities

City of Boone Parks Department (515) 432-4211

Boone County Parks

Golf Courses

Honey Creek Golf Club (515) 432-6162

Cedar Pointe Golf Course (515) 432-6002

Civic Groups & Special Interests

Houses of Worship*

Civic Organizations and Clubs*

Boone Community Theater

4H of Boone County

Camp Hantesa (pronounced Han-a-shaw)

Special Events

Boone Convention & Visitors Bureau 515-432-3342

Boone County Activities Calendar

Boone County Fair

Pufferbilly Days

Museums

Boone County Historical Museums *Not necessarily a complete list.

Things to Do!

Th

ing

s to

Do

12| Guide to Boone

Athletic Leagues & Lessons

Little League Baseball

Little League Softball

Little League T-Ball

Co-ed Adult Softball

Youth Soccer**

Youth Football

Pilates

Aerobics

Boot Camp

Kettleball

Swimming**

Tae Kwon Do

Yoga**

Dance**

Horseback Riding**

Basketball Camp

Tennis Camp

Gymnastics (Ames)

Figure Skating (Ames)

Hockey (Ames)

Various organizations offer

these activities. Information

about most youth activities

will be sent home from

school. **Available through

more than one organization.

City Recreational Facilities

15 Parks

Swimming Pool

Paved Bike Trail

Disc Golf Course

Skateboard Park

Little League Park

Herman Park Pavilion (Stage)

Tennis & Basket Ball Courts

Wooded Hiking Trails

Ice skating pond with Shelter

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________




http://dmymca.org/branch/boone.asp?bid=8

http://boonell.com/

http://www.booneareasoccer.com/

http://yogacenterofboone.com/

http://www.boonegov.com/parks.html

http://boonecounty.iowa.gov/index.aspx?page=295

http://www.golfhoneycreek.com

http://www.cedarpointegolfcourse.com

http://www.booneiowa.us/Relocation-Information.30.0.html#c59

http://www.americantowns.com/ia/boone/organizations

http://boonecommunitytheatre.org/

http://www.extension.iastate.edu/boone/kidsteens.htm

http://www.campfireusaia.org/index.php

http://www.booneiowa.us/

http://boonecounty.iowa.gov/index.aspx?page=383

http://boonecountyfairia.com/

http://www.booneiowa.us/Pufferbilly-Days.29.0.html

http://www.boonecountyhistory.org/BCHSMuseums.htm


13

Central Iowa Activities



Tourism & Event information available at www.TravelIowa.com.

Amusement Parks

Adventureland

Altoona

Train Rides & Museum

Boone Scenic Valley Railroad

Boone

Large Museums

Science Center of Iowa

Des Moines

Living History Farms

Urbandale

Christian Petersen, Art Museums

Ames, ISU Campus

Des Moines Art Museum

Des Moines

Salisbury House

Des Moines

State Historical Museum

Des Moines

*Photo courtesy of the website featured.

Th

ing

s t

o D

o

Guide to Boone |13

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________



Adventureland* www.Traveliowa.com Boone & Scenic Valley Rail Road*

Des Moines Art Center*

Blank Park Zoo


http://traveliowa.com

http://www.adventurelandpark.com/

http://www.scenic-valleyrr.com/

http://www.sciowa.org/

http://www.lhf.org/

http://www.museums.iastate.edu/ChristianPetersen.htm

http://www.desmoinesartcenter.org/

http://salisburyhouse.org/

http://www.iowahistory.org/museum/index.html


Cultural Event Centers

Iowa State Center

Ames

Iowa Events Center

Des Moines

Civic Center

Des Moines

Des Moines Playhouse

Des Moines

Des Moines Symphony

Des Moines

Wineries

Snus Hill Winery

Madrid (Boone County)

Prairie Moon Winery

Ames

Shopping Centers

Main Street Cultural District

Downtown Ames

North Grand Mall

Ames

Delaware Shopping District

Ankeny

Jordan Creek Town Center

West Des Moines

Farmer’s Markets

Boone Farmer’s Market

Boone

Ames Farmer’s Market

Ames

Des Moines Farmer’s Market

Downtown Des Moines

Arboretums

Iowa Arboretum

Luther (Boone County)

Reiman Gardens (Butterfly House)

Ames

Botanical Center

Des Moines

Zoo

Blank Park Zoo

Des Moines

Th

ing

s to

Do

14| Guide to Boone

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________



www.brentbutler.com/cgi/pics.pl?id=1250312400

Reiman Gardens, Ames

Hilton Coliseum, Ames

Boone Speedway*

http://www.center.iastate.edu/index.html

http://www.iowaeventscenter.com/default.aspx?hpu=1

http://www.civiccenter.org/

http://www.dmplayhouse.com/

http://www.dmsymphony.org/

http://snushillwine.com/

http://prairiemoonwinery.com/

http://www.mainstreetculturaldistrict.com/

http://www.northgrandmall.com/

http://www.ci.ankeny.ia.us/Index.aspx?page=937

http://www.jordancreektowncenter.com/

http://boonefarmersmarket.com/

http://amesfarmersmarket.com/

http://www.desmoinesfarmersmarket.com/

http://www.iowaarboretum.org/

http://www.reimangardens.com/

http://www.botanicalcenter.com/

http://www.blankparkzoo.com/


15

Sporting Events– College and Semi-Professional

Iowa State University Athletics

Ames

Iowa Barnstormers Arena Football

Des Moines

Buccaneers Hockey

Urbandale

Iowa Cubs Baseball

Des Moines

Iowa Energy Basketball

Des Moines

Des Moines Menace Soccer

West Des Moines

Auto Racing

Boone Speedway (Supernationals)

Boone

Iowa Speedway (NASCAR)

Newton

Trails/ Parks/ Biking/Large Lakes

Don Williams Lake & Golf Course

Ogden (Boone County)

Ledges State Park

Boone

High Trestle Bike Trail

Ankeny/Madrid (Boone County)

Ada Hayden Heritage Park

Ames

Saylorville Lake

Des Moines

Big Creek State Park

Polk City

Central Iowa Bike Trails

Des Moines & Surrounding Areas

Ice Skating Arenas

Ames/ ISU Ice Arena

Ames

Brenton Skating Plaza (Outdoor)

Downtown Des Moines

Casinos

Prairie Meadows Racetrack & Casino

Altoona

Meskwaki Bingo Casino & Hotel

Tama

Th

ing

s t

o D

o

Guide to Boone |15

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________



1 of 2 Boone Golf Courses

Jack Trice Stadium, Ames*

http://cyclones.com/

http://www.theiowabarnstormers.com/

http://www.bucshockey.com/leagues/homeBucs.cfm?leagueID=12551&clientID=4081&link=Bucs

http://iowa.cubs.milb.com/index.jsp?sid=t451

http://www.nba.com/dleague/iowa/

http://www.menacesoccer.com/

http://www.raceboone.com/

http://www.iowaspeedway.com/Default.aspx

http://www.co.boone.ia.us/index.aspx?page=296

http://www.iowadnr.gov/parks/state_park_list/ledges.html

http://www.traillink.com/trail/high-trestle-trail-(ankeny-to-woodward-recreation-trail).aspx

http://www.cityofames.org/parksrecweb/AdaHaydenHeritagePark.htm

http://www.recreation.gov/recAreaDetails.do?contractCode=NRSO&recAreaId=161&agencyCode=130

http://www.iowadnr.gov/parks/state_park_list/big_creek.html

http://www.greaterdesmoinestrails.org/newtrails/Maps.htm

http://www.cityofames.org/parksrecweb/IceArena.htm

http://www.brentonskatingplaza.com/

http://www.prairiemeadows.com/

http://www.meskwaki.com/


Moving Guide

Mo

vin

g G

uid

e

16| Guide to Boone



Utilities

Water

City of Boone 923 8th Street (515) 433-0600

Electric & Natural Gas

Alliant Energy (800) 255-4268

Garbage Service

Boone County Landfill 1268 224th Lane (515) 433-0591

Walters Sanitary Service (515) 432-2866

Tom Walters Co (515) 432-3286

Phone/TV/Internet Century Link (800) 244-1111

Mediacom (800) 332-0245

Internet Vista Storm (515) 433-6126

Open Com (866) 447-8638

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________




http://boonegov.com/

http://www.alliantenergy.com/index.htm


http://maps.google.com/maps/place?oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=boone+iowa+garbage&fb=1&gl=us&hq=garbage&hnear=0x87eddb1661bdc133:0xb0b5b592a4e24abf,Boone,+IA&cid=4867056875979785966

http://maps.google.com/maps/place?oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=boone+iowa+garbage&fb=1&gl=us&hq=garbage&hnear=0x87eddb1661bdc133:0xb0b5b592a4e24abf,Boone,+IA&cid=6380007937410803864

http://www.centurylink.com/

http://www.mediacomcc.com/home.html

http://www.vistastorm.com/index2.html

http://www.opencom.net/residential.html


17

Government Contacts Post Office 815 Arden Avenue (515) 432-3203

City Hall 923 8th Street (515) 432-4211

Driver's License Registration 201 State Street (515) 433-0512

Voter Information 201 State Street (515) 433-0502

County Court House 201 State Street (515) 433-0550

Boone County Assessor 201 State Street (515) 433-0508

Transportation

Boone County Public Transportation (Door-door bus service) (515) 432-5038

Executive Express (Des Moines Airport Shuttle)(888) 522-9899

Hospital Boone County Hospital 1015 Union Street (515) 432-3140

News Sources Boone News Republican (800) 270-0090

AM 1590 Radio (515) 432-2046

Ames Tribune (515) 663-6900

Des Moines Register (877) 424-0225

Weather and Forecast

Miscellaneous

Ericson Public Library 702 Greene Street (515) 432-3727

Iowa Child Care Resource & Referral (515) 246-3560

This list is not necessarily a complete list of service providers in the area.

Mo

vin

g G

uid

e

Guide to Boone |17

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________



https://moversguide.usps.com/icoa/icoa-main-flow.do?execution=e1s1

http://www.boonegov.com/





http://www.boonecountytransit.com/Home.html

http://www.executiveexpress.biz/

http://www.boonehospital.com/

http://amestrib.com/boone/

http://www.kwbg.com/

http://www.amestrib.com/

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/frontpage

http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/hdfForecast?query=50036

http://www.boone.lib.ia.us/

http://www.centraliowachildcare.org/


http://www.sxc.hu/browse.phtml?f=download&id=930979

Contact us to find your new home today!

Thank you for allowing us introduce you to Boone! We would like to provide you with exceptional service in purchasing a home as well. Please contact our Relocation Department or the agent who gave you this guide to schedule a tour of homes anywhere in Boone, Ames, or surrounding areas.

A home built by HCS Builders, Sister com-

pany to Hunziker & Associates, REALTORS®.

Relocation Department

515-239-8662 [email protected]

700 Story Street

Boone, IA 50036

Serving Central Iowa, including

the Des Moines Metro, through

our offices in Ames, Ankeny,

Boone & Nevada, Iowa.

515-432-8699

866-553-8699

www.HunzikerRealty.com

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________




mailto:[email protected]



guide to boone

Documents