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A Place We Call Home

"A Place We Call Home" is much more than a slogan.  It is the secure feeling that Chariton and Lucas County is where we want to be.

Our children are educated in schools that are not overcrowded or violence prone.  Lucas County has two high schools, a newly-constructed middle school and two elementary attendance centers.  Chariton has a community college satellite center and is within commuter distance to other colleges and universities.  An excellent community center is located adjacent to the Chariton High School and is used for school and community events.  It provides two full-sized gymnasiums, meeting rooms, and an auditorium which seats 500.  The Chariton Public Library was recently expanded to include handicapped accessibility, a music room, young adult and children areas, with two meeting rooms.

What could be more fun than a refreshing dip in the pool?  A day at the Vredenburg Chariton Family Aquatic Center will provide you with that!  The generosity of Dwight and Ruth Vredenburg and the passing of a one cent local option sales tax made this center possible.  Features include more than 13,400 square feet of water surface area and a 372,000 gallon pool with dozens of family-friendly features.

We live at a slower pace.  The ponds, streams, lakes and park areas are a vital part of why we live here.  Red Haw State Park, located two miles east of Chariton, includes 649 acres with a 72 acre lake.  Red Haw has camping, swimming, picnicking, boating and fishing opportunities in the summer;  in the winter one can enjoy cross-country skiing, sledding and snow-mobiling.  Stephen's State Forest located nine miles from Chariton, has more than 10,000 acres with public hunting available, equestrian trails and rustic camping for outdoor enthusiasts.  The 13-mile Cinder Path trail was the first "rails-to-trails" bicycle and walking path built in Iowa, serving as a pioneering example of other nature trails of its kind, utilizing an abandoned stretch of the Burlington Northern Railroad right-of-way.  One unique feature is the covered bridge.  During the winter, the Cinder Path offers cross-country skiing.

We live and work among friends, not strangers, working together toward common goals.  A successful community fund drive for a twin-movie theatre has been a wonderful addition to our community.  First-run movies are offered at very nominal rates.  Chariton received first place in the Iowa Community Betterment competition for this project.

We care about each other.  We are served by four family practice physicians with numerous specialty physicians serving our area residents on-site at the hospital.  Supporting our economic base, there are employment opportunities at any one of our six industries ---  Hy-Vee Distribution Center, Johnson Machine Works, Inc., Stratford Homes, Wayne Manufacturing, and Astoria Industries of Iowa.

If you are tired of concrete, heavy traffic and stoplights, you must experience the natural wonders of Chariton and Lucas County.  Pick a spot, take a deep breath of fresh air and enjoy some of the finest scenery the Midwest has to offer.  Come and be a part of us; we have found it's a great place to call home.  And we would like to share it with you.