SERVICES

The community offers full-time professional law enforcement, fire and ambulance services. Charles City services include an annual spring residential clean-up collection, curbside brush pick-up, curb sweeping, a landscape waste landfill, sanitary sewer service, fall leaf collection, as well as some of the best tasting tap water around. Weekly curbside residential garbage and recycling collection is also offered through Jendro Sanitation.

Floyd CountyCOUNTY SEAT

Charles City is the county seat of Floyd County. A three-person Board of Supervisors governs the county. The city and county governments often work together on joint ventures, promoting sharing and cooperation. An example is the Cedar Valley Transportation Center – an innovative venture between Charles City, Floyd County and the State of Iowa. This facility houses the road maintenance equipment for all three entities and has proven the effectiveness of cost sharing.

EDUCATION

The Charles City Community School District boasts a strong focus on technology. Each of the buildings is interconnected with fiber optic networks, have several mobile computer labs and incorporate interactive white boards into classrooms. The district continues to explore better ways to utilize technology into the classroom to help prepare students for the 21st century.

Our high school offers multiple opportunities for its students to receive dual credits, for both high school and college. Students can begin accruing college credits during their junior year in high school. At the present time, the Charles City High School offers over 16 dual credit courses. The high school is also working with North Iowa Area Community College to expand and refine a STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) academy to offer classes for local high school students.

The district is looking at its infrastructure needs to ensure that the buildings fit the needs of education in the 21st century. The facilities exploration committee will go through a process to help determine what must take place to ensure the buildings are suited to allow for continued academic success.

Other school districts inside Floyd County include; Central Springs Community School District, Nashua-Plainfield Schools, and Rudd-Rockford-Marble Rock Community School District

HEALTH CARE

Floyd County Medical Center is a 25-bed Critical Access Hospital located in Charles City, Iowa. FCMC was built in 1965, with the last major addition done in 1990. Recently, FCMC embarked on a major renovation, remodeling the entire second floor. Involved in this remodeling was converting all patient rooms to single rooms with private bathrooms. They feature wood flooring and cabinetry, in-room computers and each has its own thermostat control. The new ‘Birth Center’ features three state-of-the-art birthing suites, each with a spacious bathroom, kitchenette, recliner, glider and a pull-out couch for family members. FCMC provides inpatient and skilled nursing care, as well as numerous outpatient services, including diabetic education, nutritional therapy, enterostomal therapy, physical therapy, speech and occupational therapy, laboratory and radiology services. The outpatient specialty clinic offers cardiology, endocrinology, ENT, nephrology, orthopedics, podiatry and urology services.

The emergency room is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to meet emergency medical needs. FCMC strives to provide high quality and safe care to patients, with respect and consideration to their families. They employ over 200 community members who are committed to being a part of this goal.

FCMC is licensed and accredited by the Iowa Department of Inspection and Appeals and a member of the Iowa Hospital Association. FCMC has a management contract with Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., and is governed by a five-member appointed Board of Commissioners.

In addition to the services at FCMC, many outstanding doctors, dentists, chiropractors and other healthcare professionals are on hand to help you and your family with continued wellness, nutritional and non-surgical solutions.

The community is also home to outstanding specialty services, such as Hospice of North Iowa, Floyd County Community Nursing program, senior healthcare facilities, independent and assisted living facilities for seniors, and Comprehensive Systems, Inc., which provides residential and vocational services to children and adults with special needs.

RECREATION

The beautiful Cedar River is a natural venue for water activities, such as fishing, boating and water skiing. Our new Riverfront Park features a WhiteWater Course. Other amenities of the park include: a nine-hole disc golf course, stone amphitheatre, natural ravine play area, storm water fountain and labyrinth.

Charles City has over 300 acres of park space you can enjoy while visiting! Sportsmen’s Park offers baseball, softball, tennis and outdoor basketball courts; Lion’s Field Park includes great playground equipment, baseball and softball fields, a sand volleyball court, a skate park and a modern aquatic facility with a zero entry swimming pool, giant water slide, water mushroom, kiddie pool, and shaded spectator areas. Floyd County Conservation also maintains 18 parks in Floyd County including areas for camping, hiking, hunting, fishing, environmental education, fossil hunting, picnics, and historic sites. 

The Family YMCA offers everything from an indoor pool, gymnasium, indoor running track and racquetball courts to fitness classes, recreational leagues and a top-notch cardiovascular exercise room. Additional fitness options are available at private health clubs in town.

If golf is your game, courses in Charles City include: the nine-hole Wildwood Golf Course, the 18-hole Cedar Ridge Golf Course, and Bayou Bend Mini Golf & Batting Cages for the young and young at heart.

First-run movies can be seen nightly at 7 p.m. for just $2 at the renovated and restored Charles Theatre. Originally constructed in the 1930s, this is just one of two art deco theatres still functioning in the midwest. Ours is owned by a local non-profit organization and run by dedicated volunteers. Drive by the theatre, located on Main Street, and see if you can figure out what the front of the building was designed to resemble. For current shows visit CharlesCity365.com/movies

COMMUNITY ART

Public Art can be seen all over Charles City! An innovative collection of “art you can sit on” makes a stunning addition to Charles City’s riverscape. Other unique sculptures are located in parks or by various buildings in town. A sculpture graces each of the four corners of Central Park, with themes of Education, Industry & Commerce, Main Street, and Arts & Architecture. Our newest addition is a labyrinth located in the Riverfront Park. Be sure to stop by the Chamber office to find the most recent map and brochure of all the public art pieces.

While in Charles City, you won’t want to sidestep a visit to the Charles City Arts Center. In this Carnegie Library Building constructed in 1904, you will find a gallery of local and regional artwork. Many art classes for the young and old, as well as open studio times, are held throughout the year. The annual Art-A-Fest takes place in August, with more than 40 exhibiting artists offering works for sale, along with children’s activities, food and entertainment.