Home runs here include baseball legends, racing and more

By B.J. Smith
For Iowa.com

Think baseball legends. Auto racing. Beautiful parks. Fifteen small communities of which the residents are understandably proud. These are all parts of the Benton County story.

Little Norway,  of course, is the stuff of legendary high school baseball teams – 19 state championships – and a final season that inspired a movie.  Hal Trosky was born here. Mike Boddicker grew up here and played here.

Nearly overshadowed by much the larger cities of Waterloo and Cedar Rapids in nearby counties, Vinton is no place to overlook. Residents and visitors enjoy a number of community celebrations as well as an extensive shopping district, numerous parks and the auto races at Benton County Speedway.

Benton County was established in 1843 and named after Missouri senator Thomas Hart Benton.  The county courthouse in Vinton was completed in 1906 and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Its 112-foot tower houses a 1,500-pound bell. (It sounds a rich B-flat tone.) Other historical treasures in Vinton include the Ray House, a three-story Queen Anne mansion that has six unique coal-burning fireplaces; and the Horridge House,  home of the Benton County Historical Society’s Archives and Museum. Be sure to visit the old Railroad Depot,  too.

The county features many opportunities for fishing, boating, camping and other outdoor activities.  In the far northeast corner of the county, the city of Urbana is conveniently located on both Interstate 380 (the Avenue of the Saints) and the Cedar Valley Nature Trail,  which is popular with runners, hikers and cyclists.

Sources: Benton County Courthouse, Benton County, Vinton.

Cities in Benton County

Atkins pop. 1297
Belle Plaine pop. 2878
Blairstown pop. 682
Garrison pop. 413
Keystone pop. 687
Luzerne pop. 105
Mount Auburn pop. 160
Newhall pop. 886
Norway pop. 601
Shellsburg pop. 938
Urbana pop. 1019
Van Horne pop. 716
Vinton pop. 5102
Walford pop. 1224

Source: Iowa League of Cities