This steam engine is the star of Haunted Rails and the North Pole Express train rides. Photo courtesy of Mount Pleasant Area Chamber Alliance

Popular threshers reunion and recreation site in beautiful rural setting

By Amanda Morgan

This steam engine is the star of Haunted Rails and the North Pole Express train rides. Photo courtesy of Mount Pleasant Area Chamber Alliance

Largely rural and filled with natural beauty, Henry County is comprised of mostly small towns. Mount Pleasant, a growing community of 9,000 is the county seat. Education is a cornerstone of the community which is home to institutes of higher learning: Iowa Wesleyan College and Southeastern Community College, Mount Pleasant Campus. The local hospital, Henry County Health Center, has been recognized on the state and national level for its exceptional programs and services, making the ”Top 100 Hospital” and “2007 Most Wired” lists.

 The community offers a diverse business base including 18 large industries that do everything from plastic molding to building fireplaces; plus an historic downtown square, filled with old buildings and cool businesses. The citizens of Mount Pleasant are proud of the city projects that have been completed in the last decade including a new high school, aquatic center, library and civic center, and middle school renovation.

Mount Pleasant is also home to the popular tourist stops, the Midwest Old Threshers Reunion and Midwest Central Railroad’s Ghost Train and North Pole Express. Located 10 miles west of Burlington is Geode State Park, one of the most popular recreation areas in the southeast corner of Iowa. The park is centered around a reservoir, created in 1950, that is now a popular fishing lake and swimming spot. A series of multi-use trails circumnavigate the lake forming a six-mile loop.

Historic places to visit include the Harlan Hotel, Brazelton House and the Henry County Courthouse in Mount Pleasant, and the Holtkamp Round Barn in Salem.

Largest employers include Wal-Mart Stores, Heatilator Inc., Cole Info Systems/Metro Marketing, and Mount Pleasant Foods .

Sources: http://www.iowaworkforce.org/LMI/empstat/henry.pdf, http://www.henrycountyiowa.us/, http://mountpleasantiowa.org/, http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/IA/Henry/state.html

Cities in Henry County

Coppock pop. 57
Hillsboro pop. 205
Mount Pleasant pop. 8751
Mount Union pop. 132
New London pop. 1937
Olds pop. 249
Rome pop. 113
Salem pop. 464
Wayland
Westwood pop. 127
Winfield pop. 1131