Carroll might sound like a woman's name, but in reality, the town was named after a man -- Charles Carroll. Charles Carroll, who lived in Carrollton, Maryland, was the only Catholic person to sign the Declaration of Independence!
Head due northwest from Des Moines or due northeast from Omaha and you'll hit Carroll, a small town located in the heart of Iowa. As far as small towns in the heartland go, Carroll is your quintessential example. The city is small, with roughly 10,000 people that call it home. However, it has a slew of community amenities, from a skate park to a grocery store to a smattering of shopping choices. Of course, Carroll isn't a tourist destination, or somewhere you go for exciting nightlife. But, if you're looking for vibrant community in the Midwest with prideful folks and comfortable living, Carroll might just be your place. Between the 2000 and 2010 census, the population numbers changed by only 3 people (10,103 to 10,106), so there must be a reason why everyone stays!
Moving to Carroll
When you've decided you want to move to a new apartment in Carroll, the first thing you need to do is look at available inventory of apts for rent. What kind of places are available in your budget and neighborhood? Next, think about what you like in a home. Whether it's amenities, size or location, use those preferences to narrow down which of the available apartments you should make appointments to view. When you make an appointment to see your apt or condo for rent, you'll be able to see the places in person and know if you like their energy and vibe.
Make sure that you bring everything you'll need to apply for an apartment, whether you're looking at normal apartments or serviced apartments These things include bank statements, tax returns, pay stubs and proof of employment. You should also make sure you've saved money before you move. You'll have to pay to move. You'll have to put down a deposit on the apartment to take it off the market, and if you use a broker to help you find the apartment, you'll have to pay a broker's fee, which can sometimes be as much as 15% of the annual rent.
Neighborhoods in Carroll
Another important step in your moving process is deciding what neighborhood in Carroll you'll live in. After all, it doesn't make sense to score a house you love if you hate the area or what's going on outside of it! To make sure this doesn't happen, do you research before you move. Figure out what amenities you want to be near or what community you want to be a part of. By doing the legwork before you go, you can save yourself a lot of time and energy on your hunt. Want to know about where to look for homes in Carroll? Check out the list below.
Southern Carroll: Southern Carroll, south of Highway 30 is a residential area. It contains tree-lined streets and lots of lovely homes. This part of town is home to Maple Park, Rolling Hills Park and St. Anthony Regional Hospital. It's bordered by Middle Raccoon River, so if you like water views, you'll like it here, too!
Northern Carroll: North of the Lincoln Highway (Highway 30) is a good mix of residential area and businesses. You can find a parks here like Graham Park and Northeast Park, but you can also find places to run your errands, like the Carroll Cycle Center and the Santa Maria Vineyard and Winery. It's a bit more bustling up here, so if you like more activity in your hood, choose Northern Carroll.
Living in Carroll
Carroll might be a small town that some people consider to be in the middle of nowhere. However, what's great about Carroll is that it has everything in it, and it doesn't have to depend on a nearby big city for any amenities or entertainment! People in Carroll have plenty of fun things to do, like take advantage of the city aquatic center, with a pools and water slides, or play ball in the more than 10 city parks.
For those golfers out there, there is the municipal golf course, with the Carroll Recreation Center provides more indoor fun for active community members. For wine drinkers, the town even has it's own vineyard! The Santa Maria Vineyard and Winery grows their own grapes and makes their own wines, and it welcomes people to come in for a taste of their bottles or a delicious meal in their bistro.
If you do want to get out of town, though, you better have a car. Omaha, NE is only 110 miles away, so you can be there in less than two hours, and Des Moines is about 98 miles, so the drive is about an hour and a half.