Offering big-city amenities along with small-town hospitality, Iowa City has it all. Nestled in the heart of the Midwest in east central Iowa in Johnson County, it has long served as a locus for culture, education, variety and fun. A stroll through the downtown pedestrian plaza proves it. Here you will find a real sense of community and friendly commerce. Downtown you might come across college students in a game of chess on the plaza's life-size game board. On-lookers sit on the plaza's limestone benches talking politics, philosophy, or Big Ten sports while children climb a nearby jungle gym. A block away, others might be taking a class at the senior center, lounging in outdoor cafés, savoring the fine cuisine the city has to offer. Across the way, you'll likely hear a local band playing a catchy mix of jazz and blues on the area's outdoor mini stage. The state's historic Old Capitol Building looms to the west. A cherished landmark of the University of Iowa campus, it embodies the city's prominence, grace, and heritage. Whether a first-time visitor or a native returning home, you will discover this place is one where tradition comfortably exists alongside change.