Prairie City offers a combination of the nourishing atmosphere of a small Iowa town and contemporary opportunities provided by proximity to Iowa's capital city. Founded in 1851 by and named after James Elliott, the town was soon re-named Prairie City because the name Elliot had already been used. The Des Moines River Valley Railroad came through in 1866 followed in a year by the formation of the Prairie City Independent School District and in two years by the election of the first town council. In 1878 the town's population was 800-900 according to the Jasper County historical book. The population, according to the year 2000 census, is over 1365.
Housing ranges from single-family dwellings to apartment buildings and duplexes.
Retirement housing and building lots are available. Municipal Services Prairie City's mayor and city council oversee a variety of municipal services. Citizens are protected by 24-hour local police coverage. The city maintains its streets and administers several utilities. The City of Prairie City does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, nationality, creed, age, marital status, or disability.