It is an industrial, commercial, governmental, insurance and financial center of one of American's greatest food producing states. There is a daily newspaper, five TV stations plus Cable TV and numerous AM and FM radio stations. There are good hospitals and public and parochial schools. The public library and branches circulate more than 350,000 volumes. Iowa's climate is continental in character, featuring strong seasonal contrasts and sharp daily changes.
Winters are cold and generally dry while summers are warm and humid.
The mean annual temperature is about 50 degrees ranging from normal highs and lows of 20s and single digits in January to mid 80s and mid 60s in July. Seasonal snowfall averages about 34 inches but has ranged from less than 10 to more than 60. The average growing season is 155 to 165 days between late April and mid-October. The community supports the Art Center, Science Center, Symphony Orchestra, Playhouse, Historical Museum, Civic Center, Botanical Center, Convention Center, and a large Memorial Auditorium for many sporting events, expositions and conventions. The Iowa State Fair, one of the largest agricultural expositions in the world, is held here in the latter part of August each year.