Why visit Mason City
Townapedia lists 41 museums and landmarks, 44 parks and trails, 41 places to eat, 10 places to stay and 5 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include State Street Bridge, Stewart Avenue Bridge, Dr. G.C. Stockman House and East Park Band Shell.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 82°F; January lows average 7°F.
Weather in Mason City
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Mason City
Mason City is a city in and the county seat of Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, United States. The population was 27,338 in the 2020 census. Mason City, known for its heritage in musical theatre, inspired the town of “River City” in The Music Man. It is also home to a significant collection of Prairie School style architecture.
From the Wikipedia article Mason City, Iowa (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do5
State Street Bridge
Bridge · National Register of Historic Places · 0.5 mi
Building in Iowa, United States
Stewart Avenue Bridge
Bridge · National Register of Historic Places · 0.8 mi
Bridge in Mason City, Iowa, United States of America
Winnebago River Bridge
Bridge · National Register of Historic Places · 3.2 mi
Road bridge in Iowa, United States of America
Museums and landmarks41
Dr. G.C. Stockman House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.5 mi
House designed by Frank Lloyd Wright
East Park Band Shell
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.9 mi
Building in Iowa, United States
Forest Park Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.9 mi
Nationally recognized historic district located in Mason City, Iowa, United States
Mason City Public Library
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Public library in Mason City, Iowa, United States
A.J. Andrus Duplex
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.7 mi
Building in Iowa, United States
Amaziah and Cornelia (Wait) Cannon House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.3 mi
Historic house in Mason City, Iowa, United States
C.F. Franke House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.4 mi
Building in Iowa, United States
C.P. Shipley House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.5 mi
Building in Iowa, United States
Charles Seney House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.7 mi
Building in Iowa, United States
Chris Rye House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.4 mi
Building in Iowa, United States
Curtis Yelland House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Historic house in Iowa, United States
Duncan Rule House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Building in Iowa, United States
29 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds44
East Park
Park · National Register of Historic Places · 1.0 mi
Park in Mason City, Iowa
Parker's Woods
Park · National Register of Historic Places · 0.8 mi
Park in Iowa, United States of America
32 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes41
Ippin Ramen & Sushi & Izakaya
Restaurant · Japanese, Ramen, Sushi · 2.2 mi
2960 4th Street Southwest
Su-Mo, We-Th 11:00-21:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-21:00
Shiki Hibachi & Sushi
Restaurant · Japanese, Sushi · 2.4 mi
3229 Frontage Road Southwest
Fr 11:00-20:00; Sa 11:30-22:00; Su 11:30-21:00; Mo-Th 11:00-21:30
Villiage Court
Restaurant · Breakfast · 2.0 mi
687 South Taft Avenue, Mason City
Mo-Su 06:00-21:00
Z'marik's Noodle Cafe
Restaurant · Noodle, Italian · 1.7 mi
2105 4th Street Southwest, Mason City
Mo-Sa 11:00-20:00; Su 11:00-19:00
The Quarry Restaurant & Tapas Bar
Restaurant · Tapas
10 South Federal Avenue, Mason City
29 more on the map.
History
The land on which Mason City now stands was previously a grove of trees surrounded by the expansive and gently rolling tallgrass prairie of north-central Iowa. This wooded area was near the limestone outcroppings that line the confluence of Lime Creek (now known as the Winnebago River) and Willow Creek. In the years immediately before the east-to-west expansion of the United States, this land was inhabited by the Ioway, Winnebago, Meskwaki (Fox), Sauk, and Dakota Native American tribes. The first White settlers arrived in the area in 1853; they were John Long, Joseph Hewitt, and George Brentner, who hailed from La Salle, Illinois. Long was a member of a Free Masonic Order, and they initially named the dense wood stand as Masonic Grove. The next year, in 1854, more settlers involved in Free Masonic groups arrived, and platted a town, first known as Shibboleth and later Masonville. Coincidentally, the name Masonville was proposed by John Long to honor his son, Mason, who died en route to then Shibboleth. In 1854, John McMillin opened the first store, and Dr. Silas Card opened the first medical practice in the area. Ultimately, in 1855 the name was changed to Mason City to differentiate from Masonville, Delaware County, Iowa.
From the History section of Mason City, Iowa on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay10
Churches and places of worship42
First Church of Christ, Scientist
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 0.4 mi
St. John Baptist Church
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 1.2 mi
Greek Orthodox Church of the Transfiguration
Church · Greek Orthodox · 1.1 mi
1311 2nd Street Southwest, Mason City
Trinity Lutheran Church
Church · Lutheran · 0.5 mi
213 North Pennsylvania Avenue, Mason City
Shopping18
Gas and EV charging7
Schools, colleges and libraries18
The Original La James College
School · 0.4 mi
24 2nd Street Northeast, Mason City
Healthcare9
Hy-Vee Pharmacy
Clinic and pharmacy · 0.7 mi
875 4th Street Southwest, Mason City
Hy-Vee Pharmacy
Clinic and pharmacy · 1.6 mi
551 South Illinois Avenue, Mason City
Hy-Vee Pharmacy
Clinic and pharmacy · 1.8 mi
2400 4th Street Southwest, Mason City
Map of Mason City
235 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 24°F | 7°F | 0.9 in |
| Feb | 29°F | 11°F | 1.1 in |
| Mar | 41°F | 23°F | 1.9 in |
| Apr | 56°F | 35°F | 3.9 in |
| May | 69°F | 47°F | 5.6 in |
| Jun | 79°F | 58°F | 5.7 in |
| Jul | 82°F | 62°F | 4.6 in |
| Aug | 80°F | 59°F | 3.7 in |
| Sep | 74°F | 50°F | 3.2 in |
| Oct | 60°F | 38°F | 2.5 in |
| Nov | 43°F | 25°F | 1.8 in |
| Dec | 30°F | 14°F | 1.2 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Mason City (1 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Cerro Gordo County has had 7 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2020-03-23: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2018-08-20: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2016-10-31: Severe Storms And Flooding (Flood)
- 2008-05-27: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2005-09-10: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation (Hurricane)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Mason City Municipal Airport (MCW) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 7 miles away.
- Plymouth 8 mi northeast, about 13 min by car
- Clear Lake 9 mi west, about 14 min by car
- Nora Springs 10 mi east, about 15 min by car
- Manly 10 mi north, about 16 min by car
- Rockwell 12 mi south, about 19 min by car
- Ventura 13 mi west, about 22 min by car
- Rockford 14 mi southeast, about 23 min by car
- Rudd 15 mi east, about 24 min by car
- Thornton 17 mi southwest, about 27 min by car
- Sheffield 18 mi south, about 29 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- OldLibraryMasonCityIA, Jonathunder, GFDL 1.2
- Carnegie Building - Former Mason City Public Library Mason City, IA, Dan Breyfogle, CC BY-SA 3.0
- East Park Band Shell Mason City, IA, Dan Breyfogle, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Simon Fox House, Jim Roberts, CC BY-SA 3.0
- G C Stockman House Front-Left, PamelaVWhite, CC BY 2.0
- Parker's Woods Park Entrance, Jim Roberts, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 1912 Minneapolis and St. Louis Railroad steam engine, TLCIowa, CC BY-SA 4.0
- TessaYoungbloodHouse, Dan Breyfogle, CC BY-SA 3.0
- FirstNationalBank, Dan Breyfogle, CC BY-SA 3.0
- DuncanRuleHouse, Dan Breyfogle, CC BY-SA 3.0
- StewartAvenueBridge, Dan Breyfogle, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Chris Rye House Mason City, IA, Dan Breyfogle, CC BY-SA 3.0
- State Street Bridge Mason City, Iowa, Jim Roberts, CC BY-SA 3.0
- CFFrankeHouse, Dan Breyfogle, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Keerl Decker House Mason City, IA, Dan Breyfogle, CC BY-SA 3.0
- AmaziahandCorneliaWaitCannonHouse, Dan Breyfogle, CC BY-SA 3.0
- William C. And Margaret Egloff House, Jim Roberts, CC BY-SA 4.0
- TheKirk, Dan Breyfogle, CC BY-SA 3.0
- HotelLesterLesterCafe, Dan Breyfogle, CC BY-SA 3.0
- ChristScieneChurch, Dan Breyfogle, CC BY-SA 3.0
- CurtisYellandHouse, Dan Breyfogle, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Park Inn Hotel and City National Bank Building from State Street, Robert Thall, Public domain
- A J Andrus Duplex Mason City, IA, Dan Breyfogle, CC BY-SA 3.0
- GeorgeRomeyHouse, Dan Breyfogle, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Modern Brotherhood of America Building Mason City, IA, Dan Breyfogle, CC BY-SA 3.0
- StJohnBaptistChurch, Dan Breyfogle, CC BY-SA 3.0
- JewellApartments, Dan Breyfogle, CC BY-SA 3.0
- ParkersOperHouse, Dan Breyfogle, CC BY-SA 3.0
- LippertHouse, Dan Breyfogle, CC BY-SA 3.0
- MasonCityYMCA, Dan Breyfogle, CC BY-SA 3.0
- WBG-MasonBlythe-Rule, Originally uploaded by Carptrash (Transferred by Cloudbound ), CC BY-SA 3.0
- Winnebago River Bridge near Mason City, Bruce A. Harms, Public domain
- 1st National Bank Building, Mason City, Iowa, Jim Roberts, CC BY-SA 3.0
- ERGibsonHouse, Dan Breyfogle, CC BY-SA 3.0
- MierWolfHouse, Dan Breyfogle, CC BY-SA 3.0
- CharlesSeneyHouse, Dan Breyfogle, CC BY-SA 3.0
- MacNider Mason City Museum, Gcardinal101, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Rand & Ron Paul (6633303321), Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Ron Paul (6633364633), Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Ron Paul, Rand Paul & A.J. Spiker (6044306178), Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0
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