2017 Spencer Comprehensive Land Use Plan

Spencer, Iowa  2017  Comprehensive Plan

- Summer Reading Program, sponsored by the Spencer Public Library - Summer Band Concert Series - Spencer Main Street Wine Stroll - Spencer Main Street Crazy Dayz

AN ARTISTIC IDENTITY AND CULTURAL COMMUNITY Spencer has the largest, most diverse collection of 1930s Art Deco architecture in the Midwest. This was not a planned occurrence, but a statement regarding Spencer’s community pride and spirit. The central business district remains active and has become the hub of the community. The Spencer Main Street Company was founded in 1987 and is still working today to stimulate and perpetuate this one- of-a-kind downtown. Spencer enjoys a reputation of outstanding community spirit that greatly contributes to its continued growth. Spencer city leaders and community residents alike can proudly say the city has evolved into a community that has strived to create a unique sense of place unlike any other in Iowa. Part of Spencer’s appeal and sense of place comes from its history. Shortly after the great fire of 1931, amidst the onset of the Great Depression, Spencer wasted no time in actively rebuilding its historic downtown. Past city leaders recognized the fact that downtown Spencer was the hub of the community and the lifeline to many services and commerce. The rebuilding efforts provided Spencer an opportunity to create a downtown with unique architecture common during the era. This architectural style combines clean lines with unique architectural and artistic details that provide amazing patterns or images on many downtown buildings. Outside of the famed Art Deco buildings that line Miami’s South Beach, Spencer has one of the largest collections of classic Art Deco architecture in the nation, especially within the Midwest.

Examples of Spencer’s Art Deco architecture

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NW Iowa Planning & Development