Community Information

HOUSING

Residents of Council Bluffs enjoy the benefits of a small town environment as well as being part of a major metropolitan area.  Housing in Council Bluffs includes a variety of options to fit anyone’s needs, from apartments to single family homes.  New housing developments and apartment complexes are being established constantly in this growing Iowa community.  In 1999, an estimated 23,299 housing units were available. The median home value is $78,500, with 71% of the population owning homes

 

EDUCATION

Educators in Council Bluffs are very dedicated to excellence in education.  The state of Iowa’s test scores are ranked among the highest in the nation.  Student to teacher ratios are amid the lowest in the nation.  This commitment to education shows as 78 percent of all students complete some form of post-secondary study.

Council Bluffs Community Schools

The Council Bluffs Community School District serves families in Carter Lake, Crescent and Council Bluffs.

More than 10,000 students attend its three high schools, two junior high schools and 14 elementary schools.

The district features pre-school for at-risk children, all-day, everyday kindergarten, elementary and secondary talented and gifted programs, special education programs, advanced placement and Honors Early Start college courses, vocational and technical classes, school-to-career opportunities, as well as a variety of extra-curricular activities.

Lewis Central Community School District

The Lewis Central Community School District covers approximately 64 square miles, surrounding Council Bluffs.  The district has three elementary schools, one middle and one high school.

Lewis Central's enrollment is approximately 2,797 students.  The student-to-teacher ratio is 22:1 at the elementary level and 26:1 at the secondary level.

St. Albert Parochial Schools

St. Albert Schools is a pre-kindergarten through 12th-grade educational system, serving the needs of students in Council Bluffs and the surrounding areas. Located at two building sites, St. Albert Schools provide quality, faith based education to almost 1,000 students in Southwest Iowa.

Iowa School for the Deaf

Iowa School for the Deaf is a state, tax-supported school open to all students in both Iowa and Nebraska younger than 21 years of age whose hearing loss places them at a disadvantage in the public schools.

Governed by the Board of Regents, State of Iowa; ISD is located on a 120-acre campus off Highway 275 in Council Bluffs.

 

Post Secondary Education

In addition to elementary and secondary schools, there is also an array of higher education opportunities within minutes of Council Bluffs, including two community colleges, five universities and two medical schools.

Iowa Western Community College

Iowa Western Community College, with campuses in Council Bluffs, Clarinda and three regional centers, serves a seven-county area in southwest Iowa.

Accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools, IWCC offers students more than 80 majors.

The Iowa Western Continuing Education department offers a variety of courses, serving 40,000 students enrolled annually.

In addition, the community college works in conjunction with many local businesses and industries, contributing to thousands of new jobs.

Buena Vista University

Located on the Iowa Western Community College campus, Buena Vista offers bachelor degree programs in an accelerated format.

Academic programs include accounting, computer science, elementary education, English, finance and banking, history, human services, human resources, criminal justice, management/entrepreneurship, psychology and teacher certification.

Buena Vista is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools.

 

HEALTH CARE

Council Bluffs has two full-service hospitals along with several specialized clinics.  Council Bluffs hospitals employ more than 1,600 people showing the importance this community places on quality healthcare. 

Each of these facilities offers leading medical technology and excellent physicians, representing more than 20 medical specialties.

 

CITY

Government

The city of Council Bluffs is operated under a nonpartisan mayor/council form, with the mayor and five council members elected at-large by a popular vote.

To be eligible for election, residents must be 18 years of age and a registered voter in the city of Council Bluffs.

The mayor is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the city, and it is the responsibility of the city council to establish city policy and certify the budget.

 

Population

City of Council Bluffs - 56,312*
Pottawattamie County - 86,660 **
Metro Area - 701,820 **

* 1998 U.S. Census Estimate
** 1999 Woodes & Poole

 

Unemployment Rate, September 1999

Council Bluffs - 2.4%
Pottawattamie County - 2.0%