Le Mars

Le Mars is a town in Plymouth County, Iowa, situated near the Floyd River and surrounded by agricultural land. The community spans across a landscape of farms and grassland at an elevation of 376 meters, typical of the region's dairy farming environment.

The town was founded in 1869 when railroad developer John Blair completed the Iowa Falls and Sioux City Railroad line and promoted land sales in the area. This railroad expansion provided the foundation for the settlement's early growth.

The town's identity is deeply rooted in its ice cream heritage, celebrated each June with a festival where residents and visitors gather for parades, musical performances, and community events. These celebrations reflect how the local population has embraced and maintained its connection to dairy traditions and frozen dessert production.

The town is easily accessible by car from surrounding areas, with straightforward routes through the countryside and local roads leading to main attractions. Summer months offer the most active community life and are ideal for experiencing local events and farm-related activities.

A single ice cream manufacturing facility here produces around 75 million gallons of frozen products annually and employs approximately 1,000 workers, making it the world's largest ice cream production operation at one location. This one factory has transformed the town into an international center for frozen dessert manufacturing.