More than three-dozen people from all over the U.S. have applied to become the newest residents of Marne. The western Iowa town is offering free plots of land to entice newcomers into settling in the Cass County town.
Marne Mayor Randy Baxter says the city’s website has gotten thousands of hits — and generated 40 applications. Baxter says he’s doing follow-up e-mails and phone calls and says many of the people plan to make a trip to Marne to see if the town and the land will meet their needs. Baxter offered four plots of his own land to the cause for a total of ten parcels.
The goal is to grow the town from its current population of 149 to 200. Baxter says applications downloaded from the town’s website have been sent in from all over the county. The latest application he got was from a family in New Jersey, and others have come from Nebraska, California, Missouri, Minnesota, and all along the East Coast.
Baxter says the demographics of those who have expressed interest in moving to Marne vary as widely as the places they’re living now. Some are families with kids, some want to run a home-based business, while others are retiring and they’re looking for a new place to live. Baxter says he hopes to have solid commitments established by mid-summer, with dirt being moved soon thereafter. More information is at: “www.marneiowa.com”.