West Branch, Iowa

About West Branch

Set in the eastern part of Iowa, West Branch is a small town counting 2,876 people who proudly call it home.

Officially, West Branch is an incorporated city with its own municipal government. The community covers 2.57 square miles, giving it a balanced suburban layout with room to breathe at roughly 1,119 residents per square mile.

📰 West Branch News Today

• Squishy-Palooza brings squishies, trading and giant gummy bear to West Branch KGAN · Aug 16
• Photos: West Branch vs. Van Meter in 2024 Class 2A Iowa high school boys’ state soccer quarterfinals thegazette.com · Aug 16
• Kathryn 'Katie' M. Herring Obituary Aug 16, 2026 Fry Funeral Home & Cremation Services · Aug 16
• DCI Investigating Officer-Involved Shooting in West Branch Iowa Department of Public Safety (.gov) · Jun 4
• Tanker truck fire blocks traffic along I-80 KCRG · Aug 9

Live headlines via Google News — updates through the day.

What Makes West Branch Unique

• Positioned in eastern Iowa, convenient to the region's corridors and crossings.
• Part of the fabric of Iowa — one of 1,026 recognized communities statewide.

Why People Love It Here

• Small-town pace of life: less traffic, more community, and neighbors who wave.
• Housing dollars stretch further here than in the nearest metro.
• Easy reach of Iowa City (10 mi) — commute to the city, live where it's calm.

🍽️ Where to Eat in West Branch

• Herb N Lou's Pizza — pizza
• Mexico Lindo — mexican
• The serving Cafe (café)

Local spots mapped by the OpenStreetMap community.

🎡 Fun Things to Do

• West Branch Heritage Museum · Museum
• Birthplace Cottage · Attraction
• Blacksmith Shop · Attraction
• CE Smith House · Attraction
• Friends Meetinghouse · Attraction
• Garvin House · Attraction
• Hayhurst House · Attraction
• House of the Maples · Attraction
• Laban Miles House · Attraction
• Leech House · Attraction

Attractions mapped by the OpenStreetMap community.

🏞️ Parks & Outdoors in West Branch

• Beranek Park reviews ★
• Cedar Valley Park · Nature reserve reviews ★
• Cubby Park reviews ★
• Herbert Hoover National Historic Site reviews ★
• Heritage Square reviews ★
• Hora Woods · Nature reserve reviews ★
• Lions Field reviews ★
• Village Green · Attraction reviews ★
• Wapsi Creek Park reviews ★

Parks mapped by the OpenStreetMap community · "reviews" opens each park's live Google reviews.

🏫 Schools in West Branch

• Hoover Elementary School
• West Branch High School
• West Branch Middle School

Public schools, U.S. Dept. of Education (NCES) 2023–24 directory.

⚡ Quick Facts

🗺️ Map of West Branch

🏘️ Nearby Communities