welkom!
“We invite you to celebrate Orange City’s treasured past … and share in our vibrant future. Experience the exciting progress throughout the community – from our dynamic Main Street to our energized business climate, arts and culture, healthcare, educational systems, and more!”
-Deb DeHaan, Orange City Mayor
This is a family place, a safe community where neighbors keep watch for one another, especially our children. We celebrate award-winning schools, caring teachers, small class sizes. Teens are involved in a wide range of school activities: sports, marching band, vocal music, orchestra, speech, dance, drama. Enriching after-school and summer programs focus on art, music, and sports, and the new Orange City Public Library also reflects priorities of our citizens.
From Orange County, CA to Orange City, IA
A conversation with Paul and Victoria Karssen. Leaving the fast lane in Southern California for a family-friendly lifestyle in Northwest Iowa was a great decision for this family.
Paul: “Working at a big law firm, I had long hours plus a commute in California traffic. The cost of living was high and schools were not strong, so Amanda attended a private school.”
Victoria: “Orange County was great before we had kids, but when I was home with three small children I felt like a single mom. Paul rarely made it home for dinner, even for family gatherings with his parents. That meant I often drove alone, at night, on busy freeways with three pre-schoolers.”
Paul: “For me, moving to Iowa was a return home. For Victoria, who grew up in California, it was a drastic change so we weighed our decision carefully.”
Victoria: “It’s important that this isn’t a closed environment, it has diversity, it’s near an airport, and it’s a college town. This is a very vibrant community, connected to the larger world.”
Paul: “Living here has been great for our family. My office is five minutes from home, so when one of our kids is sick and Victoria has a class, I can shuttle back and forth. With my ‘commute’ I’m home by 5:05, and we can eat dinner – together.”
Victoria: “We like living in a place where our kids are busy and involved and appreciate our great schools. The cost of living is so much less than in California – another terrific advantage.”
Paul: “Living in a small town we gain a greater sense of the importance of everyone – police, firefighters, EMTs, our utility workers – because we KNOW them, they are our friends and neighbors, their kids know our kids, we go to the same church. We’re not inclined to take people or services for granted here.”
Victoria: “Moving to Orange City was a huge decision, a good decision, because living here gives us the chance to experience life – together. For us that’s what matters most.”