UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
IOWA
Floyd County

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Founded in 1852 and incorporated in 1869, Charles City has been the center of activity in Iowa's upper Cedar River valley ever since. Today, Charles City is the capital of Floyd County and has a population of about 7,900 people. The city is proud that not less than 15 buildings in the downtown district are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. A beloved landmark of the city is the 276-foot (81 m) Suspension Footbridge across the Cedar River, also known as the Swinging Bridge, built in 1906.

The New High School [left] on North Grand Street was built in 1899 and opened in 1900. The building was destroyed by fire in 1931, just a few weeks after a bond issue was approved to build a new school building, which today is the Charles City Middle School.