88-Year-Old Spencer Man Completes 17-Year Tour of All 1,402 Iowa Communities
An 88-year-old Spencer man has accomplished what few Iowans have ever attempted: visiting every incorporated town and unincorporated community in the state. John Cotton recently finished his 17-year journey, having driven himself to all 1,402 of Iowa's communities.
Cotton, who owns a farm management company dating back to the mid-1960s, started his quest after realizing he had only seen about 20 percent of Iowa's towns through his work travels. He decided to see them all.
“I kind of wanted to see what made them tick,” Cotton said. “I bought a 2010 Rand McNally map and a book I could write in.”
How One Man Visited Every Town in Iowa
Cotton used Interstate 35 as a dividing line, working the east side of the state first, then the west. He took five or six long weekends each year, typically adding about 25 towns per trip.
“Each time I saw a town, I would circle it, and that's how I kept track,” Cotton said. “I wrote something about it, one, two, or three paragraphs, both the good and the bad.”
He drove a grid pattern through each town, traveling north, then over two blocks, and back again to make sure he saw everything.
Small-Town Iowa Roots Drive the Mission
Cotton was born in Lone Rock, a Kossuth County town of 165 people (now 145). That upbringing gave him a passion for small communities.
“I dearly loved that experience,” he said.
His first stop was Bartlett in Fremont County, a town the last census listed with just five residents. Along the way, he found unexpected treasures, including what he calls the best cinnamon roll of his life at a restaurant in Corydon.
“You wing it because you don't know what you're going to find,” Cotton said.
He also discovered Iowa history firsthand. In Beaconsfield, a Ringgold County town of fewer than 25 people, he found the old brick store where the founders of Hy-Vee started their grocery empire before moving to Chariton.
Finishing the Journey Before “the Dirt Nap”
Cotton said he pushed hard this year to complete the mission, starting with 173 towns remaining.
“The big doubt was, am I going to make it before the dirt nap?” Cotton said. “That's why I pushed it this year because of my age. I wanted to get it done this year. Friends of mine are losing their driver's licenses.”
He finished in July, with his sons Dave and Dan joining him for the final three stops. The celebration included throwing the first pitch at an Iowa Cubs game in Des Moines.
“The whole crowd got a big laugh out of my throw. It went like 10 feet,” Cotton said, noting he had separated his throwing shoulder earlier this year.
What's Next for Iowa's Most Traveled Explorer?
Cotton acknowledges he may not have another 17 years to spend on the road, and another statewide excursion isn't likely. But he isn't ready to park his car for good.
“I miss it. I'm going to go back and see again,” he said.
His friends at the morning coffee circle in Spencer, a group of men aged 76 to 93, are cheering him on. They gather daily to solve the world's problems, and now they have a genuine Iowa legend among them.
“I don't know that too many people made comment of it until he got it completed,” said George Moriarty, one of Cotton's coffee companions.
Cotton's favorite Iowa town? Pella. “Pella is head and shoulders ahead of any town in Iowa,” he said.
For Iowans who love their state, Cotton's journey is a testament to the diversity and character found in communities both large and small across all 99 counties.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many towns did John Cotton visit in Iowa?
John Cotton visited all 947 incorporated towns in Iowa plus more than 400 unincorporated communities, totaling 1,402 towns.
How long did it take to visit every Iowa community?
The journey took 17 years, with Cotton taking five or six long weekends each year to visit approximately 25 towns per trip.
What was John Cotton's favorite Iowa town?
Cotton said Pella is “head and shoulders ahead of any town in Iowa.” He also praised a cinnamon roll he found at a restaurant in Corydon as the best he's ever had.
