This Medium-Sized Town in Iowa Has a Larger Area Than Minneapolis

"Wait, what?" Those were the first words out of my mouth when I discovered this quirky geography stat.

On paper, this Iowa town is bigger than Minneapolis, as it sprawls over 63 square miles of Iowa land. But, in terms of population, it's only 1/6 the size of the Minnesota metropolis.

Sure, Minneapolis has the people, the towering skyline, and the professional sports teams, but when it comes to land-area, this Iowa town says "Hold My Beer, Please."

Get our free mobile app

Credit: Canva

Spend any amount of time in Waterloo, Iowa and you'll quickly notice one thing: It covers a lot of space.

The city of Waterloo has a population of around 66,000 people, yet it has a land-area of around 63 square miles. And yes, that means it's technically bigger than Minneapolis (geographically speaking), which covers approximately 58 square miles. That's quite surprising and there are a few reasons behind it.

Waterloo is currently the 8th biggest city in the state of Iowa, but, in terms of population, it used to be significantly bigger. In fact, it was the 5th biggest city in the state by 1980, with a population of approximately 75,000 residents. However, economic stagnation and the loss of jobs at major employers led to a massive population decline in the mid-80s, and quite frankly, the city has never fully recovered.

While it hasn't gained back the population it lost in the 80s, Waterloo has stayed afloat, as it has maintained a population between 66,000-70,000 since 1990.

Another reason Waterloo's population has stagnated in recent years is because its nearest neighbor has been gaining significant ground. The city of Cedar Falls, home to the University of Northern Iowa, has seen a slight increase in population in the exact same timeframe in which Waterloo has seen a decline. Cedar Falls has also landed contracts with several industries, bringing jobs to the growing community.

While Waterloo may not be one of the most populous communities in the state, it's still a great place to live. Check out some of the unique and fun facts about the city of Waterloo here.

LOOK: Here are the pets banned in each state

Because the regulation of exotic animals is left to states, some organizations, including The Humane Society of the United States, advocate for federal, standardized legislation that would ban owning large cats, bears, primates, and large poisonous snakes as pets.

Read on to see which pets are banned in your home state, as well as across the nation.

Gallery Credit: Elena Kadvany