Defiance

Shelby County - A place to call home. Eleven cities ... one community.

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• Established 1882
• 2010 population of 284
• Located on Highway 59 in the heart of southwest Iowa’s picturesque countryside


"Pulling Together to Make Things Happen"


DEFIANCE was originally platted February 20, 1882, situated on the banks of the Nishnabotna River. It was a station on the Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul Railroad. Defiance was incorporated in January, 1883, with H. B. Sooy as the first mayor. 


Our Community Hall - in 1935, when the streets of Council Bluffs were reconstructed, volunteers carried the street cobblestones to defiance to erect the Community Hall. Designed by the resident Catholic priest Fr. Emil Schumann opening in 1936 with a dance. Later it would host countless big bands including Bob Cosby and Lawrence Welk.

Notable People:
C. A. Robins, 22nd Governor of Idaho; born in Defiance.
Craig Muhlbauer, a Denver tax accountant originally from Defiance, appeared on the tenth season of The Bachelorette on ABC, but lasted only two episodes.


Utility & Telecommunications


Water: City of Defiance 
Gas: MidAmerican Energy Company 
Electricity: MidAmerican Energy Company
Phone: Farmers Mutual Cooperative Telephone Company 
Internet: Farmers Mutual Cooperative Telephone Company 
Cable: Farmers Mutual Cooperative Telephone Company 
Cellular: Cellular One, Farmers Mutual Cooperative Telephone Company, and Verizon 
Recycling: Contact your local hauling service. List of what is eligible for recycle.


Government
Mayor & City Council 
Hours: Tues-Thurs 10-2, 1st & 3rd Sat 9-12
712 748-3431
CityDefiance@outlook.com


City Zoning? Yes 


Police Protection
Shelby County Sheriff’s Department 


School
Harlan Community Schools (PreK-12) 
Irwin-Kirkman-Manilla (IKM)-Manning (K-12) 
Shelby County Catholic Schools (PreK-8) 

Top Businesses
Defiance is home to over 40 businesses and features nine industry leaders: Clean Air Filter, Chuck’s Radiator, Defiance State Bank, Kloewer Plumbing and Heating,
​R & S Waste, Smitty Bee Honey, Smitty's Fuel & Food,
Steve’s Repair & Machine, and Wilwerding Electric. 

RV Park
The Defiance RV Park is located at 401 2nd Street east of the Defiance Walking Park.

Directions: Main Avenue to 2nd Street, travel north into the park.
Limited Services: Electric and Water on site, dump station on the south end.

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Churches
St. Peter’s Catholic Church (on the tour of the German Villages), St Scholastica Education Center, & United Methodist Church 

Community & Tourists Attractions

Wilwerding House
Built in 1899 of bricks from a Defiance brickyard. The three-story home is one of the town’s oldest houses and was constructed with double brick walls. It is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. 

St. Peter’s Parish Hall
Built from street cobblestones when the streets of Council Bluffs were reconstructed in 1935. The building was planned and blue printed by the resident Catholic priest, Father Emil Schumann. It opened in 1936 with a dance, and later served as host for countless big bands including Bob Crosby and Lawrence Welk. The Hall also hosted appearances of the Harlem Globe Trotters basketball team and All-Star Wrestling.


St. Peters Catholic Church and Parish Picnic
Defiance’s first Catholic services were held in 1883 and the current St. Peter’s Catholic Church was built in 1928. The parish picnic is held annually in June. 

The Grotto, “Our Mother of Perpetual Help”
Located between the St. Peter’s Catholic Church and parish house is 32 feet long, 10 feet high and 14 feet deep. It contains 245 tons of material with 5 ½ feet concrete base weighing 60 tons. The right side of the grotto contains a table in memory of World War II Veterans. The grotto lighting makes it especially beautiful after dark. 


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