1901 Hawkeye Avenue Suite 101 Harlan, IA 51537
Panama
Shelby County - A place to call home. Eleven cities ... one community.
Map
• Established in 1882
• 2010 population of 221
• Located at the intersection of Highway 191 and County Road F32.
"Family Unity and Community Pride"
PANAMA began as a village known as "Crandall's Station" during the construction of the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway. Panama was incorporated May 13, 1886, with Lyman H. LaSalle as its first mayor. Panama was originally platted by the Milwaukee Land Company, for railway purposes, in April/May 1882. Much of the land was owned by Benjamin Crandall, one of the earlier settlers of Galland's Grove. A post office was established in 1882 with J. W. Kleeb as first postmaster.
Utility & Telecommunications
Water: City of Panama
Gas: Propane with Multiple Providers
Electricity: MidAmerican Energy Company
Phone: Windstream
Internet: Farmers Mutual Cooperative Telephone Company, Windstream
Cable: Farmers Mutual Cooperative Telephone Company
Cellular: Cellular One, Farmers Mutual Cooperative Telephone Company, and Verizon
Rail: Burlington Northern/Santa Fe Rail Service
Recycing: Contact your local hauling service. List of what is eligible for recycle.
Government
Mayor & City Council
Hours: Flexible
712.489.2344
cityofpanama@fmctc.com
City Zoning? Yes
Police Protection
Shelby County Sheriff’s Department
School
Harlan Community Schools (PreK-12)
Shelby County Catholic Schools (PreK-8)
St. Mary's Catholic Church School Center (PreK-3))
Top Businesses
Panama is proud of all its diversified businesses (over 20 in the community) including Panama Transfer, the largest employer.
Panama Transfer operates out of a 36-door terminal in Panama as well as two new 24-door state-of-the-art terminals in Wellsburg, IA and Richland, IA. The company also maintains terminal facilities in Omaha, NE; Humboldt, NE; Des Moines, IA; Sioux Falls, SD; Fargo, ND; Lawrence, KS; Camdenton, MO; Danville, KY; Chicago, IL; Nashville, IL; Trimont, MN; St. Cloud, MN; Duluth, MN; Atlanta, GA; Hudson, WI; Milwaukee, WI; and La Crosse, WI.
Norma Jean's is well known for being one of the best restaurants in the county. Clad in Marilyn Monroe memorabilia, this eatery always features a lively atmosphere and an assortment of delicious cuisine.
The Main Street Market is the grocery store in town. It offers not only groceries but lunches, pizza and subs, catering, and fresh baked items.
Community & Tourists Attractions
Churches
St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church – on the tour of the German Villages.
Groups
4-H Club, CYO Basketball, Golden Age Club, Little League Baseball, Panama Sewing Circle
Panama Young Mothers Group
A source of considerable pride. This organization works to make their community better. Formed in 1992, the Panama Young Mothers has improved the playground, tennis courts, and school, and helped needy families during holidays.
St. Mary’s Church Picnic
Held annually in June with an auction, music, chicken supper, games for children and adults, raffles, good food, and a tractor pull.
H. A. Tarkington Burial Site – County judge of the now defunct City of Shelbyville in the 1840s to 1860s. He is well known for his activities as a Methodist minister and believed to be one of those who brought the Methodist religion to Shelby County.
Panama's Historic One Room School Museum
The Panama One Room School Museum, first known as Washington No. 7, was located in Washington Township of Shelby County about two miles southeast of
Panama, Iowa. The original school building, which was constructed in 1879, was destroyed by a tornado in the summer of 1925. A new building was constructed, and it opened for classes in the fall of 1926. The Shelby County Country School system discontinued using the school in 1959. In 1960 it was moved here to Panama where it's been used by various schools and churches until it reopened in 2009 as a museum. The interior and artifacts reflect the look of a 1920s country school.
Whispering Pines Park
Began in 1928 as an educational project and grew to over 2,000 seedlings, trees, and shrubs.
