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and opportunities afforded by our country,
reminding us of those whose hard work built
the foundations of the quality of life we enjoy
today. Founded on religious faith and the spirit
of community, the Amana Colonies continue to
evoke both a time gone by and a unique vision
of the American dream.

CONNECTING COMMUNITIES

Incorporated cities of the IVSB corridor
include, from west to east, Montour, Tama,
Toledo, Chelsea, Vining, Elberon, Belle Plaine,
Ladora, and Marengo. Other unincorporated
settlements, again from west to east, include
Gladstone, Haven, Irving, and Koszta. Many
of these communities had a decidedly ethnic
origin. Czech immigrants strongly influenced
the early development of Belle Plaine,
Chelsea, and Vining, while the pursuit of
Rolle Bolle ball in Koszta indicates a Belgian
influence.

Serving as testament to the pluckiness and
spirit of the Byway’s extant towns, there are
21 “ghost towns” along the Byway. Many
of these communities failed to obtain a
railroad connection in the 1860s, and quickly
faded into Midwestern farm fields. Today,
several ghost towns are completely gone
from the visual landscape, existing only as
archaeological sites. Others remain as clusters
of a few houses. Many of these towns were
initially settled by specific ethnic groups,
including Czechs, English, Scotch-Irish, and
Germans�