SHELBY COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
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Shelby County - A place to call home. Eleven cities ... one community.
Picture of Defiance Welcome Sign.

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

Picture of Defiance water tower.

"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
[email protected]

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. 
Picture of Smitty Bee Honey store.
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.

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

Community & Tourists Attractions

Picture of the Wildering house.
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.
Picture of a community center.
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. 

Picture of the surrounding woods.
Shelby County Chamber of Commerce & Industry
1901 Hawkeye Avenue
Suite 101 
Harlan, IA 51537

Website Privacy Policy
Phone: 712.755.2114
Fax: 712.755.2115
Email: [email protected]
Hours: Monday - Friday, 8 am - 5 pm

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Site Map
  • Home
    • What's New!
    • Member's Login
    • News
    • Coupon Directory
    • Site Map
  • About
    • Membership
    • Locate Member Businesses
    • Member Directory
    • Chamber Newsletters
    • Chamber Press Releases
    • Staff Directory
    • Board Members
    • Committees
    • Chamber Gift Certificates
    • Chamber Mobile App
  • Visiting & Playing
    • Attractions
    • Parks & Recreation >
      • Bike/Hike Trails
      • Campgrounds
      • Golfing
      • Hunting/Fishing
      • Motorsports
      • Parks
      • Swimming
    • Events
    • Festivals
    • Lodging
    • Dining
    • Churches
    • Playing
    • Shopping
    • County & City Street Maps
    • Photo Gallery
    • Videos
  • Business & Economy
    • Shelby County >
      • Government Reps
      • Census Data
      • Demographics
      • Business Financing
      • Hotel/Motel Committee
      • Grants
    • Major Employers
    • Communities >
      • Defiance
      • Earling
      • Elk Horn
      • Harlan
      • Irwin
      • Kirkman
      • Panama
      • Portsmouth
      • Shelby
      • Tennant
      • Westphalia
      • Non-Incorporated
    • Available Commercial Real Estate
    • Resources
    • Advantages >
      • Shelby County Iowa
      • Location
      • Transportation
      • Education
      • Health Care
      • Housing
      • Utilities and Telecommunications
      • Emergency Services
  • Member's Area
    • Login
    • Leads Trading
    • Sales Tools
    • Free Support
  • Chamber Gift Certificates
  • Job Board
  • Join Chamber
  • Join Committee
  • Subscribe
    • Did You Know email
    • Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • Gardening Angels