Red Oak | Villisca | Malvern | Stanton

The Community of Red Oak, Iowa

Red Oak truly has something for everyone and is a great place to call home. Red Oak is quickly becoming one of Iowa’s hottest destinations with five retail stores opening in the past year, incredible historic home renovations, a growing art scene, and facade improvements to the historic Fountain Square Park. Red Oak is, and always will be, where the heart of Southwest Iowa lives.

Red Oak, the county seat of Montgomery County, is home to more than 5300 residents. The downtown district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2016. The focal point being the Fountain Square Park, home to the Red Oak Farmer’s Market, Junction Days, National Night Out, and the Classy Chassis Car Show. In addition, the community has great parks and recreation facilities for those looking to hike, bike, disc golf, bowl, swim, skateboard, and more.

Entertainment opportunities stretch from a movie with the family downtown at the Red Oak Grande Theater, and live performance at the arts center, or live music and an art show downtown. Highlights also include the Montgomery County Family YMCA; the Red Oak Aquatic Center (renovated in 2019 making it the largest aquatic center in Southwest Iowa); the Red Oak Country Club featuring an 18-hole championship course, pool, lounge, and restaurant; Studio 147 - named Best of Southwest Iowa dance school; and the Red Oak Trails encompassing miles of recreational routes throughout the town. The Wilson Performing Arts Center, a 23,000 square foot facility with 268 seats opened in 2009 and regularly hosts performances from all over the world. In addition, the community is located an hour from the Omaha and Council Bluffs Metropolitan area - which has almost 1 million residents. 

Red Oak offers many annual events including Rotary’s Annual Easter Egg Hunt, Ambassador’s Flight Breakfast, golf tournaments, Montgomery County Relay for Life, Red Oak Junction Days, homecoming parade, Southwest Iowa Gun Show, Trick or Treat on the Trails, Holiday Extravaganza, YMCA Turkey Trot, Autumn Home Tour, & Holiday Celebration Events.

Red Oak LandmarksRed Oak Amenities

Anderson Conservation Area
Bella Notte Pampered Artist Retreat
Montgomery County Family YMCA
Montgomery County History Center
Montgomery County Memorial Hospital + Clinics
Montgomery County Shooting Sports Club
Restored Burlington Northern Depot / WWII Memorial Museum
Red Oak Recreational Trail System
Red Oak Child Development Center
Red Oak Community Garden
Red Oak Country Club and Golf Course
Red Oak Disc Golf Course – Kelly Park
Red Oak Dog Park
Red Oak Farmers Market
Red Oak Grand Theatre
Red Oak Parks & Trails See City Map
Red Oak Public Library
Red Oak Aquatic Center
Red Oak Municipal Airport
The Five One 8
Wilson Performing Arts Center

Red Oak Business Environment

Red Oak consists of more than 300 businesses including a variety of restaurants, retail, arts, automotive, manufacturing, grocery stores, home & garden, personal care, professional services, banking & financial, lodging, education & daycare, wellness & fitness, animal care, computers & telecommunications, agriculture, real estate, government, and healthcare. While Red Oak is primarily known as a farming region; manufacturing, retail, health and education all hold top places in industrial rankings for the region which boasts active economic development organizations. The community has a very active Downtown Urban Revitalization program and was one of the first Home Base Iowa Communities in Iowa. Home Base Iowa is a program connecting veterans and transitioning service members to over 2,000 businesses, 24 college and university partners, and 87 Home Base Iowa communities across the state.