Something you’ll immediately notice about West Branch is its small-town atmosphere and the friendly nature of the downtown area. The Historic Downtown Commercial District is the beating heart of the city, where you’ll find a mix of independent, locally owned food and beverage establishments, retail shops, and various service establishments — Herb ‘N’ Lou’s Pizzeria, Main Street Sweets, The Serving Café, and more. A secondary business district is located north of Interstate 80 and home to corporate manufacturing, industrial, and specialty retail businesses including U.S. AutoForce, Altorfer, Inc., and Procter and Gamble.

Thirty-first president of the United States Herbert Hoover was born in West Branch. His birthplace cottage is the main focus of the Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, one of only two national parks in Iowa. The Hoover Presidential Library and Museum (one of 15 US presidential libraries-museums in the nation) stands in his honor. In fact, Hoover’s Hometown Days is one of the most anticipated events of the year that pays tribute to the former president with food, live music, free rides, and the Hoover-Ball championship. Other community events include the Spring It On Shop Hop and Christmas Past.