Community Definition

Community is defined in many different ways. Look in the dictionary for "community" and you'll find two definitions: (1) a group of people living in the same locality and under the same government or (2) a group of people having a common interest. As our community grows more diverse and as technology increases our ability to reach across the worlds, our understanding of connectedness and the meaning of community, changes - both for those who are members, and those who seek to serve and enhance a community's experience.

Community may be measured in geographies, shared interests, a sense of membership, shared responsibility, shared worldview or any combination of the above. For our purposes in this report community reflects 6 counties in Eastern Iowa: Benton, Cedar, Iowa, Jones, Linn and Washington.