Oddities

Carter Lake has the shortest highway in Iowa - Iowa Highway 165. It measures just 0.5 miles long with official State of Iowa welcome signs on either side.

In the past, the United States Census Bureau would put the city as a Nebraska city so it couldn't get funding from the Iowa government. Mayor Mabrey fought state and federal government to make the change.

Carter Lake is the only Iowa city that is west of the Missouri River. Carter Lake owns less than a third of the lake and is surrounded by Nebraska on three sides.

Potentially confusing drivers to and from Eppley Airfield, Highway 165 displays its official signage.
Picture by Jeff Morrison