Chelsea Community Guide

The Italianate storefronts in downtown Chelsea, on the National Register of Historic Places, host boutiques, galleries, clothing stores, restaurants, and more, while small shopping centers south of town bring convenience. The family-owned Chelsea Milling Company has been milling flour for over one hundred years, while the Purple Rose Theatre Company, founded by Jeff Daniels, offers world-class American theater productions. Residents have their choice of Victorian homes surrounding the downtown and stately Greek Revival farmhouses and newer subdivisions beyond. Most are just minutes from the Waterloo State Recreation Area, with fifty miles of trails, four campgrounds, eleven lakes, and a nature center.