Marathon, IA

united states

Marathon is a tiny farming town of 234 people in northwest Iowa's Buena Vista County. Reach it via County Road M12 from Highway 3, which connects to Storm Lake (15 miles) and Spencer (25 miles). Most traffic is local commuting, with longer trips using US-71 about 10 miles east. The massive grain elevator dominates the skyline and serves as a prairie landmark visible for miles.