Editing Newton, Iowa (section)

==Arts and culture==
Newton is passionate in its support of the arts and culture. {{Citation needed|date=October 2022}}

===Visual arts and sculpture===
[[File:Rabbit Maytag Park Newton Iowa 8-2011.png|alt="International Harvester AKA Harvey" a public art sculpture in Maytag Park, Newton, Iowa.|left|thumb|"International Harvester AKA Harvey" a public art sculpture in Maytag Park, Newton, Iowa.]]
Newton has an active arts community, with several non-profit organizations dedicated to the arts and many artists residing in the city.  {{Citation needed|date=October 2022}}

The Iowa Sculpture Festival was an annual event hosted in Newton which began in 2002.<ref name="newtondailynews.com">{{cite news|title=Iowa sculpture festival events set for this weekend|url=http://www.newtondailynews.com/2013/06/10/iowa-sculpture-festival-events-set-for-this-weekend/adjhgqp/|access-date=10 October 2013|newspaper=Newton Daily News|date=June 13, 2013}}</ref> The purpose and goal of the Iowa Sculpture Festival is to celebrate the development and growth of sculpture as an art form and to feature artists who create sculptures. The weekend-long event featured both local and internationally accomplished artists. The annual event ended in 2017.<ref name="newtondailynews.com" />

Newton features more than 100 displays of public art with sculptures and painted murals throughout the community.<ref name="newtonsfuture.files.wordpress.com" /> The Iowa Sculpture Festival Committee sponsors a self-guided year-round sculpture and mural tour.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sculpture and Mural Tour|url=http://www.visitnewton.com/SculpTour.pdf|publisher=Iowa Sculpture Festival|access-date=10 October 2013}}</ref>

The Centre for Arts and Artists opened in Newton in 2005.<ref name="Leavenworth">{{cite news|last=Leavenworth|first=Anna|title=Newton's Centre for Arts and Artists hosts open house|url=http://thecentralray.com/2012/04/newtons-centre-for-arts-and-artists-hosts-open-house/|access-date=10 October 2013|newspaper=The Central Ray|date=April 17, 2012}}</ref> The Centre for Arts and Artists is composed of 10 resident artist studios, a clay and kiln room, a therapeutic art room for children, a classroom, an extensive art and sculpture collection as well as a gift shop.<ref name="Leavenworth" /> Classes for all ages are taught at the Centre throughout the year.<ref name="Leavenworth" />

===Performing arts===
In addition to having an active visual arts community, Newton also has an active music and theater community. Each summer, Newton hosts the Bowlful of Blues, a blues festival at the Maytag Bowl featuring renowned blues artists from across the county such as [[John Primer]], [[Walter Trout]], [[Shaun Murphy (singer)|Shaun Murphy]], [[Willie Kent]], and others.<ref>{{cite news|last=Malott|first=Kate|title=R&B singer to co-headline Bowlful of Blues|url=http://www.newtondailynews.com/2013/08/21/rb-singer-to-co-headline-bowlful-of-blues/ao4zgw2/|access-date=10 October 2013|newspaper=Newton Daily News|date=August 23, 2013}}</ref>

Additionally, the City of Newton puts on free weekly concerts at the Maytag Bowl throughout the summer in an event called "Concerts at the Bowl."<ref name="Evenings at the Bowl">{{cite news|title=Evenings at the Bowl|url=http://www.newtondailynews.com/2013/05/30/evenings-at-the-bowl/a9cp5rz/|access-date=11 October 2013|newspaper=Newton Daily News|date=May 31, 2013}}</ref> This event features local bands of all genres. The Newton City Band, a full concert band composed of Newton citizens, also performs at this event.<ref name="Evenings at the Bowl" />

The Newton Community Theater performs several shows each year ranging from large-cast musicals, such as ''[[Les Misérables (musical)|Les Misérables]]'', to small cast ensemble plays, such as ''The Dixie Swim Club''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Newton Theatre|url=http://www.newtontheatre.com|publisher=Newton Community Theatre|access-date=11 October 2013}}</ref>

===Historic preservation===
[[File:Downtown Newton Iowa.jpg|alt=An aerial image of downtown Newton.|left|thumb|An aerial image of downtown Newton.]]
In February 2014, Newton was selected to take part in the Main Street Iowa program, which is a coordinating program for the Main Street America program and part of the Iowa Economic Development Authority. Newton Main Street is a 501(c)3 organization with a goal of economic development within the context of historic preservation. In September 2014, Newton's downtown was designated to the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.newtondailynews.com/2014/10/05/downtown-newton-lands-historic-designation/ao805ac/|title=Downtown Newton lands historic designation|last=Writer|first=Ty Rushing Daily News Senior Staff|website=newtondailynews.com|access-date=31 January 2019}}</ref> The district has 87 properties within it.

The [[Fred Maytag Park|Fred Maytag Park Historic District]], which includes Maytag Bowl, Maytag Park and Maytag Pool, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in November 2010.

Newton has several other places listed on the National Register of Historic Places including the [[Thomas Arthur House]], [[August H. Bergman House]], [[Emerson Hough Elementary School]], the [[Jasper County Courthouse (Iowa)|Jasper County Courthouse]], and [[St. Stephen's Episcopal Church (Newton, Iowa)|St. Stephen's Episcopal Church]].

The Jasper County Historical Museum is located on the southwest est side of Newton and features historical artifacts from throughout Newton's history, including many early-model washing machines manufactured by Maytag.<ref name="Riley" /> The museum is managed by the Jasper County Historical Society.

===Other arts and culture===
Newton began hosting Newton Fest in 2015. The annual celebration is meant to celebrate the arts, food, music, history and more.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.newtonfest.org/|title=NEWTON FEST|website=NEWTON FEST|access-date=31 January 2019}}</ref>

Newton also hosts the [[Miss Iowa USA]] and Miss Teen Iowa USA Pageants annually.<ref>{{cite web|title=October Calendar 2013|url=http://www.visitnewton.com/calendar.php|publisher=Newton Convention and Visitor's Bureau|access-date=11 October 2013}}</ref> The winners of these competitions go on to represent Iowa at the Miss USA Pageants.

Newton is home to one of America's first business aircraft. The aircraft was a [[Travel Air 6000]] owned by Harry Ogg, owner of the Automatic Washing Machine Company and was named "Smiling Thru".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wingsoverkansas.com/phillips/a885/|title = Wings over Kansas}}</ref>

===Entertainment, recreation and sports===
[[File:Maytag.jpg|thumb|220x220px|View of Maytag Dairy Farms from the visitor center.|alt=|left]]
In 1919, E.H. Maytag, the son of Maytag Appliance company founder F.L. Maytag, purchased a single Holstein cow to provide fresh clean milk to his children.<ref name="Our History">{{Cite web|url=https://www.maytagdairyfarms.com/our-history/|title=Our History|website=Maytag Dairy Farms|access-date=31 January 2019}}</ref> Upon E.H.’s death in 1940, his sons Fred and Robert Maytag assumed leadership of the farms and Fred pursued his idea of creating a uniquely American blue cheese made from cow's milk. Maytag Dairy Farms collaborated with Iowa State University to pioneer the first great American blue cheese that could compete with classic European cheeses such as Roquefort made from sheep's milk. The cheese plant and caves were completed a year later and the first wheels of Maytag Blue Cheese were formed in October 1941. 77 years after Fred made the first wheels of Maytag Blue Cheese, the leadership of the company is transitioning to his grandchildren—the great-grandchildren of E.H. Maytag.<ref name="Our History"/>

Newton has two historic movie theaters that are still in operation. The Valle Drive in is one of four [[drive-in theaters]] still in operation in Iowa. The Valle Drive in is the oldest of all of these theaters, having opened in 1948.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.timesrepublican.com/pdf/news/525097_1.pdf|title=Newton's Valle Drive In|last=Donahey|first=Mike|date=May 2, 2010|newspaper=Times Republican|access-date=11 October 2013|archive-date=February 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150224105250/http://www.timesrepublican.com/pdf/news/525097_1.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> The Capitol II Theater is located in the historic downtown district of Newton and has been in operation since April 1927; originally operating as a [[vaudeville]] theater.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.newtondailynews.com/2012/10/31/top-10-haunted-locations-in-jasper-county/aw54idd/?page=2|title=Top 10 Haunted Locations in Jasper County|date=October 31, 2012|newspaper=Newton Daily News|access-date=11 October 2013}}</ref>
[[File:Iowa Speedway.jpg|alt=An image from the grandstand at Iowa Speedway.|left|thumb|An image from the grandstand at Iowa Speedway.]]
Newton is home to [[Iowa Speedway]], a 7/8-mile racing track purchased by NASCAR in 2014. It is the only short track owned by [[NASCAR]] west of the Mississippi River.{{Citation needed|date=February 2015}} The track hosts a series of races throughout the summer, including  [[IndyCar Series]], [[Indy Lights]] and [[ARCA Menards Series]] races.<ref>{{cite web |last1=IndyCar |title=NTT INDYCAR SERIES RETURNS TO IOWA FOR 2022 DOUBLEHEADER |url=https://www.indycar.com/News/2021/08/08-19-Iowa-22Doubleheader |website=IndyCar.com |publisher=IndyCar Group |access-date=19 August 2021}}</ref>

The Newton High School completes in class 4A athletics through the [[Iowa High School Athletic Association]]. The mascot of the high school is a Cardinal. The IHSAA athletics that Newton participates in includes: baseball, basketball, bowling, cross country, football, golf, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track & field, volleyball, and wrestling.<ref>{{cite web|title=Team Selections|url=http://www.newtoncardinals.bigteams.com|access-date=17 October 2013}}</ref>

Newton is home to several parks and recreation areas. The City maintains 13 City parks and recreational areas, including the flagship park of the community, Maytag Park. Maytag Park is on the National Registrar of Historic Places.<ref>{{cite web|title=Fred Maytag Park Historic District|url=http://www.nps.gov/nr/feature/places/AD_10000917.htm|publisher=National Park Service|access-date=17 October 2013}}</ref> Amenities at Maytag Park include the Maytag Bowl—a historic bandshell, a public swimming pool, and a disc golf course.<ref>{{cite web|title=Maytag Park|url=http://ia-newton.civicplus.com/Facilities/Facility/Details/6|publisher=City of Newton|access-date=17 October 2013}}</ref> In addition to the City parks, Project AWAKE, a local non-profit organization, maintains the Newton Arboretum and Botanical Gardens as well as Sersland Park, a downtown park. The Newton Arboretum and Botanical Gardens occupies six acres of land and features over 150 species of trees, a rose garden, a butterfly garden, a water garden, and a native prairie.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Newton Arboretum and Botanical Gardens|url=http://newtonarboretum.com/Arboretum.html|publisher=Project AWAKE|access-date=17 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131018035619/http://newtonarboretum.com/Arboretum.html|archive-date=October 18, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>

====Death of Rocky Marciano====
On August 31, 1969, world boxing champion [[Rocky Marciano]] and two other occupants [[1969 Newton Cessna 172 crash|died]] when their airplane crashed in Newton.<ref name="gendisasters">{{cite web|url=https://www.gendisasters.com/iowa/3593/newton-ia-rocky-marciano-killed-in-plane-crash-aug-1969|title=Newton, IA Rocky Marciano Killed in Plane Crash, Aug 1969 &#124; GenDisasters ... Genealogy in Tragedy, Disasters, Fires, Floods|publisher=www.gendisasters.com|access-date=5 July 2016}}</ref> This was the third of a series of airplane accidents or incidents in Iowa involving celebrities, after [[The Day the Music Died|a 1959 accident in Clear Lake]] and a 1960 incident in [[Carroll, Iowa|Carroll]] that involved a plane carrying the [[Los Angeles Lakers]] basketball team.