Laurens is the second-largest town in Pocahontas County, in northwest Iowa, with a population of just under 1500. It is the home of the Pocahontas County Historical Museum, housed in the building vacated when a new library was built. (The old building was one of the Carnegie libraries.) Downtown Laurens features a newly-renovated Main Street, and a city park with swimming pool, playground, and picnic area, right next to the museum and library. Nearby Sportsman's Park offers canoeing, fishing, camping, picnicking, a playground and walking trail. Laurens students are part of the Laurens-Marathon Community School district, known for the quality of its academic and extracurricular programs.