The history of the City of Stanton comes from the Swedish immigrant heritage. The city has created a tourism base from its Swedish heritage and the Swedish Immigrant Heritage and Cultural Center is located in the center of the city.

Recreational facilities within the City of Stanton include Anderson Park. This park is located in the southeast part of the city, north of the railroad tracks. This is an eleven (11) acre park that contains playground equipment, baseball diamond with bleachers, picnic tables, shelter house, and restrooms.

The Stanton Greenbelt Trail is a proposed 3.1 mile, paved walking trail encircling the city. The trail connects the school system to downtown as well as Anderson Park. Currently, approximately 1.3 miles along the floodplain areas of the Tarkio River from Anderson Park, around the west to Halland Avenue is completed. The trail includes re-use of a reclaimed Bailey Bridge structure over the Tarkio River tributary. The final phase of the trail system will loop the eastern edge of the city, various trail access points, trail lighting, and appurtenances. Possible future connection to Viking Lake could attract additional visitors from Viking Lake State Park into the City of Stanton.

Viking Lake State Park is located four miles east of the City of Stanton along U.S. Highway 34. The campgrounds within the park include 120 campsites (94 with electrical hookups, 22 full service, 9 buddy sites, and 26 non-electrical) and modern rest rooms. A lodge overlooking the 137-acre lake includes a restaurant and concession area. Activities at the lake include fishing, beach swimming, boat rental, picnicking, and hiking along six miles of trails throughout the park.

The City of Stanton contains two churches, the Mamrelund Lutheran Church, and the Evangelical Covenant Church. The Mamrelund Lutheran Church is a congregation of the Western Iowa Synod Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and is one of the most recognizable features of the City of Stanton with the tall steeple located on top of a hill in the center of the city. The Evangelical Covenant Church is part of the Evangelical Covenant Church of America and has been established in Stanton for over 125 years.

The City of Stanton's Fire Station/Community Building, was built in 1992. The building is a pre-engineered steel structure and has sufficient space for each designated purpose. The building is in good condition.

The Public Library is located on Broad Avenue at the southern edge of the Central Business District. The library is governed by a library board appointed by the City Council. The library is considered full service and accredited, and provides a large listing of titles and services including children reading clubs and computer service.