CEDAR RAPIDS – Right after the flood, the smell of sewage filled the air in parts of Cedar Rapids.

But, the city has had a reputation for strong odors long before the water ever rose to record levels.

Anyone who lives in Cedar Rapids understands why people call it "the city of five smells."

"It stinks. That's how I describe it. It smells,” Rochelle Boyer said.

Tia Sallis said, "You do have days where it's horrible...just like ewww."

Factories scattered around the city send out a stench when they process their products.

"It's the cost of doing business here,” Tom Newport said.

Becky Bateman said, "It's an acquired smell."

Locals may ignore the odor, but a national best-selling author says the city stinks so bad, people should avoid coming here. Peter Greenberg's new book, "Don't Go There" includes an entire page about Cedar Rapids.

Greenberg writes, "You'll know when you get close to the town. It will beckon you with clouds of smoke emanating from the industrial center, followed by the smell.”

Later, the author gives readers a more detailed whiff of what to expect as they pass through.

He explains, "Burnt corn, stale, rotting garbage, and over-cooked oatmeal are some of the more overpowering smells that combine into one nasty stench."

When Newport read that passage, he said, "This isn't true. This is crap. Crap I say!”

Bateman said, "I think that's a little harsh."

Even though people took offense, many found it hard to disagree.

"It's true, sure, but it's not that big of a deal,” Newport said.

Sallis said, "It's not that bad, just bring your clothespin things.”

Some have gotten so used to the aroma, they barely notice it.

“I don't think it's unbearable,” Bateman said.

The author finds that hard to believe.

He writes, "Any way you put it, Cedar Rapids stinks."

When Sallis finished reading the Cedar Rapids section, she said "We need to find him..where's he from? Oh my God, I want to write this guy."

In the bookstore, Greenberg's guide sits right above another popular travel book called “1,000 Places to Visit Before You Die.” Somehow, Cedar Rapids got left off that list.

Many people asked TV9 if the author had ever even been to Cedar Rapids. So, KCRG-TV9 e-mailed Greenberg and he told us he visited last year. Strangely enough, he said he'd be happy to come back.

Greenberg's list of other stinky cities includes...

Hereford, Texas
New Bern, North Carolina
Spring Valley Lake and Victorville, California
Lewiston, Idaho
Williamsburg, Michigan