Railroads in Iowa Pt. 1

How did the railroad shape the landscape of Iowa?

Iowa boasts 25 percent of the world’s Grade A farmland. From the hills of northeast Iowa across the flat central prairies to the gently rolling countryside of southern and western Iowa, Native Americans and early pioneers encountered a rich countryside that quickly became a breadbasket of the world.

Rivers were the most important feature for early Iowans. Both Native Americans and early settlers resided in the woodlands along the state’s major waterways, bordered in the east by the Mississippi and in the west the Missouri. River towns along the Mississippi — Dubuque, Clinton, Davenport, Burlington and Keokuk — were the first major settlements in frontier Iowa. Steamboats brought pioneers and goods up the river and connected the state with St. Louis, Missouri, and New Orleans, Louisiana. Across the eastern two-thirds of the state, rivers flow toward the Mississippi. Pioneers used them as early highways and towns sprang up along their banks. As the population moved west, the capital of the state was moved from Iowa City to Des Moines where the Des Moines River and Raccoon Rivers flowed together. In western Iowa, the rivers emptied into the Missouri River. Sioux City and the Council Bluffs-Omaha area became important cities for western Iowans.

Rise of the Railroads

In the 1850s, the first railroads reached the state from the east. Rail transportation was safer, quicker and more reliable than riverboats, and they quickly had a major influence. The federal government gave four railroad companies substantial grants of land to build lines connecting the Mississippi and the Missouri rivers. In consequence, Iowa farm goods flowed into Chicago, not New Orleans, and merchants purchased goods from Chicago warehouses on the return trips. Railroads aggressively encouraged settlement. They printed and distributed brochures in foreign languages extoling the merits of Iowa and giving instruction on how to get there. Railroad companies were also town builders. Towns sprang up where the railroads created depots and refueling stations, often every seven or eight miles along the track. In the 1870s and 1880s, railroad construction was at its peak and soon almost no Iowans lived more than 10 miles from a rail line. The railroads also opened new economic opportunities. Farmers could move their grain to markets much more cheaply. The invention of the refrigerated rail car allowed meatpacking plants to open close to the source of the livestock and to ship fresh meat to eastern cities. Trains also made it easier for people to travel from town to town and out of state.

Investment in Roads

The introduction of the Model-T Ford in 1909 and other car makes brought another major transportation revolution. Farmers could get into town and back home much more quickly. Farm kids could attend town schools and still live at home. While families relied on local stores for most of their purchases, it was easier to take an occasional trip to the larger city to shop in department stores. Trucks allowed farmers to transport their livestock to meatpacking plants where they got the best prices. Responding to the increased travel, the state began to majorly invest in road improvements including creating major highways connecting major cities. Cities began expanding into the suburbs. Workers could commute from their homes in the suburbs to downtown. The federal government in the 1950s began construction of the massive interstate highway system that today carries enormous numbers of cars and trucks. Airports extended the transportation networks to cities around the world.

Agriculture Shapes Iowa's Landscape

Throughout all of these changes, agriculture remains a central feature of the Iowa scene. When settlers first arrived, the state was 85 percent grassland and 15 percent woodlands. Farmers had to adapt to new farming practices. Today, very few acres of virgin prairie exist and huge expanses of north central Iowa have become fields of either corn or soybeans. Southern and western Iowa, where hills make crop farming more difficult, continue to produce livestock. Northeastern Iowa has a strong dairy industry where the pastures provide hay and winter forage. The land remains one of the most important features of this state, often called “the land between two rivers.”

Supporting Questions

How were the railroads built?

Where were the railroad lines located in Iowa?

How did the weather impact the early railroad?

Case Study: Chicago & North Western Railroad Viaduct (Kate Shelley High Bridge) over Des Moines River between Boone and Ogden