Object Record
Images
Metadata
Object Name |
Depot, Railroad |
Source |
Mount Ayr Depot Museum |
Iowa History Era Tag |
Prosperity to the Depression (1897-1939) |
Chronological Tag |
The Emergence of Modern America (1890-1930) |
Catalog Number |
2018.021.043 |
Credit line |
Mount Ayr Depot Museum - Mount Ayr, Iowa |
Description |
The town of Benton, Iowa, was established in 1888 with the name Bloomington. The town's name changed to Benton in 1890. The town was located near a Chicago, Kansas City, & St. Paul Railroad railway which connected Des Moines St. Joseph, Missouri. This photograph shows the Benton depot as it appeared in 1910. Content can be used with the following standards: 4th grade SS 4.25 Technological Changes and SS-Econ. 9-12.24 Iowa Impact Upon Economy in a lesson on transportation changes in the early 1900s and the town impacted by it. For any use other than instructional resources, please check with the organization that owns this item regarding copyright restrictions. |
Additional Research & Sources |
The town of Benton was developed as a rail station for the Chicago Great Western Railroad Company, whose Maple Leaf Route went through the town. As more people began to move to the town, the business sector had a boom where at one time Benton had three business streets rather than one that most towns had. Twenty-two businesses operated in Benton, several churches were established and even a city band was formed. The 1896 census stated the population around 200, however the 2010 census states a population decrease to only 41 residents. |
Notes on Related Objects |
Object is related to the following library resources, which can be found by searching the catalog number in the advanced search section: Catalog #: 2018.045.056- Study of Iowa Population as Related to Industrial Conditions 2018.045.097 State Railroad Control: With a History of its Development in Iowa 2018.045.109- Iowa’s Rural Settlement: Shaped by Railroads and a System of Rural Schools 2018.045.132- Iowa Railroads: The Essays of Frank P. Donovan Jr. 2018.045.133- Iowa’s Railroads: An Album 2018.045.175- Steel Trails of the Hawkeyeland: Iowa’s Railroad Experience 2018.045.176- The Hook and Eye: A History of the Iowa Central Railway 2018.045.194- Development of the Railroad in Iowa |
Primary/Secondary Source |
Significant - Local |
County Tag |
Ringgold |
Multimedia Links |
Click here to view/hear the file. |
Search Terms |
Business & Industry Rail Towns Types of Business and Industries Railroad depots |
Legal Status |
Ownership of this resource is held by the Mount Ayr Depot Museum and has been provided here for educational purposes only, specifically for use in the Iowa Museum Association's "Teaching Iowa History" project. It may not be downloaded, reproduced or distributed in any format without written permission from the Rights Holder. For information on U.S. and International copyright laws, consult an attorney. |
