28-03-2025
Railroad played major part in Sheldon growth
SHELDON, Iowa (KCAU) —Sheldon was founded in 1872, coinciding with the arrival of the Sioux City and St. Paul — now Union Pacific — Railway.
The town was named after Israel Sheldon, a stockholder in the railroad. Though Isreal Sheldon never lived in Sheldon, growth was immediate.
The community sits at the intersection of two major highways, Highways 18 and 60, making it easy to get to. But it was the railroad that played major part in town's growth.
'[Israel Sheldon] was a big deal in New York. He was in the railroad industry. He had lots of things he was into, but the railrolad was a big deal,' local historian Millie Voss told KCAU 9.
Sheldon community continues to see growth
'Sheldon was a commercial hub. eighteen trains came through Sheldon a day. We even had a train that took people to Sioux City to go shopping and return the same day,' historian Tom Whorley said.
Sheldon's first industry, Prairie Queen Flour Mill, played a part in the growth. It was built in 1879. It would process 150 to 200 barrels of flour every 24 hours and required 25 to 30 employees. The mill's monthly payroll was about $2,000.
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