Clinton's History and Growth

January 22, 1867: The race across Iowa was over and the Chicago & Northwestern railroad had completed the journey to Council Bluffs, Iowa. The C&NW would soon have more track in Iowa than any other railroad.

May 1869: The Union Pacific / Central Pacific railroad transcontinental line from San Francisco to Omaha was completed. The C&NW transcontinental now ran from Chicago to Omaha and the west coast. This new line would dominate passenger and freight traffic across America for the next 90 years. Clinton played an important part on this strategically important shipping route and was a key division point on the C&NW railroad.

Sawmills & Lumber 1865 – 1900: The lumber industry in the great lakes area grew rapidly during the second half of the 19th century. Sawmills and lumber related businesses sprang up in nearly every town and city in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Soon the sawmills appeared along the Mississippi River. Clinton was a community that quickly capitalized and expanded from the lumber industry mainly because of its vital rail service.

1854/1855: George W. Stumbaugh is credited with opening Lyons’ first sawmill. Other companies that entered the business included Chancy Lamb and W.J. Young at Clinton in the 1850’s. David Joyce came to Lyons 1856. Wadleigh, Welles, & Company in Lyons later became Gardiner, Batchcldcr & Welles. Clinton Lumber Company was started. Culbertson & Smith had a sawmill in Fulton. The lumber & sawmill industry continued to grow in the area.

1869: Iowa ranked ninth among states in lumber production. Clinton produced more than 60 million feet of lumber, 24 million. shingles, and 14 million laths that year. No city on the Mississippi south of St. Paul produced more. Clinton was ideal situated with rail service going east to Chicago and to the west coast. Numerous secondary businesses developed in Clinton related to the lumber and railroad industry.

With the growth of the sawmill firms, there arose machine shops, cabinet shops, wagon factories, planning mills, box factories, and furniture factories. Clinton also had Curtis Brothers Company, manufacturers of sash, doors, blinds, moldings, stairwork, and other wood finishings. Clinton became a thriving community with a strong railroad, lumber, and sawmill industry.

1870: Clinton manufactured approximately 72 to 80 million feet of lumber. This exceeded every city on the Mississippi except Minneapolis. The sawmills furnished more employment in Clinton than any other industry. Clinton's population in 1870 was 6,129 people,'" and approximately 800 men worked in the mills. In the 1880’s W.J. Young’s updated mill had a record sawing capacity of 450,000 board ft. per eight-hour shift. Clinton's population in 1890 was 13,619 and more than 1000 workers were employed in the Chancy Lamb mills.

1870 to 1900: During this time period the foundation for the city having strong growth was established. Clinton had a water company. Gas and electricity. Street Cars. Ringwood was annexed 1878. Clinton & Lyons telephone company 1878. The Fulton / Lyons bridge was built 1891. The Clinton high bridge 1892. Chancy was annexed 1892. Agatha Hospital 1889. The 1894 annexation of Lyons. Wartburg College. Iten Bakery & Cracker Factory came to Clinton. George Wilson acquired the Clinton Bridge Works. Numerous small businesses and retail shops opened. Jobs and business opportunities were here.

1900 – 1945: The 1893 – 1897 depression hit. It was wide spread with many causes. There was a run-on gold. The railroads had over built. The upper Midwest Logging Industry was coming to an end. The last logging raft arrived in Clinton in 1906. Most of the sawmills and lumber yards on the Mississippi were closing down. The end of the sawmill industry in Clinton was near. Economic pain was everywhere. The United States would soon face two wars in Europe. The great depression would last from 1929 until 1941. How would Clinton respond?  

Clinton business leaders and community leaders faced the challenges head on. They focused on attracting new industrial and new manufacturing companies. The retail sector transformed into new downtown development. New construction started on the Wilson Building, the Van Allen Building, the Howes Building, the Weston Building, the Lafayette Hotel, and the Coliseum Building. All contributed significantly to increased downtown growth. Clinton’s population in 1900 soon grew from about 22,500 to around 25,500 in 1910.