CRESTON

The development of the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad, was responsible for Creston’s beginning.  By June 1869 the rails had reached Cromwell, which had been planned to be the railroad division point.  But since the land was quite level at the high point between the two rivers, the division point was moved to this “crest” and the town was called Creston.  The division point became the location for new repair shops for all of the B. & M. RR trains crossing Iowa. Construction of what became a mammoth 60 stall round house began at once. When completed the round house was said to be the second largest in the United States and the largest west of Chicago. The first center of business in the inter-town of Creston was on Union Street, just south of the railroad tracks. The town became incorporated in April 1871 and Colonel Simeon Swan was elected the first mayor. The town soon started to build on the north side of the tracks with S. H. Mallory building a brick bank. The towns 1870 population of 411 citizens more than doubled to 1087 by 18 73, and increased to 1819 by 1875.
Following are a few photos from before 1900. More Creston photos can be found in the GALLERY section.