A Brief Look at Elgin, Iowa -
Elgin is a picturesque community of approximately 700 residents in the northeastern part of Iowa. It is
located between the Turkey River and Otter Creek in eastern Fayette County what is known as “Shinbone
Valley.” Elgin’s 2000 population was 676 residents, but we are growing! New housing is being built in
several parts of town and we are proud of the quality of life in our corner of Fayette County. Elgin is close
to the communities of Clermont, West Union, Elkader, Wadena, Gunder and Postville. The Valley School
district includes Wadena, Elgin and Clermont and is located about 2 miles from Elgin on Highway W51.
In 1675, when Marquette first discovered the land called Iowa, the Fox Indians had one of their principal villages on
the banks of the Turkey River in the Elgin area.
Trappers and traders knew the area on the east side of the Turkey River as "Sac Bottom. This area was an immense
Indian burial ground with graves so shallow that the bones of those interred could be seen protruding from the
ground.
During the spring of 1848, Samuel Conner had built a log house in Pleasant Valley Township, which was the first
house in Elgin. In May of 1849 Benjamin Diamond came with his family, and the two men, Conner and Diamond
erected a sawmill on Otter Creek in West Elgin. The small settlement was known as "Shin Bone Valley."
In the fall and winter of 1851-52, a town was laid out on Section 14, by Samuel Conner and others. M. V. Burdick
was the surveyor and asked that the town be named Elgin for his home- town of Elgin, Illinois.
In April 1852, Diamond and Conner built a gristmill. In 1852 the first hotel was built and the post office established
in Elgin. In 1854 a building was added to the mill for carding wool. Grain Milling became a major local industry and
Elgin was known for its flourmills.
Many of the early settlers in the area came from Switzerland and the area has become known as the “Little
Switzerland of Iowa.”
When the Burlington, Cedar Rapids and Minnesota Railroad was laid out in the Elgin area in the 1870s, it was not
practical to go into the town of Elgin because of the hilly terrain and the layout of the river and creek. A small town
was then surveyed just to the west of Elgin near the railroad by F. S. Palmer, which he named Lutra.
In the early 1900s, Lutra became a part of Elgin and the community now stretches a mile between the Turkey River
and Otter Creek.
With the railroad, other Elgin area industries expanded. Barrels, butter tubs, wooden pails and boxes were shipped
by rail from the stave factory. Carded wool and woolen materials from the Woolen Mill, and tobacco (both plug and
cigars) from the Cigar Factory, livestock from the stockyards, and plaster from the limekiln were all shipped from
Elgin.
By 1920 a new business brochure stated there were four passenger trains daily and two freights. The Elgin Canning
Company had rail sidings for shipping. The Canning Company received cans, sugar and other supplies by train, and
sent out carloads of canned sweet corn and other canned vegetable products. Other notable businesses in the early
1900’s included Capper’s Hatchery and. Hellum Produce and Shori and Kuster Lumberyard. In 1973 the Rock
Island abandoned the line to Elgin and the depot fell into disuse, and in 1976 it was torn down.
Although Elgin has been a farm community at its core, recreation is growing part of life in the Elgin area. The
Gilbertson Recreation area just east of town includes a fine campground, farm museum, petting zoo and corn maze.
The surrounding countryside attracts hunters and campers and vacationers from all over.
Today, Elgin is a well-kept community with an active Farm Co op and a growing population as people are
discovering the beauty of the area. RAGBRAI riders will see that Elgin lies in the rolling hill country and much of the
surrounding area is heavily wooded. A number of residents of larger Iowa towns have weekend and vacation homes
in the area. The charm of the community and the excellent business services available make it a great place to relax
and enjoy the country.
