Terpene

Bromley, Iowa
Bromley is located in Iowa
Bromley
Bromley
Bromley is located in the United States
Bromley
Bromley
Coordinates: 42°07′8″N 93°07′47″W / 42.11889°N 93.12972°W / 42.11889; -93.12972
CountryUnited States
State Iowa
CountyMarshall
Elevation
935 ft (285 m)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
Area code641
GNIS feature ID464470[1]

Bromley is a former village in Minerva Township, Marshall County, Iowa, United States.

History

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Town plat of Bromley, Iowa, in 1885

Bromley was platted by Charles Bromley in September 1881.[2]

The community was built adjacent to the Story City Branch of the Central Iowa Railway. The town plat was divided into sixteen blocks, with three north-south streets (High, Main, and Liberty streets) and five east-west streets (first through fifth streets). A railroad depot was built at the center of the community, with the Central Iowa Railroad bisecting the community. Bromley was located between Minerva and Clemmons (Clemmons Grove).[3]

Bromley's population was estimated at 100 in 1890,[4] 150 in 1900,[5] and 150 in 1925.[6]

Despite the community's location on a major rail line and the presence of a brick and tile factory in the community, Bromley did not stay prosperous after its early years.[2] By 1940, Bromley's population had declined to just 4 residents.[7]

Early 20th Century historians suspected Bromley's failure to prosper might have been its location: just two miles west of Minerva and one mile east of Clemmons. According to historian William Battin (1912), "the town failed to grow."[2]

Today, Bromley is the site of Bromley Pond, just east of Clemmons.

References

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