Editing Columbus Junction, Iowa (section)

==History==
Columbus Junction began as a settlement located at the intersection of two railroad lines. The [[Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad]] (also known as the Rock Island [Line]) built an east–west line through the area in 1858, and the perpendicular north–south [[Burlington, Cedar Rapids and Minnesota Railway|Burlington, Cedar Rapids and Minnesota Railroad]] (BCR&M) line was built in 1870.

The first local business, a restaurant and boarding house imported via the Rock Island from [[Muscatine, Iowa]], opened the day after a BCR&M train made the inaugural stop and crossing of the newly completed intersection. Just a month later, on March 12, 1870, the town was [[plat]]ted.

Neighboring [[Columbus City, Iowa|Columbus City]] had been established before the railroads arrived and both the Rock Island and BCR&M had built their lines over a mile's distance away. Because they had invested in the latter line, they were permitted to name the new town, and so it became Columbus Junction.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=SoEUAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA626 Portrait and Biographical Album of Louisa County, Iowa], Acme, Chicago, 1889; page 626.</ref>

The largest sustained period of growth for Columbus Junction was from 1960 to 2000, driven primarily by job creation in meat processing. From 1961 to 1982 [[Rath Packing Company]] operated a hog processing plant just north of the city. In 1985 the facility reopened under the ownership of [[IBP, Inc.|IBP]], and in 2001 was bought by [[Tyson Foods]].

Immigration has played a strong role in the history of Columbus Junction. The most recent wave of immigrants includes refugees from the [[Chin State]] of [[Myanmar (Burma)]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/2015/06/13/columbus-junction-burma-refugees/28502047/|title=Columbus Junction accommodates newcomers from Burma|website=Des Moines Register|language=en|access-date=2019-02-11}}</ref> Many of them work in the meat processing plants.<ref>{{Cite web|date=June 21, 2020|title=Iowa's Burmese Community Devastated By COVID-19|url=https://www.npr.org/2020/06/21/881173373/iowas-burmese-community-devastated-by-covid-19|access-date=2020-06-21|website=NPR News|language=en}}</ref>

The [[Iowa Flood of 2008]] impacted Columbus Junction along with many other towns and cities. The damage dealt by the inundation affected 29 businesses and non-profits, but the community has since been able to recover.