Editing Houghton, Iowa (section)

==Economy==
The town has more manufacturing jobs than population, which is rare—doubly rare because there are no other towns nearby to supply additional labor. There are a half-dozen plants that account for this, making plastic products, grain storage bins and ready-mix concrete.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thomasnet.com/iowa/concrete-forms-31200207-1.html|title=Concrete Forms in Iowa (IA) on Thomasnet.com|website=www.thomasnet.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=grain+bins&near=Houghton,+IA&fb=1&view=text&latlng=40784663,-91601979,12047750649094938839|title = Grain bins}}</ref> Houghton was once the junction of two rail lines, both now abandoned, which may have something to do with the origin of its industry.  Nevertheless, St. Johns Catholic Church is the most substantial building in town.<ref name="The Catholic Directory">{{cite web |url=http://www.thecatholicdirectory.com/directory.cfm?fuseaction=display_site_info&siteid=60462 |title=St. James - St. Johns at 205 Denning St., Houghton, Iowa 52631 (Lee County) United States |website=www.thecatholicdirectory.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111109143726/http://www.thecatholicdirectory.com/directory.cfm?fuseaction=display_site_info&siteid=60462 |archive-date=2011-11-09}}</ref>