Editing Council Bluffs, Iowa (section)

===1901–present===
[[File:Iowa - Council Bluffs through Davenport - NARA - 23940077 (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|Council Bluffs in 1926]]
In 1926, the portion of Council Bluffs west of the Missouri River seceded to form [[Carter Lake, Iowa]]. Carter Lake had been cut off by a change in the course of the Missouri River.

By the 1930s, Council Bluffs had grown into the country's fifth largest rail center. The railroads helped the city become a center for grain storage, and massive [[grain elevators]] continue to mark the city's skyline. Other industries in the city included Blue Star Foods, Dwarfies Cereal, [[Frito-Lay]], Georgie Porgie Cereal, Giant Manufacturing, Kimball Elevators, Mona Motor Oil, Monarch, Reliance Batteries, Woodward's Candy, and [[World Radio Laboratories|World Radio]]. During the 1940s [[Meyer Lansky]] operated a [[greyhound racing]] track in Council Bluffs.

Restructuring of the railroad industry caused the loss of many jobs after the mid-20th century, as did the restructuring of heavy industry. Many jobs moved offshore. By the late 20th century, the city and region were suffering economic stagnation and a declining population, as they struggled to develop a new economy. Downtown [[urban renewal]] was undertaken to create a new future while emphasizing the strengths of heritage.