Rudolph Daniels
Toward the end of the 19th century, railroads transformed Sioux City
from a western outpost to one of the fastest-growing municipalities in
the world. Prior to the arrival of the railroads, Sioux City depended on
the Missouri River for transportation. The Missouri, however, was not
dependable because of flooding and droughts. As an all-season mode of
transportation, the railroads permitted the flourishing of the
meatpacking industry in Sioux City. In fact, it was the large number of
different railroad companies that made Sioux City a major agricultural
center rather than just another county seat or market town. Trains
carried cattle and hogs to the plants and then carted away the Sioux
City–processed products to the nation and to the world.
