Back

Buena Vista County

City of Marathon

The town of Marathon is located in the northeast part of the county, on the Chicago & Northwestern and the Milwaukee railroads. By the census of 1905 it showed a population of five hundred and twenty-six, and like almost all Iowa towns a decrease from the Federal census of 1900. In 1881 it was believed that a narrow gauge railroad would be built from Spirit Lake to connect with the Illinois Central railroad and the Milwaukee road south, and that this road would pass through the middle of Lee township. There were at that time ambitious citizens living in Poland Township who wanted to establish a town, and by voting a bonus of five per cent the original plans of the projected road were changed and the road was surveyed to come through Poland township instead. The Chicago & Northwestern surveyed through the same year and was easily persuaded to establish a town on the site which had been selected for the Narrow Gauge road.