The Boom Years
Audio recording
Over 70 years post-Civil War, the area near the railroad tracks plotted by Inks evolved into a bustling community with multi-generational family businesses, marking the Golden Age of railroading. This period transformed a modest farm community into a well-traveled and industrious society, deeply intertwined with the railroads. Pacific, uniquely named after the railroad, saw complex changes in railroad ownership, eventually stabilizing with the Missouri Pacific and Frisco railroads by the early 1870s. Key developments included a freight car repair facility, a turntable, and a roundhouse, making Pacific a critical stop for steam engines needing water due to its topography.
read more
From 1870 to 1900, around 150 businesses sprouted around the railroad depot, significantly boosting the local economy with various services and manufacturing, including the prominent Missouri Pacific car shops. This era of expansion and prosperity solidified Pacific’s status as a vibrant railroad community, illustrating the transformative power of rail connectivity on small American towns.