Arbor Hill, Iowa facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Arbor Hill, Iowa
Unincorporated community
Country	United States
State	Iowa
County	Adair County
Elevation	344 m (1,129 ft)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
Area code(s)	641

Arbor Hill is a small, quiet place in Adair County, Iowa, United States. It's known as an unincorporated community, which means it's not officially a town with its own local government. Some people even call it a ghost town because it used to be a busier place.

Where is Arbor Hill?

Arbor Hill is located in the state of Iowa. You can find it on County Road P28, just south of a town called Stuart. It's in the countryside, surrounded by farmland.

A Look Back: Arbor Hill's History

This map from 1903 shows where Arbor Hill was located in Adair County, Iowa.

Arbor Hill has a long history, even though it's a small place today.

Early Days and the Post Office

• A post office was first opened in Arbor Hill in 1857. This was a big deal because it helped people send and receive mail.
• In 1895, the name of the post office was changed slightly to "Arborhill."
• However, the post office eventually closed its doors in 1907. This often happens when a community gets smaller.

Life in Arbor Hill Long Ago

• In 1902, Arbor Hill had about 58 people living there.
• The community had important businesses like the Arbor Hill Co-Operative Creamery Company, where milk was turned into butter and cheese.
• There was also a blacksmith shop, which made and repaired metal tools, and a general store, where people could buy everyday items.
• Nearby, on the Middle River, was the Port Union Mill dam, which likely helped power a mill.

Community Gatherings

• Arbor Hill was once a place for big events. In 1908, it hosted the Seventh Annual Old Settlers and Old Soldiers Reunion. This was a special gathering for people who had lived in the area for a long time and for veterans.

Building with Local Wood

• The Methodist church in Greenfield, built in 1877, used lumber that came from trees cut down near Arbor Hill. This shows how local resources were used to build things in the area.

Population Changes Over Time

• By 1924, Arbor Hill's population had grown a bit to 68 people.
• Maps from 1930 show that Arbor Hill was a planned community, covering about a quarter of a square mile.
• However, by 1940, the population had dropped significantly to just 12 people. This shows how much the community changed over the years.

Modern Energy: The Wind Farm

• In 2018, a big project called the Arbor Hill Wind Farm began.
• The MidAmerican Energy Company started building many wind turbines in Arbor Hill and a nearby town called Orient.
• These wind turbines create clean energy, enough to power about 230,000 homes! This is a modern way Arbor Hill is still important today.