Natural Resources

The first settlers of the town site had such a large supply of cord wood obtained in clearing their land that they found little use for the coal outcropping along the Iowa River between Steamboat Rock, and Eldora.

It was not too long however, before coal was mined and sold to those in neighboring areas where wood and coal were not as plentiful.

A sizable shale dump and mine timbers remained many years after the mining was discontinued, and may even be located today a short distance downstream from Falling Rock. Another mine was located across the river road and railroad from Falling Rock.

The most extensive mining operation in the area was carried on along what was known as Coal Bank Hill about a mile north of Eldora.

It was because of the coal in Hardin county, that the railroad came to Steamboat Rock, much sooner than it did to many others.