Rolfe Alumni Group

The town was established in 1863 on a hill overlooking the Des Moines River and had the county court house. Eventually, Pocahontas, which was more centrally located, became the county seat, and Rolfe was relocated to its current sitea move of three miles to the southwestto be closer to the intersection of two rail lines. According to the 2000 censu... s, Rolfe has 672 residents, down from Rolfe's estimated population of 1,200 people in 1904. The loss of population has been related to a general decline in agricultural prosperity in the Midwest over the past few decades, and Pocahontas County is the county with the largest percentage loss in Iowa in recent years. Corn and soybean agriculture is the main industry in the county, and the tall Pro Cooperative grain elevators dominate the Rolfe skyline. There is talk that a non-local corporation has bought farm land immediately southwest of town with the intention of building an ethanol plant in the next few years. The facility will surely change the Rolfe skyline and have other major impacts on the community. Area farmers and other folk wanting the latest community news convene at the Co-op for coffee or simply to talk. The Pronto Store is another hub of conversation. It is a convenience store with gasoline pumps at the only stop light intersection in town. ROPAs caf and the 10th Hole restaurant and lounge provide noontime and evening meals and a place for hobnobbing. Also, a variety of citizens gather at the Rolfe Public Library on Wednesday mornings for coffee, conversation, and occasional special features. Rolfe used to be served by two railroad companies, the Chicago and Northwestern and the Minneapolis and St. Louis. Now there is only one line. It is owned by the Union Pacific Railroad. The tracks going east of Rolfe have been converted into the Three Rivers Trail that crosses the Des Moines River, goes through Humboldt and ends near Eagle Grove, a distance of some 40 miles. There is a mile-long, wide remnant of native prairie along the railroad tracks immediately ...Read More