Ellston, IA

Ellston is a Ringgold County city that began as Wirt, where a general store anticipated the railroad in 1881. The Humeston and Shenandoah Railroad made the settlement a station in 1882, and Wirt became Ellston in 1895 to prevent mail confusion with Van Wert. Ellston later became home to Ringgold County’s first train depot and first library; the community library opened with volunteer workers in 2011 and keeps a local archive of clippings, photographs, and artifacts.