Gillett Grove, IA

Gillett Grove began along the river in the 1850s and moved to its present east-bank site in 1899 when the railroad arrived. The town takes its name from pioneer brothers George and Isaiah Gillett, and the rail-era move still accounts for its compact street pattern. Gillett Grove lies in Spencer Community School District, sending school trips toward Spencer, Clay County’s larger shopping and service center. The surrounding farm roads, river crossing, and rail route connect the city to the county’s main activity hub and preserve the outline of a small railroad town.