Berea, Iowa

Berea was located in western Adair County.

Berea was founded along the banks of the Middle Nodaway River;[2] it was named after the Ancient Greek city of Berea.[3] The community was founded by Ned Brown and Alexander Broadfoot, who were early settlers, and its peak population was around 100 residents.[4]

A post office called Berea was established in 1894, and remained in operation until 1908.[5] In 1905, the community was reported to have a population of 40, with a general store, a pharmacist, a creamery, a blacksmith and a wagonmaker.[6] The Berea Store was built in June 1909, replacing an earlier store which had been destroyed by fire.[7]

In 1915, Berea was described as a village, with the Berea Horse Company being a noted business, owned by brothers Isaac Brown and A.R. Brown.[8] At that time, Berea had a town band which performed at community events.[9] Around that time, Berea's population was estimated at 50 residents.[10]

The Berea Gospel Hall was built in 1929.[4]

The Rock Island Railroad passed through nearby Anita and Adair, and it was for this reason that Berea began to decline.[4] A school still operated at Berea in the 1930s,[11] but most other services had closed by this time. In 1936, the Berea School closed due to lack of pupils, and by the 1940s, the community was called a "ghost village".[4] By that time, Berea had only a general store, the closed school, and the Berea Gospel Hall.[4]

The Berea Store was purchased by the Arnold family in 1950.[12]

Berea still appeared on state maps as late as 1960.[13]