Stanley History

Stanley owes its existence to the logging industry. The railroad arrived in 1880. In August 1881, when the area was still a forest of pine, Stanley was surveyed and mapped. It gained village status in May 1895 and became the City of Stanley on March 17, 1898. After the demise of the logging industry the cutover land was transformed into numerous productive farms. Although farming is still important, since the 1970's the number of dairy farms has drastically declined. Today, more and more people like to live in the rural environment near a metro area.

For many years, Stanley was nearly totally dependent on farm related businesses and industries that used wood in the manufacturer of its products. Today Stanley, a Highway 29 corridor city, has a number of businesses that thrive on the traffic that passes them each day.

The history of the community  has been preserved through the work of the Stanley Area Historical Society.  A museum is operated at 228 Helgerson Street.  The Main Building houses exhibits on the Northwestern Lumber Company, churches, women's work, children's toys, the Stanley Fire, military displays, an old fashion kitchen, Dr. Mathwig's wildlife display, early industries, a general store, shoe shop, harness maker, railroading and much more. A Logging and Farming Building recognizes the contribution which lumberjacks, farm families and carpenters made to the settlement and growth of the Stanley Area.