In east central Kansas, at the junction of the Cottonwood River and the Neosho River, you’ll find the foothills of the Flint Hills. Emporia, Kansas. The very beginning for Emporia…a $1,800 land purchase.
This original land purchase encompassed an area within Emporia which stretches from what today is Emporia’s 6th Street to 18th Avenue. Due northwest, of this article’s topic.
Founded in 1857 as a trading post along the Santa Fe Trail, one can hypothecate that “DNA” for the Emporia one sees today took hold during the 1960’s.
In 1969, the Tyson plant in Emporia opened. Opening after a two-year period of thorough plant modernization, and expansion. That Emporia Tyson plant which opened in 1969 was not yet Tyson. This plant, at that time, had been IBP – Iowa Beef Processing.
The decade of the ‘60’s brought with it notable innovation in the American beef business. Leading to increases in investment in America’s beef industry. Which significantly reshaped the economy for the Great Plains. In which, Emporia resides.
IBP’s plant in Emporia opened in 1969. And it was the sale of this plant to IBP two years prior to the plant’s opening – the sale of the plant to IBP taking place in 1967 – which foretold of innovation in America’s beef processing industry.
In 1967 Armour and Company sold their Emporia-based beef processing operation to IBP. IBP’s plant modernization – completed two years later – was emblematic of this decade of innovation.
Emporia is nestled within the Great Plains along I-35. Between Wichita and Kansas City. For this piece, I’d like to cite one unique 19th Century paradigm which, one can argue, led to Emporia’s evolution as a beef processing hub. And then, so too, to the emergence of major Midwest beef processing centers situated throughout the Midwest.
One hundred years prior to the sale of that Armour and Company Emporia plant to IBP, the British Empire made up just about one quarter of the world’s GDP. In the 1860’s, a severe plague broke out in Great Britain. Curtailing Britain’s domestic beef industry. Reducing the total number of heads of cattle which could be brought to market within the British Empire.
While over half of all revenues in 1860 for the British Empire flowed to London through Great Britain’s expansive “outposts,” those living on the British Isles themselves back home loved their beef.
England. Scotland. Wales. Ireland. As well as thousands of smaller islands. The British Isles. Enter a beef shortage. Coupled to, no let-up in the demand for beef within Great Britain.
As this epidemic ravaged Great Britain, domestically raised cattle – cattle which could have been brought to market in Great Britain – took a hit. Less cattle. Less cattle going to market in Great Britain. The beef shortage.
At this same time, across The Pond in the United States, the Great Plains was opening up to commercial interests.
Great Britain recognized this confluence of events: a) a beef shortage in Great Britain, plus b) the opening up of thousands of acres of prime cattle-grazing land in the United States.
With the beef shortage taking hold in the world’s largest economy, the price of beef shot up. Elevated beef prices lead to investment opportunities. Then. And now.
Prior to an increase in beef prices, American businessmen were already deploying capital to develop the United States cattle industry. Deployed capital which led to modernization for, and the growth of, American cattle business on the Great Plains. Enter additional capital. From London.
Increased demand. Higher prices. Investment. The build-out of the cattle industry on the Great Plains. Yet still, in 1860, transportation lines for Midwest cattle had yet to be modernized. Inhibiting efficiency for the market.
While grazing land in the Great Plains further opened up to American ranchers, a notable degree of capital was flowing to the Plains from across The Pond. Coming from British financiers. This capital infusion fueled the growth of – as well as modernization for – the American cattle industry. As investments made by Great Britain to facilitate the transportation of cattle led to investment in railroads, the very means by which the shipment of cattle took place incurred new efficiency.
While buyers of beef were (and are) concentrated in urban centers – and for Great Britain, across The Pond – United States stockyards were (and are) located in America’s Midwest. So too, is Emporia.
Investment in railroads – by the United States government, and by British financiers – connected urban centers – I.e.: buyers of beef – to beef supply – I.e.: stockyards. In fact, many early stockyards evolved through partnerships struck between railroads and the cattle industry itself.
Timing…
Emporia was founded in 1857. Thirteen years later, in 1870, Emporia was incorporated.
Emporia was founded not long before the aforementioned bout of anthrax gripped the domestic British cattle industry. Leading to…Britain’s shortage of beef.
This beef shortage checked the world’s largest economy. Driving down the number of heads of cattle which came to market in Great Britain. While at the same time, driving up the price of beef. As demand for beef remained constant.
The curtailing of production of domestic beef in Great Britain – the anthrax – coincided with the opening up of the Great Plains to ranchers in the United States. Fueling investment. Leading to improvements made in the transportation of cattle by rail. Leading to the prioritization of investments in railroads. And in beef processing centers.
By 1870, two railroads reached Emporia. The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. And the Union Pacific Railway. Emporia became a booming railroad hub. As well as a cattle industry center, at that.
Railroads’ have unique American relationship to our cattle industry. And to Emporia.
Driving through Emporia today, one can’t help but recognize our correlative railroad-to-cattle industry linkage.
Cattle sales are held in Emporia every Wednesday. Held at Emporia Livestock Sales on Albert Street.
The Emporia Livestock Sales building is nearby train tracks. Tracks which are owned by BNSF. These BNSF train tracks in Emporia enable freight to be transported from California to Chicago.
Standing in front of the Emporia Livestock Sales building, looking to the south, you’ll see the Tyson plant.
That old Tyson plant in Emporia – where my aunt Rita worked for over 30 years – is, just like the Emporia Livestock Sales Building, located alongside Emporia’s BNSF train tracks. BNSF’s Southern Transcon line.
This Midwest connection of stockyards to urban centers. The railroad and the cattle industry…
Stand atop the Prairie Street Bridge in Emporia. Look down. BNSF’s Transcon tracks. Look to the north. Emporia Livestock Sales. Look to the west. The former Armour plant. Which became the IBP plant. Which then became the Tyson plant…where Aunt Rita worked for over 30 years.
We can attribute this Emporia story to the opening of the Great Plains to ranchers. Yet there was also was that epidemic in Great Britain to think about.
As such, Great Britain, some may argue, is an unseen hand, contributing to the history for Midwest beef processing plants. Beginning in 1860’s.
Then, so too, Great Britain would be a catslyst, an oft overlooked forefather, one may say, which added their own special contributions…collectively making up Emporia’s unique and rich American story.
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