In 1858 there were only two houses between Barclay and Jesup. In 1859-60 a railroad was run from Dubuque through the
area. Jesup was named for Morris K. Jesup,the president of that part railroad at the time. Before the town was built there
was a stone tavern at the south end of Sixth Street. In 1864 the Empire House was built, which later became the Julian
Hotel. In 1865 the first school was built. In 1867 the stone elevator was built east of Main Street along railroad tracks. In
1874 the Evergreen Hotel opened. On May 26, 1873 Jessup was changed to Jesup. In 1881 the Buchanan County
Bank on west Young Street merged with Farmer's State Bank. In 1883 the Central Hotel opened. In 1886 there was a jail
in the north part of the pump house, but since 1940 there hasn't been a jail. In 1890 Jesup's population was 573. In 1891
the Jesup Creamery opened. In 1892 street lamps were installed on Young Street. In 1895 The First Presbyterian church
burned down, the same thing happened in 1909 to the second church. In 1900 a Catholic Church opened on the corner of
Young and Seventh Street. In 1902 a 312-foot well was drilled by Hawley Street across from the Fire station. In 1902 a
bank opened on Young and east Seventh Street. In 1908 the Pioneer store was bought at Young and Sixth Street. In 1911
at the Jesup Pump House there was an explosion. In 1911 Jesup's population was 697. In 1912 a108 foot water tower was
built. In 1918 a 3 story 98x160 school building was built. In 1920 Jesup's population was 774. In 1921 the Jesup basketball
team won the county tournament. In 1929 the Evergreen Hotel was torn down. In 1936 the basketball team won the county
tournament. In 1936 a blizzard closed school for six weeks. In 1937 the high school basketball team went undefeated. In
1945 the two Barger buildings built in 1892, south of Seventh and Young were torn down. In 1947 the basketball team won
the county tournament. In 1949 the American Legion opened. In 1949 St. Athanasius School opened. In 1949 Farmer's
Mutual opened. In 1949 Spahn and Rose built a 30x105 foot warehouse. In 1951, 1955, and 1959 three Jesup
Community School additions were built. In 1951 the Texaco station opened on the corner of Sixth and Stevens Street. In
1951 Frost oil was built on Main and Douglas Street. In 1952 the old Catholic Church was torn down. In 1953 the
basketball team won the county tournament. In 1954 Farmer's State Bank was remodeled. In 1955 the Catholic Church
was built. In 1956 Marv's Feed and Seed opened on Sixth and south Hawley Street. In 1960 Jesup's population was
1,488. In 1960 the Methodist Church was built. In 1960 Stan's Apco opened. In 1961 the trailer park was started.
In 1961 the Grace Lutheran Church addition was built. In 1962 the Presbyterian church was built. In 1963 the zip code
50648 was assigned to the Post Office. In 1965 the American Lutheran church addition was built. In 1966 many trees
were removed due to elm disease. In 1967 the Post Office was moved from Seventh and Young to a new one at Young
and Main. In 1967 the Jesup School added the high school addition. In 1968 the coop built a 40-foot elevator. In 1969
the pool was built. In 1970 Jesup's population was 1,662. In 1974 Jesup's population was 1,899. In 1975 the new city
hall opened at 534 Sixth Street. In 1976 the new water was completed and the old one was torn down. In 1980
Farmer's State Bank opened at 1310 Sixth Street. In 1980 the library moved to the corner of Sixth and Young Street.
In 1981 White Funeral Home was built at 1315 Main Street. In 1983 Stan's Apco closed. In 1983 an explosion
occurred at Frost Oil. In 2003 Jesup's population was 2,212.
