Discover Chula

Chula’s local history is closely tied to the railroad and livestock shipping; the development of local churches is also part of it. The annual Chula Street Fair is another part of the story. If you choose Chula as a destination and are looking for a hotel, these topics give your planning a specific historical and cultural focus.

Railroad and Livestock Shipping

The Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad was completed through the Chula area in 1886. Chula’s stockyards were built in 1891. For many years, Chula was the most important livestock shipping station on the Milwaukee Road between Ottumwa and Kansas City. Later, trucks replaced some of the rail transport. These details mark different stages: the railroad’s completion describes its route through Chula, the stockyards relate to freight traffic, and the importance of the shipping station reflects the town’s role over many years.

A 1937 county history reports that a freight car served as a depot for two or three years after the settlement was founded. Four passenger trains once stopped daily at the Milwaukee depot in Chula; the depot was later demolished. A station near Chula with a brick platform was built in 1891; its associated depot has not survived. The railroad’s history thus includes both an early station arrangement in a freight car and daily passenger service at the Milwaukee depot.

Churches and Local History

The Presbyterian Church of Chula was founded on January 26, 1892. Its building was constructed in 1895 at the corner of Mansur and Broaddus. At the Baptist congregation, people met on March 17, 1895, to organize a Missionary Baptist church. Two days later, it was decided to call it “The Chula Baptist Church.” The new building of the Chula Baptist Church was dedicated on August 8, 1896. The dates mark different steps: the founding of the Presbyterian Church and the construction of its building took place at different times; for the Baptists, the sequence runs from the organizational meeting to the dedication of the new building.

Beyond the churches, other historical connections contribute to Chula’s character: Chula’s newspaper was originally called “Chula Home Press,” and the Community Center was built in 1975. Nearby, May Cemetery was established in 1860.

Chula Street Fair

For the Chula Street Fair, check the date and program for your travel year. For the fair on September 19, 2026, a food stand run by the Chula Community Center was planned, serving walking tacos from 9:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. A city announcement dated July 29, 2026, also listed a short fireworks show during the band break at the Chula Street Fair on September 19. The program items had different timing: a time window was given for the food stand, while the fireworks show was tied to a band break. A visit to the fair therefore depends on the specific date; railroad and church history provide the longer-term historical context for planning your trip.

For the broader travel overview: Livingston.