The story
from WikipediaRead it all ↗Ryan was platted by Arthur I. Flint, J. A. Thomas, and Andrew E. Anderson on August 28, 1888 within Adams Township. The city was incorporated in 1901.
On August 12, 1974, an F4 tornado swept through Ryan, destroying much of the southern part of the community, and injuring 12 people. The tornado severely damaged homes as well as Great Plains Lumber Company, St. Patrick's Catholic Church, and the West Delaware grade school. It was estimated that the tornado caused $2.5 million in damage.
Since the Iowa Highway 13 bypass was constructed, the city has annexed a small portion of land east of Adams Street (which follows the township line) from Hazel Green Township.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Start Ryan’s collection
The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Ryan’s history is told.
0 of 10 decades since 1900 have photos 📦Share a family photoSign in to add one+10Famous people from Ryan
See all 1 →Ryan, decade by decade
2000
Nothing in Ryan is on the National Register yet
That’s true of most small towns. It doesn’t mean Ryan has no history, only that no one has written up a nomination. The closest listed place is Coggon Public School in Coggon, 5.3 miles away.
Ryan and the nearest listed places
How a place gets listed
Then & now
When neighbors add old photos, retakes from the same spot appear here side by side.