Fort Laramie NHS Bridge over North Platte Wyoming

New Richmond Michigan PA210011 Kalamazoo River Bridge

The King Iron Bridge & Manufacturing Company was a late-19th-century

bridge building A bridge is a structure built to span a physical obstacle (such as a body of water, valley, road, or rail) without blocking the way underneath. It is constructed for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle, which is usually someth ...

company located in

Cleveland Cleveland ( ), officially the City of Cleveland, is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County. Located in the northeastern part of the state, it is situated along the southern shore of Lake Erie, across the U.S. ...

Ohio Ohio () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. Of the fifty U.S. states, it is the 34th-largest by area, and with a population of nearly 11.8 million, is the seventh-most populous and tenth-most densely populated. The sta ...

. It was founded by

Zenas King Zenas King (May 1, 1818 – 1892) was an American bridge builder. He started his career in 1858 and moved from Cincinnati to Cleveland, Ohio, around 1861. He established a bridge-building works on Wason Street in Cleveland in 1865. King founde ...

(1818–1892) in 1858 and subsequently managed by his sons, James A. King and Harry W. King and then his grandson, Norman C. King, until the mid-1920s. Many of the bridges built by the company were used during America's expansion west in the late 19th century and early 20th century, and some of these bridges are still standing today.

Remaining examples

*Pyeatt's Mill Bridge AKA "Boner Bridge" (1869, Restored 2010), Little Pigeon River in

Warrick County, Indiana Warrick County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2020, the population was 63,898. The county seat is Boonville. It was organized in 1813 and was named for Captain Jacob Warrick, an Indiana militia company commander killed ...

Crum Road Bridge The Crum Road Bridge is a historic bridge near Frederick, Frederick County, Maryland, United States. It spanned Israel Creek southeast of Walkersville. The bridge is an iron bowstring pony bridge that is in length and in width. The Crum Road ...

(1875),

Walkersville, Maryland Walkersville is a town in Frederick County, Maryland, United States. The population was 5,800 at the 2010 census. History Crum Road Bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. The Woodsboro and Frederick Turnpike Comp ...

* Skunk River Bridge (1876),

Story County, Iowa Story County is a County (United States), county in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census, the population was 98,537, making it the ninth-most populous county in Iowa. The county seat is Nevada, Iowa, Nevada; t ...

. Originally located over the

Skunk River The Skunk River is a tributary of the Mississippi River in the state of Iowa in the United States. Geography The Skunk River rises in two branches, the South Skunk ( long) and the North Skunk ( long).U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography ...

in Cambridge, Iowa, moved southeast of

Ames, Iowa Ames () is a city in Story County, Iowa, United States, located approximately north of Des Moines in central Iowa. It is best known as the home of Iowa State University (ISU), with leading agriculture, design, engineering, and veterinary medici ...

in 1916. Vacated in 1990, and NRHP-listed in 1998. * Marmaton Bridge (1878), Fort Scott, Kansas, 1 mile NE of Fort Scott, NRHP-listed *

Bowstring Truss Bridge A truss bridge is a bridge whose load-bearing superstructure is composed of a truss, a structure of connected elements, usually forming triangular units. The connected elements (typically straight) may be stressed from tension, compression, or ...

(1878), near

Ironto, Virginia Ironto is an Unincorporated area, unincorporated community in Montgomery County, Virginia, Montgomery County, Virginia, United States. Ironto is located along a railroad east of Blacksburg, Virginia, Blacksburg. References

Unincorporat ...

Half Chance Iron Bridge The Half Chance Iron Bridge, also known as the Half-Chance Bridge, is a historic single-span wrought iron bridge located near the small community of Half Chance, between the towns of Linden and Dayton in rural Marengo County, Alabama. It is on Ma ...

(1880),

Marengo County, Alabama Marengo County is a county located in the west central portion of the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2020 census, the population was 19,323. The largest city is Demopolis, and the county seat is Linden. It is named in honor of the Battle of ...

* Sparkill Creek Drawbridge (1880), Piermont, New York * Adel Bridge (1882),

Adel, Iowa Adel ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Dallas County, Iowa. It is located along the North Raccoon River. Its population was 6,153 at the time of the 2020 Census. History Adel is the oldest town within Dallas County. Originally called Pen ...

. NRHP-listed in 2002 * Beech Fork Bridge, Mackville Road (1884), near

Springfield, Kentucky Springfield is a List of cities in Kentucky, home rule-class city in and county seat of Washington County, Kentucky, Washington County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 2,846 at the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census. History Spring ...

, NRHP-listed * Cartwright Creek Bridge (1884), also near Springfield, Kentucky, NRHP-listed *

Old Alton Bridge Old Alton Bridge, also known as Goatman's Bridge, is a historic iron truss bridge connecting the Texas cities of Denton and Copper Canyon. Built in 1884 by the King Iron Bridge Manufacturing Company, it originally carried horses and later autom ...

(1884),

Denton County, Texas Denton County is located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 906,422, making it the 7th-most populous county in Texas. The county seat is Denton. The county, which was named for John B. Denton, was establish ...

* Quarry Bridge (1885), County Road I-4 over the

Iowa River The Iowa River is a tributary of the Mississippi River in the state of Iowa in the United States. It is about longU.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map , accessed May 13, 2011 and ...

, Quarry, Iowa. NRHP-listed * Second Street Bridge (1886),

Allegan, Michigan Allegan ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. Its population was 5,222 at the 2020 census. It is the county seat of Allegan County. It lies within Allegan Township but is administratively autonomous. History The men after whom Allegan's ...

, NRHP-listed * Monsrud Bridge (1887),

Waterville, Iowa Waterville is a city in Paint Creek Township, Allamakee County, Iowa, United States. The population was 109 at the time of the 2020 census. History The first settlement in the neighborhood of what would become Waterville was in 1850. In 1854 ...

relocated to

Yellow River State Forest Yellow River State Forest, (YRSF), is mostly forested land owned by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. It is located in the southeastern corner of Allamakee County, the most northeasterly of Iowa's counties. It is adjacent to the Upper M ...

in 2004, NRHP-listed *

Merriam Street Bridge Merriam Street Bridge is a truss bridge that spans the east channel of the Mississippi River between Nicollet Island and the east bank of the river in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The bridge was originally built in 1887 by King Iron Bridge Company ...

(1887),

Minneapolis Minneapolis () is the largest city in Minnesota, United States, and the county seat of Hennepin County. The city is abundant in water, with thirteen lakes, wetlands, the Mississippi River, creeks and waterfalls. Minneapolis has its origins ...

Minnesota Minnesota () is a state in the upper midwestern region of the United States. It is the 12th largest U.S. state in area and the 22nd most populous, with over 5.75 million residents. Minnesota is home to western prairies, now given over to ...

(originally built in 1887 as the Broadway Avenue Bridge, one span relocated to Nicollet Island in 1987) * Swing Bridge at New Bridge Landing (1888), Main St. and Old New Bridge Rd. over

Hackensack River The Hackensack River is a river, approximately 45 miles (72 km) long, in the U.S. states of New York (state), New York and New Jersey, emptying into Newark Bay, a back chamber of New York Harbor. The drainage basin, watershed of the ri ...

, in

Teaneck Teaneck () is a township in Bergen County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is a bedroom community in the New York metropolitan area. As of the 2010 U.S. census, the township's population was 39,776, reflecting an increase of 516 (+1.3%) f ...

and

River Edge, New Jersey River Edge is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2020 United States Census, the borough’s population was 12,049, reflecting a 6.3% increase from the 11,340 enumerated at the 2010 U.S. Census,

NRHP-listed * Old Richardsville Road Bridge (1889)

Bowling Green, Kentucky Bowling Green is a home rule-class city and the county seat of Warren County, Kentucky, United States. Founded by pioneers in 1798, Bowling Green was the provisional capital of Confederate Kentucky during the American Civil War. As of the 2 ...

over

Barren River The Barren River is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map, accessed June 13, 2011 river in western Kentucky, United States. It is the largest tributary of the Green River, which drains ...

. Bridge is NRHP-listed. *

Bennies Hill Road Bridge Bennies Hill Road Bridge is an iron bowstring arch bridge over Catoctin Creek near Middletown, Maryland, United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a count ...

(1889), Frederick County, Maryland * South Dakota Department of Transportation Bridge No. 14-088-170 (1890),

Vermillion, South Dakota Vermillion ( lkt, Waséoyuze; "The Place Where Vermilion is Obtained") is a city in and the county seat of Clay County. It is in the southeastern corner of South Dakota, United States, and is the state's 12th-largest city. According to the 2020 ...

, local road over Clay Creek Ditch, NRHP-listed * Clear Creek Bridge (1891), Twp. Rd. over Clear Cr., 5.8 mi. NW of Bellwood,

Bellwood, Nebraska Bellwood is a village in Butler County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 435 at the 2010 census. History Bellwood was laid out in 1890 when the railroad was extended to that point. It was named for its founder, Jesse D. Bell. Geogr ...

NRHP-listed * Waverly Street Bridge (1892), Waverly St. at Georges Creek,

Westernport, Maryland Westernport, also known as Piedmont is a town in Allegany County, Maryland, United States, along the Georges Creek Valley. It is part of the Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,888 at the 2010 census. History ...

. NRHP-listed * Hogback Bridge (1893),

Curwensville, Pennsylvania Curwensville is a borough in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, United States, north of Altoona on the West Branch Susquehanna River. Coal mining, tanning, and the manufacture of fire bricks were the industries at the turn of the 20th century. In 1 ...

Singing Bridge The Singing Bridge (also known as the St. Clair Street bridge) is a two-lane vehicle and pedestrian bridge in Frankfort, Kentucky that is so named because of the humming sound it makes when driven over. , the bridge carries over 5,000 vehicles ...

(1894),

Frankfort, Kentucky Frankfort is the capital city of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, United States, and the seat of Franklin County. It is a home rule-class city; the population was 28,602 at the 2020 census. Located along the Kentucky River, Frankfort is the prin ...

, also known as St. Clair Street Bridge * Ellsworth Ranch Bridge (1895), 130th St., over E fork of Des Moines R.,

Armstrong, Iowa Armstrong is a city in Emmet County, Iowa, United States. The population was 875 at the 2020 census. It was originally known as Armstrong Grove. History Armstrong got its start in 1892, after the construction of the railroad through that territor ...

NRHP-listed * Rosendale trestle (1895–96), Rosendale,

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

Dearborn River High Bridge The Dearborn River High Bridge is a Pratt half-deck truss bridge built in 1897, and has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places as it is one of the few bridges of its type left standing in the United States. On a half-deck bridge, ...

(1897), 15 mi. SW of Augusta on Bean Lake Rd.,

Augusta, Montana Augusta is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Lewis and Clark County, Montana, United States. The population was 309 at the 2010 census and rising to 316 in the 2020 census. The most accepted version in the naming o ...

NRHP-listed *

Manhasset Viaduct The Manhasset Viaduct (also known as the Manhasset Valley Bridge) is a railroad bridge located between the Village of Thomaston and the Hamlet of Manhasset, on Long Island, in the State of New York. It carries the Port Washington Branch of th ...

(1898), carries the

Port Washington Branch The Port Washington Branch is an electrified two-track rail line and service owned and operated by the Long Island Rail Road in the U.S. state of New York. It branches north from the Main Line at the former Winfield Junction station, just eas ...

of the

Long Island Rail Road The Long Island Rail Road , often abbreviated as the LIRR, is a commuter rail system in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of New York (state), New York, stretching from Manhattan to the eastern tip of Suffolk County, New York, Suffolk Co ...

over

Manhasset Bay Manhasset Bay, New York, is an embayment in western Long Island off Long Island Sound. Description Manhasset Bay forms the northeastern boundary of the Great Neck Peninsula and the southwestern boundary of Cow Neck (Port Washington Peninsula ...

between the Village of Thomaston and the Hamlet of Manhasset. * Niantic River Bridge (1907), New London County, Connecticut (1907, being replaced in 2010-2012), deemed NRHP-eligible in 1987 but not finally NRHP-listed due to owner objection * Robidoux Creek Pratt Truss Bridge (1910),

Frankfort, Kansas Frankfort is a city in Marshall County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 730. History Frankfort was laid out in 1867 when the Central Branch Union Pacific Railroad was built through the area. The n ...

, on Sunflower Road over Robidoux Creek, NRHP-listed * Detroit-Superior Bridge (1918),

Additional bridges designed and/or built by the company (and many likely to be surviving) are: Rock River railroad bridge

*Abandoned

Illinois Railway The Illinois Railway , formerly Illinois Railnet, is a shortline railroad operating in Northern Illinois owned by OmniTRAX. It operates of former BNSF Railway BNSF Railway is one of the largest freight railroads in North America. One of ...

(IR) Through truss bridge over Rock River,

Rockford, Illinois Rockford is a city in Winnebago County, Illinois, located in the far northern part of the state. Situated on the banks of the Rock River, Rockford is the county seat of Winnebago County (a small portion of the city is located in Ogle County). ...

. Built 1890s, relocated to present location 1929. Repurposed as a

rail trail A rail trail is a shared-use path on railway right of way. Rail trails are typically constructed after a railway has been abandoned and the track has been removed, but may also share the right of way with active railways, light rail, or streetcar ...

bridge in 2016.

Demolished bridges

* KY 2541 Bridge (1884),

Greenup, Kentucky Greenup is a home rule-class city located at the confluence of the Little Sandy River with the Ohio River in Greenup County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 1,188 at the 2010 census. Greenup is one of three county seats in the Com ...

over Little Sandy River, NRHP-listed, demolished 2012 and replaced * Bridge over North Fork of Roanoke River (1892), near

Unincorporat ...

, demolished 1995-1996 * Williams Street Bridge (1894),

Helena, Montana Helena (; ) is the capital city of Montana, United States, and the county seat of Lewis and Clark County. Helena was founded as a gold camp during the Montana gold rush, and established on October 30, 1864. Due to the gold rush, Helena would ...

, Williams St. crossing Ten Mile Creek, N of jct. of Williams St. and Broadwater Ave., NRHP-listed. Replaced by new bridge in 2010. * South Dakota Dept. of Transportation Bridge No. 29-221-060 (1894),

Castlewood, South Dakota Castlewood is a city in Hamlin County, South Dakota, Hamlin County, South Dakota, United States. It is part of the Watertown, South Dakota Watertown micropolitan area, Micropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 698 at the 2020 United States ...

, local road over the

Big Sioux River The Big Sioux River is a tributary of the Missouri River in eastern South Dakota and northwestern Iowa in the United States. It flows generally southwardly for ,U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataTh ...

, NRHP-listed, demolished and replaced 1999

References

External links

King Bridge MuseumKing Iron Bridge & Manufacturing Company
at the Cleveland Digital Library {{Authority control American companies established in 1858 Companies based in Cleveland Construction and civil engineering companies of the United States Defunct companies based in Ohio 1858 establishments in Ohio Construction and civil engineering companies established in 1858