Working list: Longest grain elevators in the USA
Enormous grain elevators are truly the rural skyscrapers of the American Heartland. These tall and lengthy structures are nearly impressive from afar as they are up close. One cannot help but be amazed by their sheer size and scale.
Provided below is a working list of the longest grain elevators in the United States. This includes currently active elevators, as well as those where operations have ceased, but where the structures remain standing. The list also includes concrete structures, metal ones, as well as elevators that were constructed/expanded using a mix of the two materials.
Unless the length is specified through research, the elevators were measured along the structureโs longest axis. This includes related structures that are connected on that same axis, other than low-rise buildings for storage, office, etc. An equal sign (=) means the length is provided by resources, while an estimated symbol (~) indicates the length was approximated by using CalcMaps.
A minimum length of 300 feet is required for inclusion. As more grain elevators are identified around the country, they will be added to the list.
As can be seen from a review of the list, there are several cities that are home to a significant agglomeration of grain elevators. These include (listed alphabetically):
- Amarillo, Texas
- Dodge City, Kansas
- Duluth-Superior, Minnesota/Wisconsin
- Enid, Oklahoma
- Fort Worth (Saginaw), Texas
- Garden City, Kansas
- Hutchinson, Kansas
- Kansas City, Kansas/Missouri
- Omaha-Council Bluffs, Nebraska/Iowa
- Salina, Kansas
- Sioux City, Iowa/Nebraska/South Dakota
- Topeka, Kansas
Several other cities were once home to a large number of elevators, but have seen their numbers dwindle over the decades. These include Buffalo, New York; Chicago, Illinois; and Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota. Some cities have worked to preserve or adaptively reuse their former grain elevators including, but not limited to Buffalo, Enid, Salina, and Toledo. Separate posts from September 2nd and August 4th review some of these efforts. Enid, Oklahoma has so far as to have a cluster of nine grain elevators built between 1925 and 1954 declared a National Historic District.
As always, any additions, corrections, or suggestions to this list are most welcome. Peace!
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- DeBruce Grain Elevator: Wichita (Haysville), Kansas = 2,717 feet
DeBruce in Haysville โ Source: powderbulksolids.com
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2. ADM Grain Elevator (1961): Hutchinson Kansas = 2,573 feet
ADM in Hutchinson โ Source: flickr.com
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3. CGF/Cargill Gordon Grain Elevator (1954/1956/1957/1958): Topeka, Kansas ~ 2,090 feet (primary axis)
CGF in Topeka โ Source: maps.google.com
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4. Viterra Grain Elevator: Fort Worth (Saginaw), Texas ~ 1,805 feet
Viterra in Saginaw, TX โ Source: town-and-nature.com
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5. Attebury Grain Elevator: Fort Worth (Saginaw), Texas ~ 1,688 feet
Attebury in Saginaw, TX โ Source: deviantart.com
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6. Cargill U.S. 24 Grain Elevator: Topeka, Kansas ~ 1,510 feet
Cargill in Topeka โ Source: town-and-nature.com Cargill in Topeka โ Source: town-and-nature.com
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7. Bartlett/Union Equity Grain Elevator: Kansas City, Kansas ~ 1,507 feet
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8. Cargill Ag Horizons Grain Elevator (South): Salina, Kansas ~ 1,504 feet
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9. CHS Grain Elevator (metal): Superior, WI ~ 1,423 feet
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10. Cargill Ag Horizons Grain Elevator (North): Salina, Kansas ~ 1,403 feet
Cargill Ag Horizons Northland South in Salina, KS โ Photo by author
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11. Union Equity Co-Operative Exchange Elevator B (1949): Enid, Oklahoma = 1,400 feet (240โ/140โฒ tall)
Union Equity B in Enid โ Source: town-and-nature.com
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12. River Rail Grain Elevator: Kansas City, Kansas ~ 1,210 feet
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13. Attebury Grain Elevator (1950): Lubbock, Texas ~ 1,128 feet
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14. ADM North Halstead Grain Elevator: Hutchinson, Kansas ~ 1,089 feet
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15. Duluth Lake Port Storage (North): Duluth, MN ~ 1,072 feet
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16-17. Ag Producers Grain Elevator: Plainview, Texas and Cargill Grain Halstead Street Grain Elevator (N-S Axis): Hutchinson, Kansas ~ 1,060 feet
Agri Producers in Plainview โ Source: loc.gov
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17. Bunge Grain Elevator: Council Bluffs, Iowa ~ 1,020 feet
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18. CHS Grain Elevator: Superior, WI ~ 1,014 feet
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19. Viterra Grain Elevator (West): Amarillo, Texas ~ 1,007 feet
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20. ADM/Union Equity Grain Elevator X (1951): Enid, Oklahoma ~ 1,000 feet (see below)
Union Equity in Enid โ Source: pinterest.com
21. ADM/Union Equity Grain Elevator Y (1951): Enid, Oklahoma ~ 1,000 feet (see above and below)
ADM/Union Equity Elevators X and Y โ Source: ronbaileyphotography.com
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22. ADM 1 South Halstead Grain Elevator West Row: Hutchinson, Kansas ~ 981 feet
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23. General Mills Grain Elevator T North: Minneapolis, Minnesota ~ 974 feet
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24. Friona Wheat Growers Grain Elevator: Friona, TX ~ 971 feet
Friona, TX โ Source: trianglerealty.com
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25. Concrete Central Elevator (1917): Buffalo, New York = 960 feet
Central Elevator in Buffalo โ Source: loc.gov
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26. Cargill First Street Grain Elevator (North): Hutchinson, Kansas ~ 945 feet
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27. Garden City Co-op Lowe Grain Elevator: Garden City, Kansas ~ 937 feet
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28. ADM/Countrymark South Grain Elevator: Toledo, Ohio ~ 920 feet (135โฒ tall silos)
ADM in Lincoln โ Source: calcmaps.com ADM in Toledo โ Source: urbansight.org
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29. Standard Grain Elevator (1928/1942 annex): Buffalo, New York = 890 feet (78โฒ tall silos)
1928 Standard Elevator prior to 1942 annex โ Source: tile.loc.gov Hecker Elevator in Buffalo โ Source: loc.gov
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30. Union Equity Co-Operative Exchange Elevator A (1931): Enid, Oklahoma = 875 feet
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31-32. Chicago Grain Elevator: Chicago Illinois and General Mills Terminal A: Duluth, MN ~ 870 feet
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33-34. ADM 1 South Halstead Grain Elevator East Row: Hutchinson, Kansas and Central Valley AG Grain Elevator: Sioux City (Hinton), Iowa ~ 866 feet
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35-36. Omaha Grain Silos: Omaha, Nebraska and Gavilon Grain Elevator: Superior, WI ~ 858 feet
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37. Lake Calumet Grain Elevator (South): Chicago, Illinois ~ 840 feet
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38. Bartlett Grain: Kansas City, Missouri ~ 830 feet
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39. Lake Calumet Grain Elevator: Chicago, Illinois ~ 820 feet
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40-41. Cone Grain Elevator: Lubbock, Texas and Seibert Grain Elevator (metal): Seibert, CO ~ 780 feet
Cone in Lubbock โ Source: en.wikipedia.org
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42. ADM East Plant Grain Elevator: Decatur, Illinois ~ 763 feet
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43. Viterra Grain Elevator (E): Amarillo, Texas ~ 760 feet
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44. Cargill Grain Elevator: Linden, Indiana ~ 753 feet
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44-45. Cargill Silver Lake Grain Elevator: Topeka, Kansas and Duluth Lake Port Storage (south): Duluth, MN ~ 700 feet
Cargill in Topeka -Source: town-and-nature.com
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46-47. ADM Grain Elevators (2): Lincoln, Nebraska = 695 feet and 678 feet
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48. ADM/Countrymark North Grain Elevator: Toledo, OH ~ 680 feet
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49. Hansen-Mueller Grain Elevator: Kansas City, Missouri ~ 642 feet
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50. Texoma Wheat Grower Grain Elevator: Guymon, Oklahoma ~ 635 feet
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51. Duluth Lake Port Storage (Riceโs Point): Duluth, MN ~ 613 feet
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52. General Mills Elevator T South: Minneapolis, Minnesota ~ 600 feet
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53. Cornerstone Terminal Grain Elevator: Colby, Kansas~ 595 feet
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54. Enid Terminal Elevator (1931): Enid, Oklahoma = 594 feet (concrete and metal)
Enid, OK โ Source: town-and-nature.com
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55. General Mills Terminal Elevator (1929): Enid, Oklahoma = 575 feet
General Mills in Enid โ Source: flickr.com
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56-57. Garden City Co-op Grain Elevator: Garden City (Pierceville), Kansas and Goodland Grain Elevator: Goodland, KS ~ 568 feet
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58. Texico East Grain Elevator: Texico, Texas ~ 560 feet
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59. Heartland Co-op Grain Elevator: Des Moines, Iowa ~ 555 feet
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60-61. Pride Ag Grain Elevator: Dodge City, Kansas and Scoular Grain Elevator (concrete and metal): Oakley, Kansas ~ 540 feet
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62-63. New Cooperative Pioneer Grain Elevator: Fort Dodge, Iowa and Top Flight Co-op Grain Elevator: Cisco, Illinois ~ 530 feet
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64. Pride Ag Grain Elevator: Dodge City (Howell), Kansas ~ 527 feet
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65-66. Farmers Cooperative Grain Elevator: Hoag, Nebraska and Brewster Grain Elevator (South): Brewster, Kansas ~ 517 feet
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67. Hansen-Mueller North Elevator (name?): Superior, WI ~ 514 feet
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68-69. Commerce City Grain Elevator 2: Denver (Commerce City), Colorado and Seibert Equity Co-op Grain Elevator (concrete): Seibert, CO ~ 495 feet
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70. Attebury Lakeside Grain Elevator: Amarillo, Texas ~ 490 feet
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71. Hereford Grains Main Street Elevator: Hereford, Texas and Viterra Grain Elevator: Nebraska City, Nebraska ~ 487 feet
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72-73. Garden City Co-op Tennis Grain Elevator: Garden City, Kansas and Attebury Grain Elevator: Amarillo, Texas ~ 478 feet
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74-75. Bartlett South Grain Elevator: Council Bluffs, Iowa and General Mills Terminal SX: Superior, WI ~ 470 feet
Bartlett South in Council Bluffs, IA โ Photo by author
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76-78. Hereford Grains First Street Elevator: Hereford, Texas; Garden City Co-op Grain Elevator: Garden City, Kansas; and Hansen Mueller Grain Elevator (E): Sioux City, Iowa ~ 460 feet
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79-80. Hooker Grain Elevator: Hooker, Oklahoma and Burlington Grain Elevator: Burlington, CO ~ 455 feet
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81-83. Garden City Co-op Grain Elevator: Garden City (Charleston), Kansas ~ 453 feet (L-shaped); Cargill Grain Elevator: Milford, Indiana; and Texico Grain Elevator: Texico, Texas ~ 453 feet
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84. Oklahoma Wheat Pool Terminal Elevator (1930/1935): Enid, Oklahoma = 450 feet
Wheat Pool Elevator in Enid โ Source: pinterest.com
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85. Gavilon Grain Elevator: Sioux City (South Sioux City, Nebraska) ~ 450 feet
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86-87. Alliance Ag & Grain Elevator: Dodge City (Wright), Kansas and Cornerstone AG Grain Elevator C : Colby, Kansas ~ 445 feet
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88-89. Dodge City Co-op Exchange Elevator: Hanson, Kansas and ADM Grain Elevator: Salina, Kansas ~ 433 feet
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90. Brewster Grain Elevator (North/L-shaped): Brewster, Kansas ~ 422 feet
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91-93. Central Prairie Co-op Grain Elevator: Hutchinson (Nickerson), Kansas; American Plains Co-op Grain Elevator: Ellinwood, Kansas; and Cargill Grain Elevator: Parnell, Kansas ~ 415 feet
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94. Hansen-Mueller Grain Elevator: Minneapolis, Minnesota ~ 410 feet
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95. Heartland Co-Op Grain Elevator: Muleshoe, Texas ~ 400 feet
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96. Southwest Terminal Elevator (1927): Enid, Oklahoma = 394 feet
Southwest Terminal in Enid, OK โ Source: flickr.com
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97. Hansen Mueller Grain Elevator (West): Sioux City, Iowa ~ 393 feet
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98. Viterra Grain Elevator: Terre Haute, Indiana ~ 385 feet
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99. Garden City Co-op Wolf Grain Elevator: Garden City, Kansas ~ 378 feet
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100. Farmers Cooperative Grain Elevator: Beatrice, Nebraska ~ 370 feet
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101. Pride Ag Grain Elevator: Dodge City (Ford), Kansas ~ 366 feet
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102. Dakota City Organic Grain Elevator: Sioux City, Iowa (Dakota City, Nebraska) ~ 364 feet
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103-106. North Lawrence Co-op Grain Elevator (1956): Lawrence, Kansas; Hansen-Mueller Grain Elevator: Council Bluffs, Iowa; Hansen-Mueller Grain Elevator: Superior, WI; and Genoa Grain Elevator (metal): Genoa, Colorado ~ 346 feet
North Lawrence, KS โ Photo by author
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107-108. Cargill Grain Halstead Street Grain Elevator (E-W Axis): Hutchison, Kansas and Equity Co-op Grain Elevator: Liberal Kansas ~ 335 feet
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109. Dumas Co-op Grain Elevator: Dumas, Texas ~ 332 feet
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110-111. ADM Grain Elevator (L-shaped): St. Peter, Illinois and Top Flight Co-op Grain Elevator: Maroa, Illinois ~ 320 feet
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112-114. Cargill Dry Corn Ingredients Grain Elevator: Paris, Illinois; Middle Elevator: Amarillo, Texas; and Flagler Cooperative Grain Elevator (L-shaped): Flagler, CO ~ 315 feet
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115-117. Cargill First Street Grain Elevator (South): Hutchinson, Kansas; Plains Grain Elevator: Plains, Kansas; and Star of the West Grain Elevator: Ligonier, Indiana ~ 307 feet
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118-119. ADM Grain Elevator (Earp Boulevard): Dodge City, Kansas and Robinhood Grain Elevator: Ponca City, Oklahoma ~ 302 feet
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120-123. ADM Grain Elevator (Trail Street): Dodge City, Kansas; 9th Street Grain Elevator: Hays, Kansas; NORAG Grain Elevator: Kansas City, Kansas; and ADM Grain Elevator: Edgewood, Illinois ~ 300 feet
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