Oelwein's present site was entered in 1852 by J. B. Burch. The hamlet of Oelwein was instituted in 1873, and was incorporated as a town in 1888, with Dr. Israel Pattison becoming its first mayor. The town suffered its chief setback in 1887, when nearly all of the old Main Street business district (now First Avenue SE) was destroyed by fire. In 1890 the census gave the population as 830.
Oelwein's present site was entered in 1852 by J B Burch The hamlet of Oelwein was instituted in 1873 and was incorporated as a town in 1888 with Dr Israel Pattison becoming its first mayor The town suffered its chief setback in 1887 when nearly all of the old Main Street business district (now First Avenue SE) was destroyed by fire In 1890 the census gave the population as 830