Oelwein is a small melting pot, rich in diversity and culture. The dawn of the railroad brought an influx of people from various cultures and countries that followed the railroad to Oelwein. Oelwein was named "Hub City" because of the rail lines coming into town and the repair shops located there. Even though most of the railroad business was moved in the 1980's, the rail road made Oelwein and the surrounding area what it is today.