VGI Updates

The city of Aurora is located about 35 miles west of Chicago. Many of the Volga Germans in Aurora came from Josefstal and Marienfeld.

Volga Germans seeking work in the sugar beet industry settled the Twin Falls area.

Sugar City was a company town for the Fremont County Sugar Company, part of the Utah-Idaho Sugar Company. A sugar beet processing factory was built there in 1903-1904.

Volga Germans seeking work in the sugarbeet industry settled the Sugar City area.

Volga Germans seeking work in the logging industry settled the St. Maries area.

Volga Germans seeking work in the sugar beet industry settled the St. Anthony area.

Volga Germans seeking work in the sugarbeet industry settled the Rupert area.

Volga Germans seeking work in the sugarbeet industry settled the Rexburg area.

The first Volga Germans to arrive in the Paul, Idaho, area staked claims through the Homestead Act, but very few of those were successful because of the poor soil conditions.

When irrigation was started in the area, farming became possible and a sugarbeet industry grew up.

Later arrivals of Volga Germans came seeking work in this sugarbeet industry.

Volga Germans seeking work in the sugarbeet industry settled the Nampa area.

Minidoka (the town), located north west of Rupert, was established in 1884 when a railroad siding was put in along the railroad. The first Volga Germans in the area staked some of the last remaining claims available through the Homestead Act. Very few of those were successful because of poor soil conditions. When the irrigation projects brought water to the area, farming became possible and a sugarbeet industry grew up. Later arrivals of Volga Germans came seeking work in this sugarbeet industry.