City of Carlton History

As the story goes...

In 1872 a railroad was built from Portland to St. Joe, but the train did not stop between the two stations.  There was nothing but the farmland where Carlton is now.  Some of the farmers talked it over and as a result, Mr. Wilson Carl went to Portland and talked to the Railroad Company officials to see if they would make a stop closer to them so that they would not have to take their products so far to the railroad. 

As a result, first, a flag stop was tried then a regular stop was made at what is now Carlton.  

The story is that when the railroad employees talked of this unnamed stop, they started calling it Carl's town, which soon shortened to Carlton. - Reflections of Carlton.

Carlton Historical Tour

The City of Carlton now has a historical walking tour that you can follow online or download as an app on your mobile device! Click on the map above for an immersive adventure that will take you through the history of our great little town.