OREANDA-NEWS. Bald Knob, Ark., has been awarded membership in Union Pacific's Train Town USA Registry as part of ongoing efforts to highlight cities with a historical connection to the railroad. The city will receive an official Train Town USA resolution signed by Union Pacific Chairman Jim Young at a special presentation at the historic Bald Knob Depot on August 27. Union Pacific launched its Train Town USA Registry as part of the railroad's 150th Anniversary celebration in 2012.

“We are proud to recognize Bald Knob as we celebrate our growing up together,” said Drew Tessier, Union Pacific director - public affairs. “Union Pacific was founded to help connect the nation from east to west. Our shared heritage with Bald Knob is a source of pride as we remember our past while delivering the goods American businesses and families use every day.”

The City of Bald Knob was founded in 1872, when the Cairo and Fulton Railroad laid plans to provide rail service to this area. The rail company later merged with the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railway. By 1880, 56 of the town's 221 residents were employed by the railroad. In 1886, the Bald Knob Memphis Railroad was built to make an east-west connection between the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern rail lines.

Later, the town of Bald Knob rapidly began harvesting strawberries, an export that required three switch engines to work around the clock to serve local commerce. Today, Union Pacific remains a key part of Bald Knob.

Union Pacific serves nearly 7,300 communities in 23 states west of Illinois, covering 32,000 miles.

About Union Pacific

Union Pacific Railroad is the principal operating company of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP). One of America's most recognized companies, Union Pacific Railroad links 23 states in the western two-thirds of the country by rail, providing a critical link in the global supply chain. From 2007-2012, Union Pacific invested USD 18 billion in its network and operations to support America's transportation infrastructure, including a record USD 3.7 billion in 2012. The railroad's diversified business mix includes Agricultural Products, Automotive, Chemicals, Coal, Industrial Products and Intermodal. Union Pacific serves many of the fastest-growing U.S. population centers, operates from all major West Coast and Gulf Coast ports to eastern gateways, connects with Canada's rail systems and is the only railroad serving all six major Mexico gateways. Union Pacific provides value to its roughly 10,000 customers by delivering products in a safe, reliable, fuel-efficient and environmentally responsible manner.