Bromley was platted by Charles Bromley in September 1881.[2]
The community was built adjacent to the Story City Branch of the Central Iowa Railway. The town plat was divided into sixteen blocks, with three north-south streets (High, Main, and Liberty streets) and five east-west streets (first through fifth streets). A railroad depot was built at the center of the community, with the Central Iowa Railroad bisecting the community. Bromley was located between Minerva and Clemmons (Clemmons Grove).[3]
Bromley's population was estimated at 100 in 1890,[4] 150 in 1900,[5] and 150 in 1925.[6]
Despite the community's location on a major rail line and the presence of a brick and tile factory in the community, Bromley did not stay prosperous after its early years.[2] By 1940, Bromley's population had declined to just 4 residents.[7]
Early 20th Century historians suspected Bromley's failure to prosper might have been its location: just two miles west of Minerva and one mile east of Clemmons. According to historian William Battin (1912), "the town failed to grow."[2]
Today, Bromley is the site of Bromley Pond, just east of Clemmons.
