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Britt, IA
Britt is a city in Hancock County, Iowa, and is the home of the National Hobo Convention and the Hobo Museum. The population was 2,044 at the 2020 census. Britt was platted in 1878. Britt was incorporated as a city on June 23, 1881. A train depot was built at Britt in 1870, with tracks running from east to west through the town. The first train line running through the town was the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul line, followed by the Iowa, Chicago and Eastern line. As of 2019, the Canadian Pacific Railway runs through the town, mostly carrying grain.
The railroad remains a defining part of Britt’s heritage. On August 22, 1900, the city hosted its first Hobo Convention, an event promoted as one of the biggest celebrations in the area. Today, the city of Britt is home to the National Hobo Convention held annually on the second weekend in August. It remains the largest gathering of hobos, rail-riders, and tramps in the United States.
