The Railroad was a primary element responsible for the early growth of Brown County, most particularly in Aberdeen. The town earned it's nickname of "Hub City" because of the several railroads that crossed through the town. The railroad had a presence in Aberdeen and Brown County from the very beginning--in fact, many of the towns were surveyed and platted by the founding railroads.

The Milwaukee Road, (formally known as the Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul), was responsible for the siting of the towns of Aberdeen and Groton, as well as others. It was the primary railroad in the county, with both a North-South and an East-West line going through Aberdeen.

The Minneapolis and St. Louis, and after it's acquisition in 1960, its successor the Chicago and Northwestern, had a long-term presence in Brown County. The Minneapols and St. Louis had stops in Stratford, Nahon, and Aberdeen on its 13th subdivision between Watertown and Leola in McPherson County. The Chicago and Northwestern had stops at Hecla, Houghton, Columbia, and Aberdeen.

The Great Northern had a line into Aberdeen. This branch line ran northeast from Aberdeen, with additional stops at Putney and Claremont.