Melbourne Map
Melbourne is a city in Marshall County, Iowa, United States. The population was 794 at the 2000 census.
The town of Melbourne was plotted February 23, 1882, by Milwaukee Land Company, in section 6 of Logan Township and was incorporated December 30, 1895. Melbourne was the only town in Marshall County to be served continuously by 2 major railroads. Melbourne's growth was rapid and made possible by three railroads and the population increased to 423 by 1910. Melbourne suffered the worst disaster in the town's history when a fire consumed the whole business district in 1903 and then in 1981 the southern end of town was destroyed by a tornado.
The mayor of Melbourne from 1984 until 1998 was Bill Crews, an openly gay man who came out of the closet in 1993. At the time, Melbourne was believed to be the smallest municipality in the United States to have an openly gay mayor.
Nearby cities include Laurel, Collins, Marshalltown, Clemons, Albion.