Calumet is a quiet little town of 170 caring residents. It is a good place to live, raise children and retire. Calumet was established in 1887 when the Illinois Central Railroad came through and plated out two business streets. Calumet was named for Peace and built in Liberty Township as the sign says.
The Calumet Indians won the Class B State Basketball Championship in 1957. This was a proud achievement for Calumet. It’s a David and Goliath kind of story. The basketball team from Calumet became known as THE GIANT KILLERS when the team from this tiny O’Brien County community went up against the likes of Ames and Davenport, Iowa in 1961. Calumet’s team had the entire region cheering as it defeated both powerhouses before losing to Marshalltown in the championship game. Calumet’s rich history as a basketball town is reflected in their participation in the state tournaments in 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, and 1961.