Routes 18 and 52 and Iowa Highway 51, with airport facilities in the neighboring communities of Waukon, Decorah, Monona and Prairie du Chien.

[7] After numerous accusations of mistreatment of cattle, pollution, and violations of labor law, the federal government raided the facility in May 2008, resulting in hundreds of arrests of undocumented workers.

[8] Agriprocessors filed for bankruptcy on November 5, 2008; SHF Industries bought the plant at auction in July 2009 and it has resumed production under the new name Agri Star.

In 2017 about one quarter of Postville's population were recent immigrants from Latin America and Somalia; Greg Flakus of Voice of America stated that this was ethnically diverse compared to most Iowa towns, which are almost uniformly non-Hispanic white, even though "Postville is not all that diverse" compared to major American metropolitan areas.

[16] The 2008 raid led to the arrests of Hispanics; the resulting lack of labor drew Somalis to Postville from Minnesota and Wisconsin to work in the area kosher factory.

[17] Postville: A Clash of Cultures in Heartland America discusses the arrival of the Orthodox Jews.

Postville's growth was due to the presence of two large meat processing plants, Agriprocessors and Iowa Turkey Products.

The Iowa Turkey Products plant burned in December 2003; it was rebuilt in Marshall, Minnesota.

[18] Subsequently, a criminal complaint was filed against Agriprocessors and its principal for alleged violations of child labor laws.

[19] As a result of its legal problems, Agriprocessors became insolvent and was run by a Chapter 11 bankruptcy trustee until SHF Industries bought it at auction in July 2009.

[20] The Norplex factory produces laminated plastics plate, sheet, and profile shapes.