Greyhound Bus: A Long History Of Cross-Country Travel

Greyhound Lines, Inc. is the largest intercity bus service provider in North America, with routes to over 1,700 destinations. The company was founded in 1914 by Swedish immigrant Carl (or Eric) Wickman, who started a small transportation service using a seven-passenger car to carry miners from Hibbing, Minnesota, to the nearby town of Alice. The company expanded rapidly and was renamed Greyhound in 1929. Despite facing financial difficulties during the Great Depression, Wickman's company persevered and, by the 1930s, it was carrying approximately 400 million passengers annually. Today, Greyhound continues to be a trusted name in long-distance travel, offering affordable and reliable bus services across North America.

Greyhound Lines, Inc. was founded in Hibbing, Minnesota, in 1914 by Swedish immigrant Carl Eric Wickman

Wickman, a former drill operator at a mine in Alice, Minnesota, charged 15 cents per ride. He made $2.25 on his first run. Wickman almost gave up after the first winter due to harsh driving conditions in Minnesota. However, he persevered and, in 1915, added a 15-mile route to Nashwauk, Minnesota.

In December 1915, Wickman merged his company with that of 19-year-old Ralph Bogan, who ran a similar transportation service from Hibbing to Duluth, Minnesota. Together, they formed the Mesaba Transportation Company. By 1918, the company had 18 vehicles and an annual income of $40,000.

In 1922, Wickman sold his interest in the company to Bogan and moved to Duluth, where he acquired White Bus Lines. In 1924, he formed Northland, which acquired the Superior-White Company. In 1925, the company completed a $2.5 million acquisition of eight independent bus lines in Minnesota.

The company continued to expand, and by 1928, it had an income of $6 million and offered trips across the United States. In 1929, the company adopted the Greyhound name and acquired additional interests to form Eastern Greyhound Lines.

By 1930, more than 100 bus lines had been consolidated into the parent company, which changed its name to The Greyhound Corporation. Despite its popularity, Greyhound nearly failed after the 1929 stock market crash. However, it survived and, by the 1930s, intercity bus lines like Greyhound were carrying approximately 400 million passengers annually.

Greyhound continued to grow and diversify over the following decades, expanding its routes and acquiring other companies. It faced challenges, including strikes, changing travel preferences, and competition from other bus lines and modes of transportation.

Today, Greyhound is part of Flix SE, a global travel technology company operating in over 40 countries. Flix SE acquired Greyhound in 2021, combining FlixBus's innovative technology with Greyhound's extensive network and experience. Greyhound and FlixBus together offer affordable, reliable, and eco-friendly travel options to over 1,800 destinations.

Wickman began by transporting iron ore miners from Hibbing to Alice

Greyhound's journey began in 1914 when Swedish immigrant Carl (also known as Eric) Wickman started a small transportation service using a seven-passenger car to carry iron ore miners from Hibbing, Minnesota to the nearby town of Alice. The fare was 15 cents per ride, and Wickman made $2.25 on his first run.

Hibbing was a gritty mining town, and most employees walked to work at the time. Personal car ownership was rare, and rail was the preferred mode of transport for passengers, augmented by fixed-line trolleys and streetcars in cities. Bus services were essentially unknown, and horsedrawn stagecoaches were still running in some areas.

Wickman's business idea was instigated by two other Swedish immigrants, Andrew Gustaf "Bus Andy" Anderson and Charles Wenberg. Anderson was working as a machinist, and Wenberg was an up-and-coming salesman for a dynamite manufacturer. They planned to open a Hupmobile car dealership in Hibbing and make money from the commissions. However, when the car they wanted to sell didn't attract any buyers, they decided to charge people for rides instead. They soon realised there was a gap in the market, as the only taxi in town charged high fees.

Wenberg, who had a secure income from his sales job, didn't stick around for long, leaving Anderson to do most of the driving between Hibbing and Alice. By the following year, Wickman, Anderson, and another Swedish immigrant, C.A.A "Arvid" Heed, had formed the Hibbing Transportation Company. In 1915, Wickman added a 15-mile route to Nashwauk, Minnesota, and in December 1915, he merged his company with that of 19-year-old Ralph Bogan, forming the Mesaba Transportation Company. By 1918, the company had 18 vehicles and an annual income of $40,000.

In 1922, Wickman and Heed sold their shares in the company and moved to Duluth, where they acquired White Bus Lines. Wickman formed Northland in 1924, which acquired the Superior-White Company. In 1925, the company, now known as Motor Transit Management, completed a $2.5 million acquisition of eight independent bus lines in Minnesota. In 1928, Wickman's company had an income of $6 million and offered trips all over the United States.

In 1929, the company adopted the Greyhound name and acquired additional interests in Gray Line Worldwide and part of the Colonial Motor Coach Company to form Eastern Greyhound Lines. By 1930, more than 100 bus lines had been consolidated into the parent company, now called the Greyhound Corporation.

The company was known as Hibbing Transportation and had its own bus station in a firehouse in 1916

Greyhound Lines, Inc. is a company that operates the largest intercity bus service in North America. The company was founded in 1914 by Swedish immigrant Carl (also known as Eric) Wickman, who started a small transportation service using a seven-passenger car to carry miners from Hibbing, Minnesota, to the nearby town of Alice.

In 1915, Wickman added a 15-mile route to Nashwauk, Minnesota. In December of that same year, he merged his company with that of 19-year-old Ralph Bogan, who was running a similar transportation service from Hibbing to Duluth, Minnesota. The new company was named the Mesaba Transportation Company. By 1918, the company had 18 vehicles and an annual income of $40,000.

In 1922, Wickman and his partner C. A. A. "Arvid" Heed sold their interests in the company to Bogan and another partner, Andy "Bus Andy" Anderson. Wickman and Heed then moved to Duluth and acquired White Bus Lines. The company continued to expand, and by 1928 it had an income of $6 million and was offering trips all over the United States.

In 1929, the company adopted the Greyhound name and acquired several other bus companies, including the Yelloway-Pioneer System, which had made the first transcontinental bus trip in 1928. By 1930, more than 100 bus lines had been consolidated into the parent company, then called Motor Transit Corporation. That year, the company changed its name to Greyhound Corp. and adopted the running dog as its trademark.

As for the Hibbing Transportation company, it was founded in 1914 by Wickman and Anderson, and by 1916, it had its own bus station located in a firehouse.

Today, Greyhound Lines, Inc. operates 1,700 coaches serving 230 stations and 1,700 destinations. The company is currently owned by Flix North America, Inc., an affiliate of FlixBus, and is based in Downtown Dallas.

Greyhound Lines, Inc. is now the largest intercity bus service in North America

Greyhound Lines, Inc. is the largest intercity bus service provider in North America, with a modern and environmentally friendly fleet serving 2,300 to 2,400 destinations. The company was founded in Hibbing, Minnesota, in 1914 by Swedish immigrant Carl or Eric Wickman, who started a small transportation service using a seven-passenger car to carry miners from Hibbing to the nearby town of Alice.

Wickman's humble venture soon expanded, and by 1918, his company, then known as the Mesaba Transportation Company, had an annual income of $40,000 and a fleet of 18 vehicles. In 1925, Wickman sold his company and purchased the White Bus Line, which he renamed Northland. Through a series of acquisitions and mergers, Northland grew rapidly and changed its name to Motor Transit Corporation in 1926 and Greyhound Corporation in 1930.

Despite almost failing after the 1929 stock market crash, Greyhound persevered and, by the 1930s, was carrying approximately 400 million passengers annually. The company continued to expand and diversify its business ventures throughout the following decades, even as it faced challenges such as labour strikes, changing transportation preferences, and increasing competition.

Today, Greyhound Lines, Inc. is a well-known and iconic brand, offering affordable and reliable long-distance bus travel across North America. With its vast network, Greyhound provides essential transportation to millions of people, particularly those from low-income and underserved communities.

The company was acquired by FlixMobility in 2021 and is now part of Flix SE

Greyhound Lines, Inc. was acquired by FlixMobility on October 21, 2021, for $78 million. The acquisition was a significant step in FlixMobility's expansion in the United States, as Greyhound is the largest provider of long-distance bus transportation in the country. The deal included Greyhound's vehicle fleet, trademarks, and related assets and liabilities.

FlixMobility, a German transportation startup, has been steadily expanding its presence in the U.S. and Europe, aiming to offer innovative, affordable, and sustainable travel options. By acquiring Greyhound, FlixMobility combined its global technology and shared mobility expertise with Greyhound's extensive nationwide network and experience. This merger created a stronger company, better equipped to serve the needs of intercity bus travellers in the U.S. and drive sustainable growth.

Greyhound's history dates back to 1914 when Swedish immigrant Carl (or Eric) Wickman started a small transportation service using a seven-passenger car to carry miners in Minnesota. Over the years, the company expanded and adopted the name Greyhound in 1929. It became synonymous with affordable and reliable long-distance bus travel in North America.

With the acquisition, FlixMobility now oversees operations for both Greyhound and FlixBus in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Together, they offer affordable, reliable, and eco-friendly travel options to over 1,800 destinations, providing enhanced connectivity for travellers. FlixMobility's technology and Greyhound's experience have created a powerful combination, attracting new customers and improving the travel experience.

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