The Lewis and Clark expedition stopped in Council Bluffs in 1804 to rest and hold their first "council bluff" with local Native American tribes. Council Bluffs was settled in 1846 by Mormons who were fleeing religious persecution. They called the town "Kanesville"; but the city officially took the name Council Bluffs in 1853. The town subsequently became a booming hub of commerce as the nation's fifth-largest rail center. Today the Loess Hills Scenic Byway passes through the area. A mix of insurance, gaming, telecommunications, agriculture, and manufacturing industries have created a diverse employment base.