Drawing settlers predominantly of Italian, Slavic, and Scottish heritage, Klein was once a prosperous coal-mining town established in the early 1900s. Situated at the base of the Bull Mountains, the town’s mine once employed over 500 residents and was responsible for supplying most of the coal used by the Milwaukee Railroad. However, as American industry’s coal demands decreased, so did Klein’s job opportunities. The coal mines eventually closed, residents relocated, and the post office closed in 1957.