The Towns of Elk County, Kansas

[W. Gray]

TOWNS OF ELK COUNTY, KANSAS

Towns are shown in order as of beginning postal service.

Towns listed prior to June 1, 1875, were actually established in Howard County.

At its height, Elk County was home to over 12,000 citizens, most scratching out a living on 160-acre farms.

1.   Elk River, 1868

2.   Howard City, 1870 [Town originally established on Paw Paw Creek a few miles north and east of present location. Howard City became Howard in late 1877.]

3.   Elk Falls, 1870

4.   Painterhood, 1870

5.   Longton, 1870

6.   Greenfield, 1870 [Nine years later merged with Canola to become Grenola)

7.   Union Centre, 1871 [Centre name subsequently became Center. Township of same name was so designated because it was in the geographical center of the United States in 1871]

8.   Western Park, 1871

9.   Viola, 1871

10.   Boston, 1871 [North half was in Elk County after split of Howard County]

11.   Bloomfield, 1872

12.   Canola, 1872 [Seven years later merged with Greenfield to become Grenola]

13.   Paw Paw, 1872

14.   La Paz, 1872

15.   Oak Ridge, 1872

16.   Indian Creek, 1873

17.   Lima, 1874

18.   Border, 1875

19.   Oak Valley, 1875

20.   Cresco, 1876

21.   Pearl, 1877

22.   Grenola, 1879 [created by merging Greenfield and Canola]

23.   Moline, 1879

24.   Montrose, 1882 [Three years later became Cave Springs]

25.   Fiat, 1882

26.   Ranch, 1883

27.   Amy, 1884

28.   Busby, 1885

29.   Cave Springs, 1885 [Formed from Montrose]

30.   Upola, 1887

31.   Chaplin, 1890

32.   Keyser, 1890

33.   Blanche, 1897

34.   Glenwild, 1902 [last town established in Elk County]

[jensarlou]

Would would be really neat is if there was a map that showed the location of all these little towns.  I have seen current maps that show the areas of Elk county, but to see the actual locations of the towns would be interesting.
Andrea

[Wilma]

According to a 1903 map that I have:

Chaplin was 8 miles north of Chautauqua Co. and 8 miles east of Cowley Co.
Upola was 2 miles west of Wilson Co. and 8 miles north of Chautauqua Co.
Cave Springs was 5 miles south of Greenwood Co. and 9 miles west of Wilson Co.
Busby was 5 miles west of Wilson County and 9 miles south of Greenwood co.
Western park was 7 miles east of Cowley Co. and 6 miles south of Greenwood Co.
Glenwild was 3 miles south of Greenwood Co. and 5 miles east of Butler Co.

It doesn't show a town of Indian Creek, but Indian Creek starts in Paw Paw Township and runs east through Liberty Township.

The map also shows the locations of 65 schools, 11 cemeteries and 10 churches, not counting the churches or schools inside of city limits.  This map is part of a 1903 Atlas of Elk County that also has landowner maps of each township, plats of the towns and some pictures of residents and a Patron's Residence Directory of Elk County.

What I found interesting was that Union Centre was designated the geographical center of the United States in 1871.

[W. Gray]

One would have to look at several period maps to pinpoint the location of all thrity-four towns.

In 1875, Border was the eighteenth and last town to come into existence when Elk County was northern Howard County. However, by that time four of the towns had already disappeared leaving fourteen to usher in Elk County.

[timothyhay]

 :)Hi, this is my first post here. I have some information about Indian Creek City?. This was at the Tee Road south of Fall River and Woltrail. Now Rd. 27 and Quail. It was a estabished Post Office in 9/16/1878. The only building was a House-Store owned by Mr Marsillus Smith. Mr Smith Homestead this area in1867 and received a grant for it in 1871. After Mr Smith died his wife traded the homestead to William and Rebecca Bowser, for thier home in Emporia,Ks. This Farm is still in the Bowser Family.                    P.S. this is just east of Flint Oak Ranch an just north of Indian Creek.

[Janet Harrington]

I know where this is.  Yes I do.

[W. Gray]

The Indian Creek post office was on the scene from September 16, 1873 until June 19, 1882.

[Wilma]

I have a pretty good idea where it is, too.