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History · Alexander

Alexander dates to 1869, and 32% of its homes were built before 1940

Below: 2 old photos and papers, maps from 1892 on, and the census since 1930.

1869founded
0on the National Register
32%homes built before 1940
2old photos & papers
Add an old photoShare a memory
From Alexander’s archive · credits on each photo
Quick answers

How Alexander began

When was Alexander founded?

1869

Alexander dates its founding to 1869 (Wikipedia’s history). The census first counted it in 1930.

First census: 202 in 19302020 census: 54157 years
Founding year: Wikipedia. First post office: 1874.The full story ↓

What stands out about Alexander’s past

Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.

A history waiting to be writtenOnly 2 old photos are in the public archives. The rest are in attics and albums.On the map since 18923 editions of the USGS map, 1892 to 1985. Watch Alexander change.Old housesHalf of Alexander’s homes were built before 1948.
★ What stands out · Help out

Start Alexander’s collection

The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Alexander’s history is told.

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
0 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
Retake an old view1940 Census Enumeration District Descri…: stand where they stood+15Share a family photoSign in to add one+10
On the map

Alexander on the map, 1892 to 1985

Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Alexander. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.

Alexander on the 1892 USGS mapAlexander on the 1966 USGS mapAlexander on the 1985 USGS map1892Ness sheet · 1:125,000

U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Alexander.

The story

How Alexander came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of Alexander.

Read it all →

Alexander is the oldest city in Rush County, Kansas. It was established in 1869 after becoming an important stopping point on the Fort Hays/Fort Dodge Trail (officially a part of the Santa Fe Trail). The name of the town originated from Alexander Harvey a Scottish emigrant who operated a stockaded trading post on the trail crossing of the Wet Walnut Creek. Harvey was a prominent and connected figure in western settlement. He was a friend of renown trapper, trader, and Indian Agent William Bent who established Bent's Fort in Eastern Colorado. Harvey's daughter Adaline at age 20 married the 60 year-old Bent.

Chapters19th century21st century

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Timeline

Alexander, 1850 to 1892

Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.

  1. 19th century
  2. 1850In the archive1940 Census Enumeration District Descriptions - Kansas - Rush County - ED 83-1, ED 83-2, …
  3. 1869
    FoundingAlexander is established
  4. 1874Post officeThe Alexander post office opens
  5. 1880In the archive1940 Census Enumeration District Maps - Kansas - Rush County - ED 83-1 - ED 83-23
  6. 1892On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey
By decade

Alexander, decade by decade

2 decades in the archive, from the 1850s to the 1880s. Scroll each row; tap a photo for its story.

1850s–1880s2 items
1940 Census Enumeration District Descriptions - Kansas - Rush County - ED 83-1, ED 83-2, ED 83-3, ED 83-4, ED 83-5, ED …18501940 Census Enumeration District Descriptions - Kansa…1940 Census Enumeration District Maps - Kansas - Rush County - ED 83-1 - ED 83-2318801940 Census Enumeration District Maps - Kansas - Rush…
1890s–1990snothing yet
Nothing in the archives for these yearsWeddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.
Add from your album
Today2 recent
KSMap-doton-Alexander2005KSMap-doton-AlexanderMap of Rush Co, Ks, USA2005Map of Rush Co, Ks, USAMap
Then & now

Stand where they stood

No then-and-now pairs yet. Take a photo from the same spot as an old one and they appear here side by side.

1940 Census Enumeration District Descriptions - Kansas - Rush County - ED 83-1, ED 83-2, ED 83-3, ED 83-4, ED 83-5, ED …
Retake this view1940 Census Enumeration District Descriptions - Kansas - Rush County - ED 83-1, ED 83-2, ED 83-3, ED 83-4, ED 83-5, ED …, 1850

Find the spot, match the angle, and add your photo. It becomes the first then-and-now pair on Alexander’s page.

Retake this view · +15
People over time

Alexander, census by census

010020019401960198020002020Peak: 202

Between 54 and 202 people in every census since 1930.

10 censuses, 1930–2020.

U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Alexander’s Wikipedia page.

Questions about Alexander’s history

What year was Alexander founded?

In 1869, according to Wikipedia’s history of the town. Alexander’s post office opened in 1874, and the census of 1930 counted 202 people here.

Memory lane

What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.

Town Square →
Start a conversation
Sources

Where this page comes from

Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021). How TownRatings grades history →

From Wikimedia Commons (4), Wikipedia, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock) and the USGS Geographic Names Information System. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.