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History · Burdick

Burdick’s post office opened in 1887, and 94% of its homes were built before 1940

Below: 1 old photo or paper and maps from 1889 on.

1887first post office
0on the National Register
94%homes built before 1940
1old photo or paper
Add an old photoShare a memory
Quick answers

How Burdick began

When was Burdick founded?

1887

The Burdick post office opened in 1887, the earliest record of the town by name.

2020 census: 62139 years
Founding year: the first Burdick post office (Blevins & Helbock, CC0).The full story ↓

What stands out about Burdick’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 1 old photo is in the public archives. The rest are in attics and albums.On the map since 18894 editions of the USGS map, 1889 to 1985. Watch Burdick change.Old housesHalf of Burdick’s homes were built before 1938.
★ What stands out · Help out

Start Burdick’s collection

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

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
0 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
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On the map

Burdick on the map, 1889 to 1985

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

Burdick on the 1889 USGS mapBurdick on the 1894 USGS mapBurdick on the 1972 USGS mapBurdick on the 1985 USGS map1889Parkerville 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 Burdick.

The story

How Burdick came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of Burdick.

Read it all →

From the 1820s to the 1870s, one of the most significant land routes in the United States was the Santa Fe Trail. It was located approximately 3 miles (4.8 km) north of Burdick. A large stone stage station, named "Six Mile Stage Station" was built at this location as a rest stop. In 1863, Charles Atkinson witnessed a raid on this station conducted by approximately 600 Cheyenne Indians. DAR Marker #29 was dedicated on October 9, 1908, at this location.

In 1854, the Kansas Territory was organized, then in 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state. In 1859, Morris County was established within the Kansas Territory, which included the land for modern day Burdick.

ChaptersEarly history19th century

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

By decade

Burdick, decade by decade

One decade in the archive so far: the 1890s. Scroll each row; tap a photo for its story.

1890s1 item
Map elk chase kansas1893Map elk chase kansasMap
1900s–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

Questions about Burdick’s history

What year was Burdick founded?

The Burdick post office opened in 1887, the earliest record of the town by name (U.S. post office records).

Memory lane

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

Town Square →
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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 (1), Wikipedia and U.S. Geological Survey historical maps. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.