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Codell - Codell - Kansas - Cyclone - 20180526 - 1Photo: Palbert01 · CC BY-SA 4.0
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History · Codell

Codell dates to 1887, and 88% of its homes were built before 1940

Below: 1 old photo or paper and maps from 1896 on.

1887founded
0on the National Register
88%homes built before 1940
1old photo or paper
Add an old photoShare a memory
From Codell’s archive · credits on each photo
Quick answers

How Codell began

When was Codell founded?

1887

Codell dates its founding to 1887 (Wikidata). Its post office opened in 1889.

2020 census: 49139 years
Founding year: Wikidata. First post office: 1889.The full story ↓

What stands out about Codell’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 18963 editions of the USGS map, 1896 to 1985. Watch Codell change.Old housesHalf of Codell’s homes were built before 1938.
★ What stands out · Help out

Start Codell’s collection

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

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
1 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
Retake an old viewPhoto of the 1918 Codell, Kansas Tornado: stand where they stood+15Share a family photoSign in to add one+10
On the map

Codell on the map, 1896 to 1985

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

Codell on the 1896 USGS mapCodell on the 1978 USGS mapCodell on the 1985 USGS map1896Plainville 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 Codell.

The story

How Codell came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of Codell.

Read it all →

Codell was established as a Union Pacific Railroad depot in 1887. Union Pacific could not reach agreement with the town of Motor, so Union Pacific established the community of Codell three-quarters of a mile west of Motor. The Motor Post Office, originally established as Floreyville in 1875, was moved to Codell in 1888. The frame buildings in Motor were moved to Codell and Motor was soon abandoned.

Early in its history Codell had a school, multiple churches and a business district with a bank, telephone central office, lumber yard, grain elevator, several stores, a doctor and a barber.

ChaptersTornadoes

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Timeline

Codell, 1887 to 1918

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

  1. 19th century
  2. 1887
    FoundingCodell is established
  3. 1896On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey
  4. 20th century
  5. 1918In the archivePhoto of the 1918 Codell, Kansas Tornado
By decade

Codell, decade by decade

One decade in the archive so far: the 1910s. Scroll each row; tap a photo for its story.

1910s1 item
Photo of the 1918 Codell, Kansas Tornado1918Photo of the 1918 Codell, Kansas Tornado
1920s–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
Today3 recent
Codell - Codell - Kansas - Cyclone - 20180526 - 12018Codell - Codell - Kansas - Cyclone - 20180526 - 1Codell, Kansas - Codell High School2016Codell, Kansas - Codell High SchoolCodell Kansas Community Park2016Codell Kansas Community Park
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.

Photo of the 1918 Codell, Kansas Tornado
Retake this viewPhoto of the 1918 Codell, Kansas Tornado, 1918

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

Retake this view · +15
Famous people

Famous people close to Codell

Nobody well known was born in Codell itself, so here are the best known from just nearby.

See all →
Dale DodrillAmerican football player · b. 1926
B
Brent CollinsActor · b. 1941
Mal StevensAmerican tennis player · b. 1900
H
Harry McGeeAmerican football player · b. 1905
Ron SchuelerAmerican baseball player and coach · b. 1948

Questions about Codell’s history

What year was Codell founded?

In 1887, according to Wikidata. Codell’s post office opened in 1889.

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 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.