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History · Elk Township

64% of Elk Township’s homes were built before 1940

2 places in town are on the National Register. Below: maps from 1893 on.

2on the National Register
64%homes built before 1940
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What stands out about Elk Township’s past

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

A history waiting to be writtenNo old photos of Elk Township are in the public archives yet. The rest are in attics and albums.On the map since 18933 editions of the USGS map, 1893 to 1985. Watch Elk Township change.Old housesHalf of Elk Township’s homes were built before 1938.
★ What stands out · Help out

Start Elk Township’s collection

The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Elk Township’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

Elk Township on the map, 1893 to 1985

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

Elk Township on the 1893 USGS mapElk Township on the 1965 USGS mapElk Township on the 1985 USGS map1893Washington 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 Elk Township.

The story so far

Elk Township, in brief

Wikipedia doesn’t have a history of Elk Township yet. The photos, dates and memories neighbors add here are how it gets written.

Elk Township is a township in Cloud County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2020 census, its population was 785.

Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population fell from 817 to 785 (-4%).

Intro from Wikipedia. Population: U.S. Census Bureau.

By decade

No old photos in the archives yet

Weddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.

Be the first to add onePhotograph a print flat, in daylight, no flash.
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On the National Register

2 historic places in Elk Township

The country’s official list of buildings and places worth saving.

places listed
2
National Historic Landmarks
0
none yet
historic buildings protected
2
each building in a district counts

National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited on each place’s page.

Famous people

Famous people close to Elk Township

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

See all →
Charles J. ChaputAmerican Catholic prelate · b. 1944
Frank CarlsonAmerican politician who served as the 30th Gove… · b. 1893
Helen TalbotAmerican actress · b. 1924
George NorlinAmerican academic administrator · b. 1871
H
Herb BradleyAmerican baseball player · b. 1903
J
Jerry JonesNational Football League player · b. 1894
Stories next door

History across the town line

Each neighbor’s History grade, on the same three inputs.

Shirley TownshipIts storynot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its townClifton TownshipIts storynot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its townElk Creek TownshipIts storynot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its townLawrence Township2 historic placesnot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town

Questions about Elk Township’s history

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 U.S. Geological Survey historical maps 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.