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History · Garfield Township

100% of Garfield Township’s homes were built before 1940

Below: maps from 1893 on and the census since 1910.

0on the National Register
100%homes built before 1940
Add an old photoShare a memory

What stands out about Garfield 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 Garfield 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 Garfield Township change.Boom and bustPeaked at 451 in 1930; 151 people lived here in 2020.
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Start Garfield Township’s collection

The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Garfield 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

Garfield Township on the map, 1893 to 1985

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

Garfield Township on the 1893 USGS mapGarfield Township on the 1961 USGS mapGarfield Township on the 1985 USGS map1893Smith Center 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 Garfield Township.

People over time

Garfield Township, census by census

0100200300400500192019401960198020002020Peak: 451

Peaked at 451 in 1930; 151 people lived here in 2020.

12 censuses, 1910–2020.

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

The story

How Garfield Township came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of Garfield Township.

Read it all →

Garfield is named for James A. Garfield, the 20th President of the United States.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

By decade

Garfield Township, decade by decade

Today4 recent
Post office city hall library garfield kansas 20092009Post office city hall library garfield kansas 2009KSMap-doton-Garfield2005KSMap-doton-GarfieldMap of Pawnee Co, Ks, USA2005Map of Pawnee Co, Ks, USAMapMap of Edwards Co, Ks, USA2005Map of Edwards Co, Ks, USAMap
Famous people

Famous people close to Garfield Township

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

See all →
Roscoe ArbuckleAmerican actor, director and comedian · b. 1887
E
Edward L. KesselAmerican biologist · b. 1904
Elsie Lincoln BenedictAmerican psychologist · b. 1885
Joe MillerAmerican politician in Alaska · b. 1967
P
Paul C. FisherAmerican businessman · b. 1913
Kevin SaundersAmerican paralympian · b. 1955
Places that used to be

Places now gone and burying grounds

Gone or out of use
Twelve Milelocale
3cemeteries and burying grounds inside Garfield Township
BellGarrettTwelvemile

Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).

Stories next door

History across the town line

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

Harlan TownshipIts storynot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its townLincoln TownshipIts storynot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its townBethany TownshipIts storynot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its townCrystal Plains TownshipIts storynot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town

Questions about Garfield 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 Wikimedia Commons (4), Wikipedia, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia) 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.