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Fort Scott, KansasFort Scott, #1 on this list · Photo: Paltron · CC BY-SA 4.0
Kansas rankings · History

Most historic towns in Kansas

Fort Scott ranks first on history among Kansas’ 151 towns of 2,500+; 34 of the 151 grade A− or better on history nationally.

The History grade, a character grade (not part of the overall): the town’s founding era, homes built before 1940 (Census ACS) and its National Register places. How grades work

#1

Fort Scott

Bourbon County · 7,500 people
A+

History grade, better than 98% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #122 of 150 in KS

#2

Abilene

Dickinson County · 6,552 people
A

History grade, better than 87% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #61 of 150 in KS

#3

Independence

Montgomery County · 8,193 people
A

History grade, better than 87% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #107 of 150 in KS

All 151 towns

History grade, best first (the letter is national). Towns with the same score share a rank (T = tied; 8 towns here); the overall grade and state rank are beside each.

151 towns ranked. Not here? See why a town may be missing.

#TownGradeOverall
1Fort ScottBourbon County · 7,500 peopleA+better than 98% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #122 of 150
2AbileneDickinson County · 6,552 peopleAbetter than 87% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #61 of 150
3IndependenceMontgomery County · 8,193 peopleAbetter than 87% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #107 of 150
4EllsworthEllsworth County · 3,092 peopleAbetter than 85% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #16 of 150
5AtchisonAtchison County · 10,789 peopleAbetter than 85% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #100 of 150
6Arkansas CityCowley County · 11,800 peopleA−better than 84% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #150 of 150
7LindsborgMcPherson County · 3,824 peopleA−better than 84% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #5 of 150
8LeavenworthLeavenworth County · 37,012 peopleA−better than 84% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #84 of 150
9HutchinsonReno County · 39,595 peopleA−better than 83% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #145 of 150
10EmporiaLyon County · 24,137 peopleA−better than 83% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #131 of 150
11HiawathaBrown County · 3,124 peopleA−better than 82% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #93 of 150
12Washington TownshipDoniphan County · 2,966 peopleA−better than 82% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #27 of 150
13Mission HillsJohnson County · 3,522 peopleA−better than 82% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #17 of 150
14WellingtonSumner County · 7,541 peopleA−better than 82% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #138 of 150
15Clay CenterClay County · 4,061 peopleA−better than 81% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #99 of 150
16NortonNorton County · 2,651 peopleA−better than 81% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #76 of 150
17OttawaFranklin County · 12,716 peopleA−better than 81% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #88 of 150
18NewtonHarvey County · 18,353 peopleA−better than 80% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #133 of 150
19Baxter SpringsCherokee County · 3,823 peopleA−better than 79% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #117 of 150
20KingmanKingman County · 2,884 peopleA−better than 79% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #105 of 150
21MarysvilleMarshall County · 3,385 peopleA−better than 79% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #80 of 150
22CoffeyvilleMontgomery County · 8,460 peopleA−better than 79% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #144 of 150
23El DoradoButler County · 12,696 peopleA−better than 79% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #87 of 150
24Franklin TownshipFranklin County · 3,179 peopleA−better than 78% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #68 of 150
25LarnedPawnee County · 3,596 peopleA−better than 78% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #118 of 150
26GarnettAnderson County · 3,242 peopleA−better than 77% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #90 of 150
27Kansas CityWyandotte County · 157,805 peopleA−better than 77% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #146 of 150
28HoltonJackson County · 3,396 peopleA−better than 77% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #69 of 150
29PaolaMiami County · 5,880 peopleA−better than 77% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #74 of 150
30Palmyra TownshipDouglas County · 7,847 peopleA−better than 76% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #30 of 150
31IolaAllen County · 5,240 peopleA−better than 76% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #113 of 150
32Smoky Hill TownshipGeary County · 9,191 peopleA−better than 75% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #141 of 150
33HillsboroMarion County · 2,646 peopleA−better than 75% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #15 of 150
34WinfieldCowley County · 11,745 peopleA−better than 75% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #147 of 150
35OsawatomieMiami County · 4,215 peopleB+better than 74% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #111 of 150
36Bonner SpringsWyandotte County · 7,962 peopleB+better than 74% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #116 of 150
37TopekaShawnee County · 125,795 peopleB+better than 74% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #136 of 150
38Great BendBarton County · 14,266 peopleB+better than 73% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #120 of 150
39HoisingtonBarton County · 2,598 peopleB+better than 73% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #79 of 150
40GoodlandSherman County · 4,366 peopleB+better than 72% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #123 of 150
41ConcordiaCloud County · 4,991 peopleB+better than 72% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #96 of 150
42BurlingtonCoffey County · 2,640 peopleB+better than 72% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #103 of 150
43PittsburgCrawford County · 20,569 peopleB+better than 71% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #143 of 150
44GalenaCherokee County · 2,788 peopleB+better than 70% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #114 of 150
45RussellRussell County · 4,286 peopleB+better than 70% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #137 of 150
46Baldwin CityDouglas County · 4,946 peopleB+better than 70% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #19 of 150
47ParsonsLabette County · 9,315 peopleB+better than 70% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #108 of 150
48ChanuteNeosho County · 8,584 peopleB+better than 70% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #129 of 150
49BeloitMitchell County · 3,288 peopleB+better than 70% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #75 of 150
50PrattPratt County · 6,574 peopleB+better than 70% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #62 of 150
51Dodge CityFord County · 27,653 peopleB+better than 68% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #124 of 150
52LyonsRice County · 3,488 peopleB+better than 67% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #101 of 150
53Washington TownshipCrawford County · 3,543 peopleB+better than 67% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #112 of 150
54LawrenceDouglas County · 96,367 peopleB+better than 65% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #77 of 150
55Junction CityGeary County · 22,583 peopleB+better than 65% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #142 of 150
56Osage CityOsage County · 2,784 peopleBbetter than 63% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #91 of 150
57WichitaSedgwick County · 400,987 peopleBbetter than 63% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #149 of 150
58St. Marys TownshipPottawatomie County · 4,018 peopleBbetter than 63% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #60 of 150
59HaysEllis County · 21,258 peopleBbetter than 63% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #57 of 150
60St. MarysPottawatomie County · 2,790 peopleBbetter than 63% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #54 of 150
61Monmouth TownshipShawnee County · 3,224 peopleBbetter than 60% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #55 of 150
62Belle Plaine TownshipSumner County · 3,025 peopleBbetter than 60% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #70 of 150
63FairwayJohnson County · 4,181 peopleBbetter than 59% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #11 of 150
64WamegoPottawatomie County · 4,912 peopleBbetter than 59% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #6 of 150
65ManhattanRiley County · 54,673 peopleBbetter than 59% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #73 of 150
66ColumbusCherokee County · 2,866 peopleBbetter than 59% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #119 of 150
67De SotoJohnson County · 7,083 peopleBbetter than 57% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #22 of 150
68McPhersonMcPherson County · 13,918 peopleBbetter than 57% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #71 of 150
69SalinaSaline County · 46,094 peopleBbetter than 57% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #134 of 150
70Wamego TownshipPottawatomie County · 5,838 peopleBbetter than 56% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #3 of 150
71Garden TownshipCherokee County · 2,713 peopleBbetter than 55% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #127 of 150
72Garden CityFinney County · 27,402 peopleB−better than 53% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #140 of 150
73ColbyThomas County · 5,489 peopleB−better than 52% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #42 of 150
74AugustaButler County · 9,073 peopleB−better than 52% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #125 of 150
75Ninnescah TownshipSedgwick County · 3,563 peopleB−better than 51% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #28 of 150
76Grant TownshipSedgwick County · 5,743 peopleB−better than 50% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #8 of 150
77Tecumseh TownshipShawnee County · 7,829 peopleB−better than 45% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #43 of 150
78Valley CenterSedgwick County · 7,685 peopleC+better than 44% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #14 of 150
79Eudora TownshipDouglas County · 7,870 peopleC+better than 44% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #59 of 150
80Auburn TownshipShawnee County · 3,319 peopleC+better than 43% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #37 of 150
81EudoraDouglas County · 6,506 peopleC+better than 43% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #32 of 150
82Union TownshipSedgwick County · 2,704 peopleC+better than 42% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #12 of 150
83Richland TownshipButler County · 2,620 peopleC+better than 42% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #58 of 150
84Big Creek TownshipEllis County · 2,622 peopleC+better than 42% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #21 of 150
85MerriamJohnson County · 11,509 peopleC+better than 41% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #56 of 150
86LiberalSeward County · 19,010 peopleC+better than 40% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #135 of 150
87Sherman TownshipLeavenworth County · 2,920 peopleC+better than 37% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #10 of 150
88GardnerJohnson County · 26,154 peopleC+better than 37% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #51 of 150
89Stranger TownshipLeavenworth County · 5,467 peopleC+better than 35% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #89 of 150
90Williamsport TownshipShawnee County · 4,334 peopleCbetter than 34% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #81 of 150
91Towanda TownshipButler County · 2,574 peopleCbetter than 34% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #82 of 150
92Roeland ParkJohnson County · 6,683 peopleCbetter than 33% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #46 of 150
93EdwardsvilleWyandotte County · 4,748 peopleCbetter than 33% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #139 of 150
94ClearwaterSedgwick County · 2,792 peopleCbetter than 32% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #7 of 150
95UlyssesGrant County · 5,524 peopleCbetter than 32% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #38 of 150
T96Morton TownshipSedgwick County · 2,819 peopleCbetter than 31% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #1 of 150
T96Reno TownshipReno County · 4,360 peopleCbetter than 31% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #104 of 150
T98FrontenacCrawford County · 3,443 peopleCbetter than 30% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #63 of 150
T98Scott CityScott County · 3,855 peopleCbetter than 30% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #50 of 150
100ShawneeJohnson County · 69,848 peopleCbetter than 29% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #26 of 150
101Attica TownshipSedgwick County · 9,068 peopleCbetter than 29% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #39 of 150
102OlatheJohnson County · 150,025 peopleCbetter than 29% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #18 of 150
103LansingLeavenworth County · 11,331 peopleCbetter than 28% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #31 of 150
104Garden City TownshipFinney County · 5,667 peopleCbetter than 27% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #148 of 150
105South HutchinsonReno County · 2,516 peopleCbetter than 26% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #102 of 150
106HugotonStevens County · 3,545 peopleCbetter than 26% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #106 of 150
107MulvaneSedgwick County · 7,030 peopleCbetter than 26% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #49 of 150
108TonganoxieLeavenworth County · 6,208 peopleC−better than 25% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #64 of 150
109Rock Creek TownshipJefferson County · 2,773 peopleC−better than 24% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #40 of 150
110St. George TownshipPottawatomie County · 5,056 peopleC−better than 24% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #128 of 150
111HaysvilleSedgwick County · 11,353 peopleC−better than 24% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #110 of 150
112Rockford TownshipSedgwick County · 24,796 peopleC−better than 23% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #72 of 150
113LouisburgMiami County · 5,299 peopleC−better than 22% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #33 of 150
114HesstonHarvey County · 3,458 peopleC−better than 22% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #4 of 150
115Valley Center TownshipSedgwick County · 5,036 peopleC−better than 22% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #35 of 150
116DerbySedgwick County · 26,606 peopleC−better than 21% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #85 of 150
117Gardner TownshipJohnson County · 2,550 peopleC−better than 20% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #44 of 150
118Overland ParkJohnson County · 203,677 peopleC−better than 20% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #34 of 150
119Emma TownshipHarvey County · 4,017 peopleC−better than 20% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #9 of 150
120Sherlock TownshipFinney County · 2,907 peopleC−better than 20% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #130 of 150
121MissionJohnson County · 10,125 peopleC−better than 20% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #66 of 150
T122Baker TownshipCrawford County · 3,483 peopleC−better than 20% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #126 of 150
T122Madison TownshipRiley County · 9,403 peopleC−better than 20% of U.S. towns·No overall grade
124GoddardSedgwick County · 6,638 peopleC−better than 20% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #36 of 150
125Spring HillJohnson County · 10,777 peopleC−better than 19% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #29 of 150
126Riverside TownshipSedgwick County · 13,603 peopleC−better than 19% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #109 of 150
127Soldier TownshipShawnee County · 15,282 peopleC−better than 18% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #52 of 150
128Minneha TownshipSedgwick County · 3,472 peopleC−better than 18% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #95 of 150
129LeawoodJohnson County · 34,093 peopleC−better than 17% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #20 of 150
130Rose HillButler County · 4,320 peopleC−better than 17% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #24 of 150
131Prospect TownshipButler County · 2,548 peopleC−better than 17% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #132 of 150
132Fairmount TownshipLeavenworth County · 12,817 peopleC−better than 17% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #47 of 150
133BasehorLeavenworth County · 8,249 peopleC−better than 17% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #45 of 150
134MaizeSedgwick County · 7,853 peopleC−better than 16% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #65 of 150
135Lincoln TownshipLinn County · 2,730 peopleC−better than 16% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #78 of 150
136Fort Rileyunincorporated, Geary County · 8,606 peopleC−better than 16% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #115 of 150
137Prairie VillageJohnson County · 23,008 peopleC−better than 15% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #13 of 150
138LenexaJohnson County · 60,506 peopleC−better than 15% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #23 of 150
139Park CitySedgwick County · 9,458 peopleDbetter than 14% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #121 of 150
140AndoverButler County · 17,370 peopleDbetter than 14% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #25 of 150
141Mission TownshipShawnee County · 10,195 peopleDbetter than 14% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #53 of 150
142Salem TownshipSedgwick County · 9,673 peopleDbetter than 12% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #83 of 150
143Pleasant TownshipButler County · 5,459 peopleDbetter than 12% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #67 of 150
144Gypsum TownshipSedgwick County · 10,370 peopleDbetter than 11% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #92 of 150
145Blue TownshipPottawatomie County · 5,449 peopleDbetter than 10% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #94 of 150
146Park TownshipSedgwick County · 8,984 peopleDbetter than 10% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #48 of 150
147Kechi TownshipSedgwick County · 10,931 peopleDbetter than 9% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #98 of 150
T148Aubry TownshipJohnson County · 4,719 peopleDbetter than 8% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #2 of 150
T148Bruno TownshipButler County · 19,221 peopleDbetter than 8% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #41 of 150
150Oaklawn-Sunviewunincorporated, Sedgwick County · 2,789 peopleDbetter than 7% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #86 of 150
151Bel AireSedgwick County · 10,287 peopleD−among the lowest in the U.S.·Overall C+ · #97 of 150
Quick answers

Questions people ask

What is the most historic town in Kansas?

Fort Scott (Bourbon County) ranks first on history among 151 towns, with an A+; Abilene and Independence follow.

How are these towns ranked?

The History grade, a character grade (not part of the overall): the town’s founding era, homes built before 1940 (Census ACS) and its National Register places. Towns are sorted on the grade’s score; the letter and rank are the same as on each town’s page. How grades work.

Why isn’t my town on this list?

The list covers towns of 2,500+ residents with a history grade (151 in Kansas). Smaller towns have the grade on their page but no rank. Every town is on the Kansas page.

Go deeper

More Kansas lists

Every list ranks the same 2,500+ towns, so a town’s rank means the same thing on each.

All Kansas rankings →
Best places to live150 towns · #1 Morton TownshipBest small towns104 towns · #1 Morton TownshipMost affordable towns151 towns · #1 GalenaSafest towns80 towns · #1 LindsborgTowns with the best schools151 towns · #1 Morton TownshipHealthiest towns150 towns · #1 FairwayBest towns for jobs & income151 towns · #1 Mission HillsMost walkable towns151 towns · #1 MarysvilleTowns with the lowest natural-hazard risk151 towns · #1 MerriamBest towns for the outdoors151 towns · #1 WinfieldTowns with the most civic life149 towns · #1 GoodlandTowns with the least snow151 towns · #1 El DoradoDescribed, no lettersSnowiest towns151 towns · #1 GoodlandDescribed, no lettersTowns with the mildest winters153 towns · #1 Garden TownshipDescribed, no lettersTowns with the hottest summers153 towns · #1 UlyssesDescribed, no lettersTowns with the coolest summers153 towns · #1 HiawathaDescribed, no lettersTowns with the highest incomes151 towns · #1 Mission HillsDescribed, no lettersTowns with the lowest property taxes149 towns · #1 Oaklawn-SunviewDescribed, no lettersFastest-growing towns150 towns · #1 MaizeDescribed, no lettersTowns with the most-used libraries70 towns · #1 GirardDescribed, no letters
Other states

Most historic towns in other states

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