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History · Wayside

Wayside’s post office opened in 1887, and 100% of its homes were built before 1940

Below: maps from 1886 on.

1887first post office
0on the National Register
100%homes built before 1940
Add an old photoShare a memory
Quick answers

How Wayside began

When was Wayside founded?

1887

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

2020 census: 19139 years
Founding year: the first Wayside post office (Blevins & Helbock, CC0).The full story ↓

What stands out about Wayside’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 Wayside are in the public archives yet. The rest are in attics and albums.On the map since 18866 editions of the USGS map, 1886 to 1990. Watch Wayside change.
★ What stands out · Help out

Start Wayside’s collection

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

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
0 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
Share a family photoSign in to add one+10
On the map

Wayside on the map, 1886 to 1990

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

Wayside on the 1886 USGS mapWayside on the 1894 USGS mapWayside on the 1905 USGS mapWayside on the 1959 USGS mapWayside on the 1985 USGS mapWayside on the 1990 USGS map1886Independence 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 Wayside.

The story

How Wayside came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of Wayside.

Read it all →

A post office was opened in Wayside in 1887, and remained in operation until it was discontinued in 1984.

Approximately 2 miles east of Wayside, along Laura Ingalls Wilder Rd, is the original location of the Little House on the Prairie, the Kansas home of Laura Ingalls Wilder; a reconstruction of the house, along with a museum and relocated period buildings, are located at this site. Their 3rd daughter, Carrie, was born here on August 3, 1870.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

By decade

Wayside, decade by decade

Today2 recent
Map of Montgomery Co, Ks, USA2005Map of Montgomery Co, Ks, USAMapMap of Chautauqua Co, Ks, USA2005Map of Chautauqua Co, Ks, USAMap
Famous people

Famous people close to Wayside

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

See all →
Harry Hines WoodringAmerican politician · b. 1890
Johnny RutherfordAmerican racecar driver · b. 1938
Mildred BurkeAmerican professional wrestler · b. 1915
Phil EhartAmerican rock drummer, songwriter · b. 1950
K
Kenyon HopkinsAmerican composer who composed many film scores… · b. 1912
M
Madelyn DunhamMaternal grandmother of Barack Obama · b. 1922

Questions about Wayside’s history

What year was Wayside founded?

The Wayside 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 (2), 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.