A closer look: Richmond

Although the town of Richmond was not laid out until 1870, its early history is connected with the settlement of Berea, a community established as early as 1857.

In 1869, the Leavenworth, Lawrence and Galveston Railroad built a line to a point one mile south of the Richmond area. It later became the Atchison, Topeka and the Sante Fe Railroad.

John C. Richmond, an inspector for the railroad, is said to have donated 40 acres of land for the townsite and to have requested that the town be called Richmond.

Early business enterprises before the turn of the century were a hotel, livery barn, two banks and a creamery.

Businesses through the 1950s included a lumber yard, general merchandise stores, hardware and implement store, plumbing and heating shop, four service stations, Peoples National Bank and the Farmers Coop grain elevator and feed store.

The first frame school was built in 1874, followed by a two-story frame school in 1885.

In 1922, a rural high school district was established and a new high school was constructed. With school unification in the 1960s, a new school was built northeast of Richmond in 1968.

Known as Central Heights USD 288, the school includes both grade and high school students, serving children from Richmond, Princeton, Lane, Rantoul and rural areas.

Information taken from “The History of Franklin County, Kansas,” compiled by the Franklin County Historical Society and Friends of the Ottawa Library.

Government

Statistics

• Male — 44.7 percent

• Female — 55.3 percent

• Median age — 36.5

• Median household income — $36,250

• Families below poverty level — 5.5 percent

• Individuals below poverty level — 6.9 percent