Centerville, Kansas

Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway Depot in Centerville, Kansas.

Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway Depot in Centerville, Kansas.

Centerville, Kansas, is an unincorporated community located about 12 miles northwest of Mound City in Linn County.

Situated on Sugar Creek, a post office opened on March 15, 1855, and continues to be open today. Primarily a farming community, it became a shipping and supply town for the area when the  Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway came through.

In 1910, it had a population of 175 people.

We were unable to determine the current population of Centerville.

About three miles northeast of this small town is the St. Phillippine Duchesne Shrine, which marks the end of the Pottawatomie Trail of Death. Here, once stood St. Mary’s Mission, also referred to as the Sugar Creek Mission, which operated from 1839 to 1849. The site includes historical artifacts from the former St. Mary’s Sugar Creek Mission and settlement. It is located on 1525 Road, five miles west of Kansas Highway 7.

Compiled by Kathy Weiser-Alexander/Legends of Kansas, updated April 2021.

Also See:

Historic Sites of Kansas

Kansas History

Linn County Border Troubles

Linn County, Kansas

Linn County Photo Gallery