Union Pacific Railroad Sign in Fairmount, Kansas by H. Killam, 1860.
Fairmount, Kansas was located a few miles southwest of Leavenworth, on the Lawrence branch of the Union Pacific Railroad. It was platted by the Kansas Valley Town Company, in June 1867. The railroad station was originally one mile further east and was called Kelley’s Station, which was settled in 1864. The name “Fairmount” was given to the village because of its location upon a fair mount. The post office was moved along with the station on June 28, 1867, with T. J. Stout as the postmaster.
Other early settlers were B. F. Harrod, James Harrod, Robert J. Costello, I. B. Dutton, Riley Todd, John Johnson, O. S. Markham, O. S. Hiatt, Dr. S. D. Coffin, Abram Maris, Judge J. E. Williams, O. S. Penfield, J. A. Page, and T. C. Denell.
By the early 1880s, Fairmount had a population of nearly 150 people, a Methodist Episcopal Church, Presbyterian Church, a school, four stores, a large cider mill, and an apple butter factory. At that time the settlement was described as “a beautiful little village.”
In 1910, the town was still a stop on the United Pacific Railroad, had a money order post office, telegraph and express facilities, four stores, a factory, and a population of 100.
The post office closed on January 15, 1934.
It was located about nine miles south of Leavenworth.
© Kathy Alexander/Legends of Kansas, June 2022.
Also See:
Extinct Towns in Leavenworth County