Kaw Township in southwest Jefferson County, Kansas.
Kaw City, Kansas, is an extinct town in Jefferson County.
In the spring of 1857, a town company of 25 members was formed, and a townsite consisting of 320 acres was laid off in Kaw Township and named Kaw City. Its location was on the east side of Big Muddy Creek, at the base of the hills, at the place where the wide valley of the Kansas River begins.
The first services of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the county were held in Kaw City. A post office was established on April 30, 1858, with James H. Jones appointed postmaster. Although attempts were made to develop the town, it did not grow.
In late 1865, when the Kansas Pacific Railroad was approaching completion, the Kaw City station was built on the farm of D.W. Kleinhans about one and one-half miles from Kaw City. The first regular passenger train came through on January 1, 1866. The post office was moved to the new site in October 1866, and David Devore was appointed Postmaster. Soon, Mr. Kleinhans laid out a town at the station, and the town was renamed Grantville, after which the Kaw City townsite was abandoned. The land was soon covered with productive farms.
©Kathy Alexander/Legends of Kansas, updated April 2026.
Also See:
Jefferson County Photo Gallery
See Sources.