Dorrance was founded in June 1867 when the Kansas Pacific Railway reached the area. It was named after Oliver Dorrance, the railroad superintendant at the time. The first settlers were from Germany, England, and Ireland who arrived in 1870. A prairie fire destroyed much of the town center in March 1879, and the new layout was formalized in 1880.
Volga German families settled in and around Dorrance.
- Colony Cemetery (findagrave.com)
- Dorrance City Cemetery (findagrave.com)
- St. Joseph Cemetery (findagrave)
- Dorrance, Kansas (Wikipedia)
Photo of Dorrance (about 1910) from a railroad water tower.
Source: Story of Dorrance, pp. 6-7, via Jerry Michel.
Photo of Dorrance (about 1910) from a railroad water tower.
Source: Story of Dorrance, pp. 6-7, via Jerry Michel.
Photo of Dorrance (about 1910) from a railroad water tower.
Source: Story of Dorrance, pp. 6-7, via Jerry Michel.
Photo of Dorrance (about 1910) from a railroad water tower.
Source: Story of Dorrance, pp. 6-7, via Jerry Michel.