Communities
Alexander
Bison
LaCrosse
Liebenthal
Loretto
McCracken
Nekoma
Otis
Rush Center
Shaffer
Timken

Alexander

Originally established on the Fort Hays-Fort Dodge Trail as a trading post known as “Harvey's Ranche,” Alexander is the oldest town in Rush County, founded in 1869. The town is named after its founder, Alexander Harvey. A state historical marker, located in the park along Highway K-96, tells about the Fort Hays-Fort Dodge Trail.

Bison is named in honor of the native Bison (often called buffalo in error), once numerous across the prairies. The community is known for its quaint tree-lined Main Street and large city park.

Churches

United Methodist Church, W. 1st Street

Community Center/Library, 202 Main Street

Museums

Bison Community Museum, 202 Main Street
Lone Star School, Avenue M

La Crosse is named after the town of La Crosse, Wisconsin. LaCrosse is known as the "Barbed Wire Capital of the World"_TM. LaCrosse is the county seat and home to major industries including LaCrosse Furniture Co. and Flame Engineering. For more information, visit the City of LaCrosse website.

Churches

First Christian Church, 619 Oak
First Lutheran Church, 304 Columbia
Harvest Church, 9th and Locust
Seventh-day Adventist Church, 8th and Columbia
St. Michael Catholic Church, 918 Lincoln
United Methodist Church, 3rd and Washington

LaCrosse High School, 400 Washington
LaCrosse Elementary School, 511 Elm
USD 395, 616 Main

Sixty Plus Club, 704 Main
Barnard Library, 521 Elm

Rush County Medical Clinic, 801 Locust
Central Rush County EMS, 119 West 9th
Rush County Health Department, 611 Peace
Rush County Memorial Hospital, 801 Locust
Locust Grove Village, 701 West 6th
Rush County Wellness Center, 611 Peace

Kansas Barbed Wire Museum, 120 W. 1st Street
Nekoma Bank Museum, 202 W. 1st Street
Post Rock Museum, 202 W. 1st Street
Rush County Historical Museum, 202 W. 1st Street
Pleasant Point School Museum, 202 W. 1st Street

Liebenthal was founded by the immigrants of the Saratov/Volga region of the Ukraine in Russia. It was named after the town of Liebenthal, Russia.

Although having been twice gutted by fire, St. Joseph's Church stands as a monument to the devotion and perseverence of the Volga-German pioneers. The church grounds include a three-story native limestone school and rectory.

Churches

St. Joseph's Catholic Church, 202 Main Street

Loretto was named after a city near the Adriatic Sea in Italy which is home to the Santa Casa di Loreto, a shrine believed to be the home of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Today, little remains of the community. The historic St. Mary's Help of Christian's Church is now a shrine.

McCracken was named after J.K. McCracken, the contractor in charge of building the Missouri Pacific Railroad and relative to railroad tycoon Jay Gould.

McCracken annually hosts one of the states largest rodeos. The McCracken Rodeo has won distinction as KPRA Rodeo of the Year many years running. Learn more about McCracken at McCracken Alumni.

Churches

St. Mary's Catholic Church, 3rd & Ash Streets
United Methodist Church, 307 1st Street

Community Center, 402 1st Street
Public Library, 303 Main

McCracken Jail Museum, S. Main Street

Nekoma is said to be an Indian word meaning “mother”. With the recent closing of the post office, Nekoma has become a ghost town with only a few of the original buildings remaining.

Otis was founded by railroad promoter Erastus C. Modderwell along the Missouri Pacific railroad. He named the town after his son, Otis Modderwell.

Otis has one of the two largest facilities in the United States for extracting helium from natural gas.

Churches

United Methodist Church, 4th & Mary
Trinity Lutheran Church, 200 W. Ellen

Otis-Bison Senior High School, 301 W. Eagle
Otis-Bison Middle School, 301 W. Eagle
Otis-Bison Elementary School, 216 N. 3rd
USD 403, 301 W. Eagle

Community Library, 122 S. Main Street
Otis Senior Center, 122 S. Main Street

First known as Walnut City, Rush Center was originally situated in the center of Rush County until the southern tier of townships was transferred to Pawnee County prior to 1874.

Rush Center annually hosts the largest Saint Patricks Day Parade in the area. Rush Center is also home to two of the county's largest industries; KBK Industries and Golden Belt Telephone. Learn more about Rush Center at www.rushcounty.org/rushcenter

Churches

Hope Lutheran Church, 308 S. Walnut

Walnut Valley Senior Citizen Center, 220 Washington
Community Library, 220 Washington
Walnut City Masonic Lodge #215 AF&AM, S. Elm

Shaffer was named after its first postmaster, Franklin P. Shaffer.

Today, little more exists of the town than a few homes and buildings situated along the county road a short distance from Highway 96.

Timken is named after Henry Timken, the man who developed the Timken Roller Bearing. Henry Timken owned a considerable amount of land in the area at the time the Atchison Topeka & Santa Fe railroad was being built through the county.

Churches

Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 103 S. Main