In the early pioneer days, Rush Center was the county seat of Rush County and it was here that the county was organized. The rich bottom lands of the Walnut Valley gave the promise of bountiful crops and the residents aspired to make Rush Center a trade center of this region. The settlement was first known as Walnut City, and in 1874 the name was changed to Rush Centre with a spelling change in 1895.
As early as 1874 many business houses and dwellings had been erected. In 1875 the first school district in the county was organized in Rush Center. By 1878 one store carried insurance of $40,000 and the population was more than 1500 citizens. The City Bus Line had fancy coaches drawn by two matching horses. By the time the railroad arrived in 1886 Rush Center was a thriving city.
The Pennsylvania House, a hotel and dining room, was built in Rush Center in 1875. An additional 10 rooms were added in 1887. It was a two story structure with 46 rooms, a wide "covered entry porch", a large windmill for fresh, cold water, two fireplaces, and a passenger depot for the City Bus Line. The hotel was named for the State from where the first settlers came.
The Harvey House (pictured above), a 50 room hotel and dining room, was built by the Santa Fe Railroad as a regular stop for passengers before continuing their journey. The Harvey House dining rooms were famous for their Harvey Girl waitresses, big steaks and sharp knives. This hotel had three fireplaces, a wrap-around porch, and a passenger depot for the City Bus Line.
The county was re-surveyed in 1876 and six miles were cut off the south boundary of the 1867 county survey and given to the north side of Pawnee County. This put the center of the county four miles north of Rush Center, and on the future Missouri Pacific Railroad Line. The new town of LaCrosse was platted immediately. A "tug of war" between Rush Center and LaCrosse for the courthouse caused the records to move, by wagon, back and forth between the villages, sometimes under threat and gunfire but no physical harm. This event is celebrated every year in the two mile long St. Patrick's Day Parade. "The Courthouse" is carried by wagon back to Rush Center every March 17th.