Palco

History

Palco was established in 1888 by Union Pacific Railroad as a train depot on a newly formed line. The town was given the name Palco as a portmanteau for railroad officials Palmer and Cole. The post office was moved from the nearby town of Cresson. Cresson (named for Cresson, Pennsylvania) was granted a post office in 1879. In 1887, rumors circulated that the railroad would lay track miles to the south of Cresson. Many citizens and businesses abandoned Cresson to form the community of New Cresson along the expected railroad route. When the railroad track was laid it curved to the north missing New Cresson. The town was soon abandoned. An ironic twist is that the northern route of the track passed near the original town of Cresson. In 1893, Palco was nearly wiped out by a prairie fire. The fire originated in Graham County and consumed thousands of acres along with farmsteads and livestock in Graham, Rooks, Ellis and Russell Counties before being extinguished. Seven people lost their lives in the blaze. Palco filed for incorporation as a third class city in 1906 and elected Robert Kirkendall as mayor. Fire again struck Palco in 1923, destroying many businesses along Main Street including the hotel, post office, real estate office and a doctor's office.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land. The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Palco has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Red-winged Blackbird

  Agelaius phoeniceus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  90
• Mourning Dove

  Zenaida macroura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  89
• Western Meadowlark

  Sturnella neglecta Audubon, 1844 · Aves
  87
• Turkey Vulture

  Cathartes aura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  78
• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  78
• Red-tailed Hawk

  Buteo jamaicensis (Gmelin, 1788) · Aves
  77
• Northern Flicker

  Colaptes auratus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  74
• Killdeer

  Charadrius vociferus Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  60

Largest nearby schools

• Damar Elementary School
  Elementary · Damar · 53 students · 7.6:1 ratio
• Palco High
  High · Palco · 30 students · 10:1 ratio
• Palco Jr. High
  Middle · Palco · 14 students · 7:1 ratio

Most recent

• M 2.5 — 2026-06-16
  9 km SW of Natoma, Kansas
• M 2.9 — 2026-02-02
  7 km N of Hays, Kansas
• M 2.8 — 2025-12-04
  6 km NW of Wilson, Kansas
• M 2.9 — 2025-11-29
  5 km SW of Kirwin, Kansas
• M 2.6 — 2025-11-29
  6 km NE of Dorrance, Kansas
• M 2.7 — 2025-11-19
  8 km NE of Dorrance, Kansas