19th century
In 1802, Spain returned most of the land to France. In 1803, most of the land for modern day Kansas was acquired by the United States from France as part of the 828,000 square mile Louisiana Purchase for 2.83 cents per acre.
In 1854, the Kansas Territory was organized, then in 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state. In 1855, Butler County was established within the Kansas Territory, which included the land for modern day Brainerd.
A post office was established in Holden on December 14, 1870, then renamed to Brainerd on January 25, 1886. The post office closed on August 31, 1907. [2]
Brainerd was platted in 1885 around a depot along the McPherson branch of the Missouri Pacific Railroad. [3] The community was named for Elisha B. Brainerd, an original landowner. [4] It quickly grew, including some businesses and houses from nearby community of Plum Grove. [5]
20th century
In 1961, Frederic Remington High School was built immediately north of Brainerd. Leading up to this new school, Whitewater, Potwin, Brainerd, Elbing, Furley, Countryside, and Golden Gate schools merged to form a joint rural high school. Heated opposition between Whitewater and Potwin occurred during the discussion for the location of the new high school. Rural voters pushed for a centralized location in neither town. A public vote was passed to build the new school near Brainerd. [6]
