Cato, Kansas

Last updated November 17, 2021

Cato is an unincorporated community in Crawford County, Kansas, United States.^[1]

History

Cato was founded in 1854.^[2] By 1867, Cato contained a store, a blacksmith, and a sawmill.^[3]

Cato is believed to be the first community built in the Southeast Kansas area, and it has the distinction of having the first grist mill in Crawford County, the first coal mining operation, the first school in the county, and the first County Fair. Cato was never a large town, reaching its peak population in 1910 with 112 residents.

An old, one-room, stone school house built in 1869 is on the National Register of Historic Places. The stone school house, the Cato Christian Church built in 1915, and a stone bridge that was once on the stage coach route, are all that remain of the community.^[4]

Area events

Each year the Cato Historical Preservation Association spends one weekend reminding residents and tourists of the pioneer days. The festival includes tours of the pioneer era community, live music, food, and re-enactments,^[5] occasionally "including a shoot-out between Missouri border roughians and Kansas lawmen".^[6]

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References

↑ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Cato, Kansas
↑ "History of Cato, Kansas". Cato Historical Preservation Association. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
↑ A Twentieth Century History and Biographical Record of Crawford County, Kansas. The Lewis Publishing Company. 1905. pp. 50.
↑ "Cato Days brings people back to their roots". www.morningsun.net. Pittsburg Morning Sun. Retrieved 13 June 2018.
↑ "History of Cato, Kansas". Cato Historical Preservation Association. Retrieved 12 June 2018.
↑ "Cato Days brings people back to their roots". www.morningsun.net. Pittsburg Morning Sun. Retrieved 13 June 2018.

External links

Crawford County maps: Current, Historic, KDOT

Coordinates: 37°40′04″N94°44′24″W / 37.66778°N 94.74000°W / 37.66778; -94.74000

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[1] U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Cato, Kansas

[2] "History of Cato, Kansas". Cato Historical Preservation Association. Retrieved 8 June 2014.

[3] A Twentieth Century History and Biographical Record of Crawford County, Kansas. The Lewis Publishing Company. 1905. pp. 50.

[4] "Cato Days brings people back to their roots". www.morningsun.net. Pittsburg Morning Sun. Retrieved 13 June 2018.

[5] "History of Cato, Kansas". Cato Historical Preservation Association. Retrieved 12 June 2018.

[6] "Cato Days brings people back to their roots". www.morningsun.net. Pittsburg Morning Sun. Retrieved 13 June 2018.

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v t e Municipalities and communities of Crawford County, Kansas, United States
County seat: Girard
Cities	Arcadia Arma Cherokee Frontenac Girard Hepler McCune Mulberry Pittsburg Walnut	Map of Kansas highlighting Crawford County
Unincorporated communities	Beulah Brazilton Capaldo Cato Chicopee† Coalvale Croweburg† Curranville Dry Wood Dunkirk Englevale Farlington† Fleming Franklin† Fuller Greenbush Gross Kirkwood Klondike Kniveton‡ Litchfield Lone Oak Midway Monmouth Opolis† Radley† Red Onion Ringo† South Radley Yale†
Townships	Baker Crawford Grant Lincoln Osage Sheridan Sherman Walnut Washington
Footnotes	†This populated place is designated a Census-Designated Place (CDP) by the United States Census Bureau. ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties.
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