The small community consisted of a harness shop, blacksmith, hotel, lawyer, drug store, two doctors and a tavern.

In 1858, a group of Methodist ministers gathered at Kibbee Cabin and founded Baker University.

Palmyra bought land to the south for the university and surrounding city.

[4] A main benefactor of the community was John Baldwin and the town was named in his honor.

Baldwin City unwittingly found themselves surrounded by the events that led up to the American Civil War.

The night before that battle, John Brown stayed in Prairie City.

In 1863, Quantrill's raiders passed within three miles (5 km) of Baldwin after the burning of Lawrence.

In 1906, the Santa Fe Depot was built and today the Midland Railway offers over 20-mile round trip excursion rides to Ottawa via "Nowhere" and Norwood.

[6] Every year since 1957, Baldwin City has hosted the Maple Leaf Festival during the third full weekend in October.

It began as a way to celebrate a successful harvest and to view the fall foliage.

Today, it is the largest fall family event in the area and features a parade, arts and crafts, quilt show, theatrical performances, history tours, train rides and live music.

[8] The area's climate is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally cool to cold winters.

[9] Baldwin City is part of the Lawrence Metropolitan Statistical Area.

The 2020 United States census counted 4,826 people, 1,651 households, and 1,085 families in Baldwin City.

The Baldwin City government consists of a mayor and five council members.