[3] Defiance had its start in 1882 by the building of the Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul Railroad through that territory.

[4] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.39 square miles (1.01 km2), all of it land.

There were 128 housing units at an average density of 315.9 per square mile (122.0/km2).

There were 132 housing units at an average density of 338.5 per square mile (130.7/km2).

The racial makeup of the city was 98.9% White, 0.4% Native American, 0.4% Asian, and 0.4% from other races.

28.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

The racial makeup of the city was 95.95% White, 1.16% Native American, 2.89% from other races.

19.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

The district serves the towns of Harlan, Defiance, Earling, Panama, Portsmouth and Westphalia, the unincorporated communities of Jacksonville and Corley, and the surrounding rural areas.