Drawn west by the promise of free, fertile land, pioneer settlers arrived in Kansas starting in 1869.

Watson arrived at the town site, and a post office was established.

By 1900, the population was 194, and by 1910 it had grown to 370, and the town had banks; a flour mill; a grain elevator; two newspapers; public schools; a hotel; merchants; Baptist, Catholic, and Methodist churches; telegraph service; a band and telephones.

[5] Life was difficult for the early pioneers, who built houses made of sod and found that the land was quite dry, and not as fertile as they had been led to believe.

[6] On May 23, 1928, the Fleagle Gang arrived in Dighton after robbing the First National Bank of Lamar, Colorado.

Needing medical attention, they kidnapped local doctor W.W. Wineinger, and later shot him and dumped his body into a ravine.

[7] The courtroom mural, "The First House of Lane County," by Mary Alice Bosley, was featured in Kansas Murals: A Traveler's Guide, by Jost and Loewenstein.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.88 square miles (2.28 km2), all land.

[9] The 2020 United States census counted 960 people, 461 households, and 244 families in Dighton.

44.7% of households consisted of individuals and 21.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

41.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 20.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

36.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 21.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.