[3] Beaten to the settlement of Wilson, Kansas by Bohemian colonists, Pennsylvania Dutch settlers from Philadelphia and Lancaster, Pennsylvania established a community on the Kansas Pacific Railway at the future site of Gorham in April 1872.

[4] Elijah Dodge Gorham, a settler from Illinois, gave the town its name when he platted it in 1879.

Seeking to create a local trading center, he formally established the town in July 1886, gave land for a Catholic Church and cemetery, and started several businesses including a general store, grain elevator, post office, lumberyard, and a coal yard.

Additional grain elevators and a stockyard subsequently opened, establishing Gorham as a farming community.

[5] The discovery of oil deposits in Russell County transformed the local economy in the 1920s.

Companies including Texaco, Stanolind, and Sohio started operations in the area, stimulating Gorham's growth.

[6] By 1944, it had a diverse business community, two oil field production companies, and public schools.

[8] Gorham lies in the Smoky Hills region of the Great Plains, approximately 9 miles (14 km) north of the Smoky Hill River and 11 miles (18 km) south of the Saline River.

[8] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.24 square miles (0.62 km2), all land.

[9] The 2020 United States census counted 376 people, 147 households, and 96 families in Gorham.

The racial makeup of the city was 98.8% White, 0.3% American Indian, and 0.9% from two or more races.

The three industries employing the largest percentages of the working civilian labor force were: construction (21.1%); educational services, and health care and social assistance (18.7%); and arts, entertainment, and recreation, and accommodation and food services (11.5%).

The city council consists of five members, and it meets on the second Monday of each month.

[24] Gorham lies within Kansas's 1st U.S. Congressional District, represented by Tracey Mann (R-Salina).

[24] The community is served by Russell County USD 407 public school district.

[26] Interstate 70 and U.S. Route 40 run concurrently east–west, just over one mile south of the city.

[23][29] The city government is responsible for water distribution, sewer maintenance, and trash disposal.