While the 41-plus square mile area of land is governmentally and officially the "Township of Padonia," the name most often refers colloquially to the grouping of houses and grain elevator.

The Sac & Fox Nation of Missouri in Kansas and Nebraska is also a property holder in the community, of both farming ground and a former private residence.

Voting services were offered in Padonia for local elections up until the last few years, when they were moved to the nearest larger community and county seat, Hiawatha.

Like most communities, the agrarian Township of Padonia has a plurality of origins, from its first European settler (1854) to the establishment of civic and religious services (1850s) to its official foundation (1869).

However, generally a quiet part of the world, Padonia's inhabitants don't seem to miss the loss, and instead enjoy the rich soil, intermittently wooded land, and company of neighbors within its forty-one plus square miles.

Its foundation consisted of ten families, all who came from Wales with Evans, and who (according to Kansas historian Cutler) "constitute[d] the best citizens and substantial farmers of this township.

"[1][2] Padonia was probably named after Jessie Padon, a settler in a log hut on the bank of the Walnut, near Schmidt's sawmill.