Palco is a city in Rooks County, Kansas, United States.

[3] Palco was established in 1888 by Union Pacific Railroad as a train depot on a newly formed line.

The town was given the name Palco as a portmanteau for railroad officials Palmer and Cole.

In 1887, rumors circulated that the railroad would lay track 1-1/2 miles to the south of Cresson.

When the railroad track was laid it curved to the north missing New Cresson.

An ironic twist is that the northern route of the track passed near the original town of Cresson.

[7] Palco filed for incorporation as a third class city in 1906 and elected Robert Kirkendall as mayor.

[9] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.27 square miles (0.70 km2), all land.

[10] The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters.

[11] The 2020 United States census counted 208 people, 96 households, and 51 families in Palco.

About 5.7% of families and 14.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.1% of those under the age of eighteen and 11.3% of those 65 or over.

The community is served by Palco USD 269 public school district.

[25] The Palco Roosters won the Kansas State High School boys class B Indoor Track & Field championship in 1962.