[book 1] Peabody is well known in the region for its Independence Day Celebration on July 4,[7] and its historic 1880s downtown main street.

In 1803, most of the land for modern day Kansas was acquired by the United States from France as part of the 828,000 square mile Louisiana Purchase.

During the first month, the colony officers laid out a town on the north-half of section 4 township 22 and surveyed it into lots.

Claim jumping of the Coneburg town site and nearby land started to occur, thus causing a legal mess.

Since the land title for the Peabody town site had no legal disputes, businesses immediately moved from Coneburg.

Peabody, of Boston, formerly vice-president of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway company.

The contract for construction was awarded in spring of 1875 and was opened to the public in June 1875, and the following February 1876 the state legislature authorized the township to levy a tax to support the library.

[book 2][13] In 1871, the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway extended a main line from Emporia through Peabody to Newton.

Peabody was a destination for numerous foreign homesteaders, including the Mennonite settlers around Goessel and Gnadenau.

[16][17] In 1887, the Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway built the "Rock Island" branch line north–south from Herington through Peabody and Wichita to Caldwell.

It foreclosed in 1891 and was taken over by Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway, which shut down in 1980 and reorganized as Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas Railroad.

The temporary monument was an obelisk about 40 feet (12 m) tall, and built from forty bushels of ears of corn.

By 1911, approximately 20,000 head of cattle were imported from other states and fed within 20 miles (32 km) of Peabody at 50 farms.

The influence of the petroleum industry remained strong in Peabody, and resulted in the greatest change upon the community in the shortest time.

Currently Watchorn is a ghost town consisting of oil wells but no remaining historical structures.

Fort Riley established 12 smaller branch camps, including Peabody and El Dorado.

County agents were responsible for processing the application of local residents seeking the use of the prisoners who were to be available only as group laborers.

In June and July 1951, due to heavy rains, rivers and streams flooded numerous cities in Kansas, including Peabody.

[citation needed] Over time the aircraft industry worker requirement has shrank, thus has their influence on numerous commuter towns.

[citation needed] Fewer farms families has led to a gradual decrease in children at local schools.

[33] In the same year, the Keystone-Cushing Pipeline (Phase II) was constructed 4.5 miles (7.2 km) east of Peabody, north to south through Marion County.

There was quite a bit of controversy over road damage, tax exemption, and environmental concerns (if a leak ever occurs).

[22][37] Peabody is located in the scenic Flint Hills and Great Plains of the state of Kansas.

The school district includes Peabody, Burns, Wonsevu, and nearby rural areas of Marion / Chase / Harvey / Butler Counties.

For the 2010/2011 seasons, the football team competes as Class 8 Man - Division I in the Wheat State league.

In 1996–1997, the current high school was built (and attached) to the south side the existing Brown Building at 810 North Sycamore Street.

The BNSF Railway runs east–west through the city and has a spur for grain cars at the east Mid Kansas Co-Op.

[86] Amtrak's Southwest Chief passenger train travels on the BNSF Railway but stops at nearby Newton.

[27][28] In fall 1933, an underpass on 9th street (50S) was constructed to go under the Rock Island Railroad as part of the New Deal highway program during the Great Depression.

From the 1930s to 1998, the highway was routed east to west through Peabody on 9th Street, then a bypass and overpass was built about 1.5 blocks north to avoid a dangerous underpass which went under the Union Pacific Railroad.