[1] In October 1854, Charles Matney settled in the area that was to become Richland, near the confluence of Camp Creek with the Wakarusa River.

In 1857 a post office was opened north of town and a schoolhouse was constructed, out of logs, on the northeast corner of Matney's land.

Richland eventually became the center of a rich agricultural region and its businesses included a bank, a barber shop, a church, two blacksmiths, two doctors, a pharmacy, several lodges, a hotel and a general store.

In 1949, Georgia Neese Clark was appointed by President Harry S Truman as Treasurer of the United States which she served until 1953.

U.S. Geological Survey quadrangle maps show the original location to be at 38.887699, -95.528589, at elevation 900 ft.,[6] and COE brochure says Flood Control Pool is at 903.4 ft.[7] The birthplace of Georgia Neese Clark Gray, the first female Treasurer of the United States.