This portion was changed in 1979 to remain on 7th Avenue, seven blocks south of the original routing, eastward to the Missouri state line.

In the northern part of Baxter Springs, US-66 originally turned West at the intersection of Military Avenue with 3rd Street.

Both alignments continued east onto K-66 passing through Riverton and crossing over the Spring River to get to Galena near the state line with Missouri.

It would then turn east onto Front Street, crossing a viaduct over railroad tracks and entering Missouri shortly after.

This alignment changed in the 1940s, as US-66 ran straight across Main Street and continue east on K-66 and enter Missouri a little bit more to the south.

Buildings and structures on the National Register of Historic Places in Kansas include the Baxter Springs Independent Oil and Gas Service Station (now a tourist information site for US-66 in Kansas),[7] the Brush Creek Bridge,[8] and the Williams' Store in Riverton.

Food service establishments fared somewhat better by relying on a strong local clientele after I-44 bypassed the state in 1961,[4] but ultimately lead and zinc mine closures in the Tri-State district plus the diversion of US-66 traffic by I-44 led to the closure of many local Cherokee County businesses.