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 for 2.83 cents per acre.

In 1855, Marion County was established within the Kansas Territory, which included the land for modern day Waldeck.

[4] Along the Santa Fe Trail, French Frank's Road Ranch and Cottonwood Holes (for watering) were original located on the land south of 245th Street.

[6] In 1887, the Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway built a main line from Herington through Waldeck to Pratt.

The construction of this line meant that the Chisholm Trail no longer needed to go the additional 40 miles to Abilene, Kansas (the former northern terminus).

Among the last usable structures at Waldeck, cattle corrals were operational until the early 1950s, when diesel locomotives became dominant.

Waldeck was located at coordinates 38.4305642, -97.3350299 in the scenic Flint Hills and Great Plains of the state of Kansas.