The story
from WikipediaRead it all ↗When founding the community in 1918, locals submitted the name "Newcomb" for the settlement. This request was rejected, and the federal government internally named the community for its school district number (156). It has frequently been noted on lists of unusual place names.
On March 14, 2025, an EF4 tornado struck the town at EF3 strength, heavily damaging or destroying several cabins at the Cedarwood Cabins, damaging other structures, and uprooting trees.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Start Fifty-Six’s collection
The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Fifty-Six’s history is told.
0 of 10 decades since 1900 have photos 📦Share a family photoSign in to add one+10Famous people from Fifty-Six
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Fifty-Six, decade by decade
2000
Nothing in Fifty-Six is on the National Register yet
That’s true of most small towns. It doesn’t mean Fifty-Six has no history, only that no one has written up a nomination. The closest listed place is North Sylamore Creek Bridge in Fifty-Six, 2.6 miles away.
Fifty-Six and the nearest listed places
How a place gets listed
Then & now
When neighbors add old photos, retakes from the same spot appear here side by side.