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History · Westminster

Westminster’s history is
mostly unwritten

The public archives hold no old photos of Westminster. The rest are in attics, shoeboxes and the historical society. Help start the collection.

0old images & papers
0recent photos

The story

from WikipediaRead it all ↗

The first township in Reno County was Reno Township, which covered the whole county upon its creation in 1872. Center Township was created in 1873 from Reno Township, and from Center Township Westminster Township was created in 1874. Plevna Township would also be created from Westminster Township in 1879. The first settler in what was to become Westminster Township was John Martin, who settled in the area in the spring of 1873.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Be one of the first

Start Westminster’s collection

The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Westminster’s history is told.

0 of 10 decades since 1900 have photos 📦Share a family photoSign in to add one+10

Famous people close to Westminster

See all 10 →
Karl C. KingKarl C. KingPlevna · 6 miAlva DuerAlva DuerSylvia · 12 miGary BanzGary BanzSylvia · 12 miLFLarry FossCastleton · 15 miJSJoe SeiwertPretty Prairie · 15 miJGJon GnagyPretty Prairie · 15 mi
By decade

Westminster, decade by decade

Before
2000
No old photos in the archives yetWeddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.
📷 Add from your album
National Register of Historic Places

Nothing in Westminster is on the National Register yet

That’s true of most small towns. It doesn’t mean Westminster has no history, only that no one has written up a nomination. The closest listed place is Sylvia Rural High School in Sylvia, 11.6 miles away.

Westminster and the nearest listed places

Dashed line = Westminster. Tap a dot.
Sylvia Rural High SchoolKelly MillsHamlin BlockReno County CourthouseDowntown Core South Historic DistrictHoke Building

Closest to Westminster

Sylvia Rural High SchoolSylvia · Building11.6miKelly MillsHutchinson · Building15.8miHamlin BlockHutchinson · Building15.8miReno County CourthouseHutchinson · Building15.8miDowntown Core South Historic DistrictHutchinson · District15.9mi

How a place gets listed

1Talk to the stateEvery nomination goes through the State Historic Preservation Office. Owners, towns and historical societies can start one.
2Try a local or state list firstMany states keep their own register with a shorter form, a common first step for old barns, halls and schoolhouses.
3Write it upA nomination covers the history, photos and a map. Sylvia Rural High School’s page links to a real one.
Know an old place in Westminster?A mill, a schoolhouse, a cellar hole, a church: add a photo of it to Westminster’s story, or a memory of it.
📷 Add a photo of an old place
National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places · photos from Wikimedia Commons

Then & now

When neighbors add old photos, retakes from the same spot appear here side by side.

Stories next door

nearby towns’ history
📜 Abbyville📜 Arlington📜 Partridge📜 Enterprise
The door’s open

Where to, neighbor?

You’re in Westminster, KSReno CountyView boundary

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Boundary source: https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/15 · 2025-01-01
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