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| Area map from 1899 |
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| Aerial view of Hanston |
| Old photo courtesy of the Cure family |
| Tornado damage from 1905 |
| A typical stone quarry found in this region at the turn of the 20th Century. This site near Hanston was probably use to quarry many of the stones used in constructing building as well as fence posts in this area. |
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| Like many towns in this region Hanston history is relatively short. These plains once thundered with herds of buffalo that stretched for miles . Out of their dust, in 1878, just off the old Fort Hays-Fort Dodge trail sprang up the small town of Marena. Located in Hodgeman county the township, of Marena, once sat where the north half of present day Hanston stands, just south of Kansas highway 156. In 1879 Marena contested for the county seat which eventual went to the, younger upstart, town of Buckner (now Jetmore). When the railroad came to town, in 1887, the Hann family donated land along the railroad right of way for a town site that was to be named Hanston. An intense rivalry between Hanston and Marena ensued. The railroad built a depot and stockyard, wanting no part of the dispute between the two towns, named it's depot Olney . Area residents would get their mail at either the Hanston or Marena post office, but would receive any rail freight at the Olney depot. At the time Hanston consisted of a store, lumber yard and a few houses while Marena had a store, blacksmith shop, village school, and a group of cottages. The Handbook for Hodgeman County of 1887 describes the two rival towns in extravagant language as lying side by side "in the garden of the Buckner valley. Occupying a fine plateau twenty five feet above the river and environed with magnificent farm country." Marena was eventually absorbed in to Hanston, after lengthy debates the town retained it's current title of Hanston in honor of the Hann family. The 1910 population of Hanston was 350. In 1926 the rural high school at Hanston was constructed. A modern grade school, along with the addition of a high school gym were made in 1952 |
| Through the years Hanston has supported many businesses. From one of the country's first large creameries to livestock, dairies, livery stables, blacksmith, lumber yards, elevators, grocery stores, hotels, dried goods, photography shop, barbers, restaurants and banks. Present day Hanston, though smaller in stature still boosts a loyal community where several business remain (see our business page for a list of Hanston business). A fine school system that is now working with the Pawnee Heights school district to provide the best possible education for it's youth. |
In 2000 the Census listed Hanston's population at 259.
| Downtown Hanston 1914 |