Valley Center Oil Boom
A prosperous Valley Center, Kansas, in the late 1920's. In 1928, oil was found 1 1/2 miles south of town, on the Wright farm. In August of that year, the biggest oil gusher in Sedgwick County to that point came in unexpectedly, and began pumping up to 1,800 barrels of oil per day. By 1929 oil derricks were scattered around the area, and the town "boomed" as speculators rented all available space, and many temporary structures were built.
View this exhibit1960 Valley Center Diamond Jubilee
A collection of photographs and clippings from the 1960 Valley Center Diamond Jubilee, celebrating the incorporation of the town of Valley Center in 1885. The Diamond Jubilee set the stage for the first Valley Center Fall Festival in 1961.
View this exhibitThe Official State Atlas of Kansas - 1887
A new project that staff at the Valley Center Public Library are undertaking in partnership with the City of Valley Center, the Friends of the Library, the South Central Kansas Library System, and a grant from Menocause: Ignite Valley Center, is the digitization prior to restoration of an 1887 Official Atlas of the State of Kansas. This book, discovered in the basement of City Hall, is being made available for accessing through digitization. We will continue to add pages to our collection on Digital Valley Center. Check back frequently to enjoy this look at Kansas in the late 1800s!
Please be aware that some documents may contain images or reflect attitudes and prejudices prevalent at the time they were created.
View this exhibitDeaths in Valley Center
Features information about the Maple Grove (Hoss) Cemetery near Valley Center, Kansas
View this exhibit