Howard, the judicial seat and largest town in Elk county, is located in the center of the county on a beautiful eminence overlooking the valleys of the Elk river, Paw Paw and Rock creeks, and is a station on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe R. R. It has 2 banks, 2 weekly newspapers, an opera house, a county high school, and an ample number of good church buildings. It is a shipping point for agricultural products and live stock. A good quality of limestone is found in the vicinity. The town is supplied with telegraph and express offices and has an international money order postoffice with six rural routes. The population in 1910 was 1,163.

Howard City, as it was called in earlier times, was established in 1870 by a town company, of which Samuel McFarland was president and T. A. Dodd was secretary. The management of affairs was soon left to private individuals, and the principal promoters were, John McBee, S. B. Oberlander, C. T. Adams, P. C. Tapping, Alexander Bruce, Perry and Milton Vincent and T. A. Dodd. The first business enterprise was undertaken by Oscar McFarland, who built a store in 1870. The second was a livery stable belonging to a Mr. McClure. The Howard House was built in 1871, by John Barnes and John Parrett. The third building was a saloon, and the fourth a printing office, installed by Kelley & Turner. The postoffice at Paw Paw creek was brought to Howard in 1871. T. J. Barnes was postmaster at the time. The first school was taught in 1873 by W. S. Kent, with 19 pupils in attendance. An $8,000 building was erected in 1882. The first newspaper—the Howard County Messenger—was established by Kelley & Turner in 1872.

In Oct., 1877, Howard was incorporated as a city of the third class, and the following officers were chosen at the first election: Mayor, A. B. Steinberger; police judge, A. M. Bowen; city clerk, H. A. Lanman city treasurer, William Crooks; city attorney, J. A. Oliphant; city marshal, William M. Vinson; councilmen, N. Momma, William Driscoll, J. Q. Burchfield, S. Lucas and James Howell.