Little River, the third largest town in Rice county, and an incorporated city of the third class, is located in Union township, on the Little Arkansas river and at the junction of two lines of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe R. R. It is 13 miles northeast of Lyons, the county seat, with which it is connected by rail. It is the business center for Union township, has 2 banks, a grain elevator, a weekly newspaper, known as the Monitor, telegraph and express offices, and an international money order postoffice with two rural routes. The population, according to the census of 1910, was 661. The town was founded in 1880. The first store was built by Walker & Russ of McPherson. The first newspaper was published soon after the founding of the town and was called the Little River News. Valuable stone quarries exist in the vicinity.