Longton, an incorporated city, the third largest in Elk county, is located about 12 miles southeast of Howard, the county seat, at the junction of two lines of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe R. R. It has 2 banks, 2 weekly newspapers, good schools and churches, telegraph and express offices and an international money order postoffice with three rural routes. The population, according to the census of 1910, was 611.

The town was founded in 1870 by a company consisting of J. W. Kerr, J. C. Pinney, J. Hoffman, J. B. Roberts, James Reynolds and a Mr. Gardner, under the name of Elk Rapids. Wright & Kirby of Ottawa set up a steam sawmill immediately, Kirby built a storehouse, Hitching a hardware store and C. P. Alvey erected a two-story house, the upper floor of which was used by the town company. A two-story hotel was erected by George Hansbrough of Garnett. The postoffice was established in 1870 with Dr. J. W. Kerr as postmaster. The first school was taught by Miss Eleanor Smith in the same year. The first newspaper was the Howard County Ledger, issued by Adrian Reynolds in 1871. At first the new town grew very fast and at one time was the largest in the county, with prospects of becoming the county seat. It was incorporated and a list of officials elected, but the city government later went down, and was not revived for a number of years.