Smith Center, the judicial seat of Smith county, is located in the central part of the county on the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific R. R. It has city waterworks, electric lights, fire department, 2 banks, an opera house, flour mill, 2 grain elevators, high school and graded schools, six churches, a daily stage to Covert, 3 weekly newspapers (the Smith County Messenger, the Smith County Pioneer and the Smith County Journal), telegraph and express offices, and an international money order postoffice with six rural routes. The population according to the census of 1910 was 1,292. The library at Smith Center has been built up by the Harmony Library club, composed of 24 women, who have bought the building and all the books and provided a librarian.

The town was founded in 1872 by the Smith Center Town company which was organized in 1871. The first school was taught by Mr. E. M. Burr in 1872. The first sermon was preached in 1871 by Rev. R. B. Foster of Osborne. W. M. George, the first postmaster, received his appointment in the summer of 1872. A. J. Allen opened the first store about the same time. In November of that year Smith Center was made the county seat. The town company disbursed considerable money in the election, and afterward erected a court-house which was used by the county for many years. The locating of the county seat here insured the future of the town and business interests of all kinds were soon established.