Neosho Falls was founded in 1857, making it the oldest town and first county seat in Woodson County. It was named from the Neosho River, on which it is situated. The first post office in Neosho Falls was established in May 1857. Neosho Falls was originally platted and extensively improved by a company led by Benjamin F. Goss and his brother N. S. Goss, who would later organize a company of cavalry in the area to fight for the Union in the American Civil War. The town was largely destroyed and abandoned when the Neosho River overflowed during the Great Flood of 1951.
Geography
Neosho Falls is located at . According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of, of which, is land and is water.
, there were 141 people, 59 households, and 38 families residing in the city. The population density was. There were 84 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the city was 132 White individuals, 8 Hispanic or Latino individuals, and one Native American individual. There were 59 households of which 22 had children under the age of 18 living with them, 24 were married couplesliving together, 6 had a female householder with no husband present, 8 had a male householder with no wife present, and 21 were non-families. 19 households were made up of individuals and 8 had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.89. The median age in the city was 40.2 years. 40 residents were under the age of 18; 10 were between the ages of 18 and 24; 29 were from 25 to 44; 36 were from 45 to 64; and 26 were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 51.1% male and 48.9% female.
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 179 people, 76 households, and 45 families residing in the city. The population density was 328.1 people per square mile. There were 90 housing units at an average density of 164.9 per square mile. The racial makeup of the city was 96.65% White, 2.79% Native American, and 0.56% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.23% of the population. There were 76 households out of which 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.4% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.5% were non-families. 38.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 3.13. In the city, the population was spread out with 30.7% under the age of 18, 3.9% from 18 to 24, 21.8% from 25 to 44, 28.5% from 45 to 64, and 15.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.0 males. The median income for a household in the city was $27,188, and the median income for a family was $33,000. Males had a median income of $29,250 versus $14,583 for females. The per capita income for the city was $9,543. About 18.8% of families and 24.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 34.4% of those under the age of eighteen and 21.7% of those sixty five or over.
The story of the town having been destroyed by the Great Flood of 1951, was fictionalized in the 1988 album In the Spirit of Things by the rock band Kansas. According to author Dan Fitzgerald, Rich Williams was inspired to create this concept album based on the true stories of the book Ghost Towns of Kansas, Volume II, specifically the chapter on Neosho Falls.
