as early as 1875, city leaders of marion had a meeting to consider a branch railroad from florence. in 1878, atchison, topeka and santa fe railway and people from marion county and mcpherson county started the marion and mcpherson railway company. in 1879, a railroad was built from florence to mcpherson. in 1880 it was extended to lyons. in 1881 it was extended to ellinwood. the line was used by the atchison, topeka and santa fe railway. the line from florence to marion, was left in 1968. in 1992, the line from marion to mcpherson was sold to central kansas railway. in 1993, because of heavy flood damage, the line from marion to mcpherson was left. the original railroad connected florence, marion, canada, hillsboro, lehigh, canton, galva, mcpherson, conway, windom, little river, mitchell, lyons, chase, ellinwood. later, the santa fe depot building became the marion library. most locals still refer to this railroad as the "santa fe".