the first post office was created in phillipsburg on december 23, 1872. the first postmaster was fred a dutton. the name of the post office was spelled phillipsburgh until 1893. named in honor of john bissel, fort bissel was built in 1872 to protect against possible harm from native americans. it closed in 1878. the fort was rebuilt in the city park in 1962. the first cemetery in the town, close cemetery, was created on march 19, 1879 by the fairview cemetery association. it was given to the city on june 4, 1889. a branch of the chicago, kansas and nebraska railway was created through phillipsburg in 1887. also in 1887 complete telephone systems were installed in the city. a fire almost destroyed the entire town square in 1906. the current courthouse was built in 1912. "kansas' biggest rodeo" was first held in 1929. it happens every year on the last weekend in july or first weekend in august.