in 1830, a group of white settlers arrived to farm the area that was then known as "gull prairie." in 1832 and 1833, small settlements were platted to the north and south of what is now richland. neither attracted many inhabitants, but instead newcomers settled along the crossroads in between. a small public square at the corner was platted out, and in use as a public gathering place by the mid-1830s. the first church building was constructed in 1834, with the first school building following in 1837, and the settlement served as the center of a primarily agricultural community for many decades.