Cummings/Cummingsville - An unincorporated community located 9.5 miles southwest of Atchison, the town was established in Center Township along the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad in 1872. It was named in honor of a local resident and founder, William Cummings, and initially called Cummingsville. Robert Kennish was the first settler in the new town site in November, 1872 and opened a store with a post office the next month. Kennish became the first postmaster in the post office which opened on December 1, 1872. A Methodist church was built in 1880 and the first school was taught that winter. By the early 1880's the town had several businesses and was called home to about 70 people. In June, 1884, the town and post office's name was officially shortened to Cummings. By 1910, the village had grown to some 175 people.

Today, though a small town, Cummings still has a post office. It is located about ten miles southwest of Atchison on U.S. Highway 59.
 

Effingham - Located about seventeen miles southwest of Atchison, Effingham got its start soon after the building of the old Central Branch of the Missouri Pacific Railroad. Its post office opened in January, 1868 and was named for one of the founders of the town. It was laid out on a part of the McGilvery farm, and from the first, was the supply and shipping town for a large and rich agricultural district. Several churches were established early on. The first to be built was the Catholic Church in 1874. It was then attended by the Benedictine Fathers of Atchison who came by horseback to celebrate Mass for the early community. Four years later a resident priest was appointed. By the early 1880's it boasted several general stores, a black smith, bakery, furniture store, three doctors, a grade school and about 400 people. By 1897, the congregation of the St. Ann's Catholic Church had outgrown its church building and a new one began to be built in 1897, which continues stood for the next century. Ten years later, a school was started in a two-room building just west of the the church. Classes were taught by the Benedictine Sisters, who continued their task until 1968, when the school was closed. Unfortunately, the church was destroyed by a fire in April, 2008.

Effingham, Kansas, Kathy Weiser, May, 2010.