Cawker City, the second largest town in Mitchell county, is located in Cawker township in the northwestern part of the county, near the junction of the north and south forks of the Solomon river and on the Missouri Pacific R. R. 18 miles west of Beloit, the county seat. It is an incorporated city of the third class, has a public library, an opera house, 2 banks, flour mill, a creamery, a grain elevator, 2 weekly newspapers (the Ledger and the Public Record), express and telegraph offices, and an international money order postoffice with four rural routes. The population in 1910 was 870.

Cawker city was founded in 1870 by E. H. Cawker, J. P. Rice and R. G. F. Kshinka of Milwaukee, and John J. Huckle of Towanda, Pa. The first building was erected by F. H. Cawker. Mr. Huckle built a dwelling and then returned to Pennsylvania and brought out a colony of his neighbors. By June, 1870, a steam sawmill was in operation. The plat of the town was not recorded until 1871. The government located a land office here in 1872. In 1874 it was taken to Kirwin, which was more centrally located. The town was incorporated that year as a city of the third class and an election held, at which the following officers were chosen: Mayor, F. J. Knight; councilmen, A. Parker, D. A. Hauling, W. Woodmansee, P. Wolf and J. A. Pope; police judge, L. S. Tucker.