Bonita
Bonita was a small town located five miles south of Olathe along the Kansas City, Fort Scott, and Gulf Railroad. The town was first named Alta by the railroad on account of the location being the highest point along that portion of the railroad. However, Alta conflicted with the name of another Kansas town with an established post office, hence the name of the town was changed to Bonita, meaning “beautiful” in Spanish. The town was first settled on October 17, 1879 and the post office was established on December 1879.
Sources:
Andreas, A. T. History of the State of Kansas. Chicago: A. T. Andreas, 1883. p. 636.
Blair, Ed. History of Johnson County, Kansas. Lawrence, KS: Standard Publishing Co., 1915. p. 177-178.
