Allen, one of the principal towns of Lyon county, is a station on the Missouri Pacific R. R., about 18 miles north of Emporia, the county seat, and 19 miles west of Osage City. Allen was incorporated in 1909 and in 1910 reported a population of 286. It has telegraph and express service, a money order postoffice with two rural routes, a bank, several good mercantile houses, a graded public school, churches of various denominations, and does considerable shipping of live stock and farm products.