The Prairieview Community traces its history to a rural settlement which began in the late 19th century. Miss Alice Rosser opened a school in a brush arbor at Mapes in 1889. Later housed in a one-room building erected on land bought from W. G. Williams, the school also served as a gathering place for worship services and community activities. In 1892 the name of the community was changed to Prairieview. The area economy was based on ranching and farming, for which marketing improved with the arrival of the Santa Fe Railroad in 1906. (1988)