A settlement developed in the 1840's in an area located two miles south of the northern boundary of Bates County now known as Crescent Hill. This settlement grew until the Missouri Pacific Railroad was built. The railroad by-passed Crescent Hill as a station because the steepness of the hill made the operation too expensive. Therefore, a new town was established three miles south on more level ground.

On July 6, 1880, Adrian (named after a railway superintendent's son) was laid out by these directors of the Town Company, F. J. Tygard, S. B. Lashbrook, M. S. Cowles, E. H. Brown, C. C. Bassett, and J. L. Pace. The Town Company purchased eighty acres of land from John C. Heath for $1400. After the Town Company purchased the land, Mr. Heath sold his cabin to W. S. Mahan. This became the first home in the new town of Adrian.

The land sold rapidly for dwellings and business establishments. By 1883, the population of Adrian was 350. Because of the tremendous growth, eighty acres of land west of the railroad was added to the town of Adrian. Another eighty acres of land east and south of the original town was purchased by Mr. Huston and Mr. Louis Page.

Lumber yards, grain elevators, an opera house, grocery and dry goods stores, garages and service stations, doctors and dentists, banks and financial institutions were just some of the types of businesses that could soon be found along the streets of Adrian. The first school was built in 1892 across the street north and west of the current school property. By 1883, three churches were established in Adrian.