Hardy is a village of about 97 residents surveyed in spring 1880 on Lincoln Land Company property as the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad built its mainline from Kansas City to Denver. The town grew remarkably fast, and by 1890 supported a glove factory, roller mill, and cigar factory alongside three brick kilns. Sitting between two competing rail lines near the Kansas border gave Hardy advantageous freight rates that helped attract industry in its early decades.

Hardy, a village of about 97 residents near the Kansas border, grew rapidly after its 1880 founding thanks to competing rail lines.