The community was originally founded as Harbine straddling the Nebraska-Kansas state border,[2] and under the latter name was platted in 1877 when it was certain that the B&M Railroad would be extended to that point. When it was discovered in 1889 another post office in Nebraska was named Harbine, the community was renamed to Byron in order to avoid repetition.[3] The post office in Harbine closed in 1883.[4] Currently, the south side of the state border is named Harbine, Kansas and the north side is named Byron, Nebraska.[5]