The city was a whistle-stop of the Missouri Pacific Railroad. It was first named Weeks. The city changed its name to Bushong in 1886. It was named after St. Louis Browns catcher Albert J. "Doc" Bushong. After the Browns' victory in the 1886 World Series over the Chicago White Stockings, the Missouri Pacific Railroad named some of their depots after the some of the St. Louis Browns players. The city of Bushong is the only one still carrying its name from the 1886 World Series.