Create custom pages in WordPress
If you want to create custom pages in WordPress, there are a few extra steps you’ll need to take, other than simply creating the page in the WordPress admin.
For follow along purposes, I’m creating a sitemap on a separate page. I’m using the Sitemap Generator Plugin for WordPress
Create a file, based on the template you’re currently using. The code pictured below should be in that template. You can get the text file here for copying and pasting: https://elizabethramer.com/customwordpresspagecode.txt
Name the page sitemap.php and upload to /wp-content/themes/whatever your theme is/ folder
Log in to WordPress, and go to Write/ Write Page
Go to the page template box, on the right hand side of your WordPress admin.
Click the dropdown box.
You should now see at least 1 selection to choose. I’ve got sitemap highlighted, that’s the one you choose.
Title your page, add whatever text you want as you normally would within the WordPress admin. You can also add text to the sitemap.php page you uploaded earlier. It’s your choice.
The sitemap page will now show up under your “pages” section of your wordpress blog.
If you don’t want the customized WordPress page to show up there, and prefer linking to it differently, you’ll need to go into manage pages, find the sitemap page, note the ID number on the left, and use this code right under where ever your pages are listed on your blog (usually in the sidebar):
< ?php wp_list_pages ('exclude=123'); ?>
Be sure to replace 123 with your page ID number.
You can use this method to you want to specially customize, add code to in WordPress. The possibilities are endless.
Disclaimer:
It should be noted that this information is really quite old and probably outdated.