Vinland, Kansas

The first settlement was made at Vinland in 1854.[2] In the earliest days of the community, some called it "Coal Creek", due to deposits of the sedimentary rock in a nearby waterway.[3] The settlement eventually earned the name "Vineland" (after the orchard of one of the first settlers, William Barnes), which later evolved into "Vinland" after a clerical error. Most of the settlers of the early community were abolitionists or Free-Staters from New England, and consequently, they opposed the extension of slavery into Kansas Territory.[4][5]

In 1859, Annie Soule and Martha Cutter helped found a library (and an associated book club), in the hopes that it "would contribute to the 'moral, social, and intellectual improvement of [the settlement's] members";[5] specifically, they hoped "to prevent dancing from becoming the only amusement in the community."[3] The library initially boasted a collection 10 books (which eventually grew to over 2,000), and residents of the small town were allowed to check them out if they contributed an annual fee of 50 cents.[6][7] The building that currently holds the collection was constructed in 1900 when the community's book supply grew too large.[7] Today, Coal Creek Library is considered the oldest subscription library in the state.[5]

Vinland was not legally platted until the 1860s.[8] A post office was opened in Vinland in 1868, and remained in operation until 1954.[9] In 1912, the population of the settlement was 75, and it housed "a fine agricultural district ... [and] express and telegraph facilities".[2] Today, the Vinland Grange Hall is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[10]

• Douglas County maps: Current, Historic, KDOT