Webster, Kansas

Webster was an unincorporated community in Belmont Township, Rooks County, Kansas, United States.[1]

Webster, Kansas
Unincorporated community
Webster street scene (est. early 1900s)
Webster street scene (est. early 1900s)
KDOT map of Rooks County (legend)
KDOT map of Rooks County (legend)
Webster is located in Kansas
Webster
Webster
Webster is located in the United States
Webster
Webster
Coordinates: 39°24′06″N 99°26′09″W[1]
CountryUnited States
StateKansas
CountyRooks
TownshipBelmont
Foundedlate 1870s
Platted1885
Named forDaniel Webster
Elevation
[1]
1,870 ft (570 m)
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
67669
Area code785
FIPS code20-76265
GNIS ID484592 [1]

History

The community of Webster was established in the Solomon Valley along the South Fork Solomon River in the late 1870s. Webster was created from two settlements; Webster settled on the north side of the river and Belmont that originated on the south side of the river.

Belmont was founded as a trading post in 1876. Due to flooding, the Belmont settlement was moved across the river adjoining the Webster settlement. Belmont was first to file an application for a post office. The Belmont application was denied as another Kansas town had previously been granted the name. Instead, Webster was granted a post office in 1879.[2]

Webster, named for Daniel Webster, was surveyed, platted and filed in 1885. The town was never incorporated.[3]

In 1888, Webster had two doctors, two churches, a school and 24 businesses. A large city park called The Grove featured towering cottonwood trees. The population in 1910 was 200.[4]

Construction of Webster Dam on the South Fork Solomon River was approved in 1953. Webster Reservoir would encompass the area occupied by the town of Webster. As a result, the town was relocated 2 miles to the southeast. Many businesses and residents chose not to relocate to the new town site.[5]

Geography

Webster lies approximately 0.5 miles (0.80 km) south-southeast of Webster Dam in the Smoky Hills region of the Great Plains.[6][7] Webster is 0.3 miles (0.48 km) east of Kansas Highway 258, 2.5 miles (4.0 km) south of U.S. Route 24, and roughly 8 miles (13 km) west-southwest of Stockton, the county seat.[6]

The original site of Webster was located at 39°24′06″N 99°26′09″W (39.4016756, -99.4359370), a location now submerged beneath Webster Reservoir. The site had an elevation of 1,893 feet (577 m).[1]

Education

Webster High School was closed in 1963. The grade school closed in 1969.[5] The Webster High School mascot was Webster Eagles.

Transportation

Webster lies at the intersection of two unpaved county roads: 11 Road, which runs north-south, and M Terrace, which runs east-west.[6]

References
  1. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Webster, Kansas
  2. "Kansas Post Offices, 1828-1961". Kansas Historical Society. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
  3. "Origin of Town Names" (PDF). Solomon Valley Highway 24 Heritage Alliance. p. 5. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  4. Blackmar, Frank Wilson (1912). Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, Volume 2, Chicago: Standard Publishing Company, p. 898
  5. "History of Webster" (PDF). Solomon Valley Highway 24 Heritage Foundation. Retrieved 30 December 2016.
  6. "General Highway Map - Rooks County, Kansas". Kansas Department of Transportation. January 2010. Retrieved 2015-11-19.
  7. "2003-2004 Official Transportation Map" (PDF). Kansas Department of Transportation. 2003. Retrieved 2015-11-19.

Further reading
See also: List of books about Rooks County, Kansas
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