Florence, El Dorado, and Walnut Valley Railroad

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The Florence, El Dorado, and Walnut Valley Railroad was a short-line railroad in central Kansas.

Kansas State of the United States of America

Kansas is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States. Its capital is Topeka and its largest city is Wichita, with its most populated county being Johnson County. Kansas is bordered by Nebraska on the north; Missouri on the east; Oklahoma on the south; and Colorado on the west. Kansas is named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the (south) wind" although this was probably not the term's original meaning. For thousands of years, what is now Kansas was home to numerous and diverse Native American tribes. Tribes in the eastern part of the state generally lived in villages along the river valleys. Tribes in the western part of the state were semi-nomadic and hunted large herds of bison.

Contents

History

In 1877, the Florence, El Dorado, and Walnut Valley Railroad Company built a branch line from Florence to El Dorado. In 1881, it was extended to Douglass, and later to Arkansas City. [1] In 1901, the line was leased and operated by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway, which used the name "Florence & Arkansas City Division" for it. [2]

Florence, Kansas City in Kansas, United States

Florence is a city in Marion County, Kansas, United States. The city was named after the daughter of the third Governor of Kansas Samuel J. Crawford. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 465.

El Dorado, Kansas City and County seat in Kansas, United States

El Dorado is city and county seat of Butler County, Kansas, United States. It is situated along the Walnut River in the central part of Butler County and located in south-central Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 13,021.

Douglass, Kansas City in Kansas, United States

Douglass is a city in Butler County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,700.

The line from Florence to El Dorado was abandoned in 1942 [3] [4] to reclaim the metal rails for the war effort during World War II because of a shortage of materials during those years.

War effort Coordinated mobilization of societys resources towards supporting a military force

In politics and military planning, a war effort refers to a coordinated mobilization of society's resources—both industrial and human—towards the support of a military force. Depending on the militarization of the culture, the relative size of the armed forces and the society supporting them, the style of government, and the popular support for the military objectives, such war effort can range from a small industry to complete command of society.

World War II 1939–1945 global war

World War II, also known as the Second World War, was a global war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. The vast majority of the world's countries—including all the great powers—eventually formed two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis. A state of total war emerged, directly involving more than 100 million people from over 30 countries. The major participants threw their entire economic, industrial, and scientific capabilities behind the war effort, blurring the distinction between civilian and military resources. World War II was the deadliest conflict in human history, marked by 50 to 85 million fatalities, most of whom were civilians in the Soviet Union and China. It included massacres, the genocide of the Holocaust, strategic bombing, premeditated death from starvation and disease, and the only use of nuclear weapons in war.

Currently, the remaining part of the former Florence, El Dorado, and Walnut Valley Railroad that still exists is: [5]

Stations

At a high-level, the railroad connected the primary cities of Florence (north end), El Dorado, Augusta, Winfield, Arkansas City (south end).

Augusta, Kansas City in Kansas, United States

Augusta is a city in Butler County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 9,274.

Winfield, Kansas City and County seat in Kansas, United States

Winfield is a city and county seat of Cowley County, Kansas, United States. It is situated along the Walnut River in South Central Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 12,301 and second most populous city of Cowley County.

Arkansas City, Kansas City in Kansas, United States

Arkansas City is a city in Cowley County, Kansas, United States, situated at the confluence of the Arkansas and Walnut rivers in the southwestern part of the county. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 12,415.

1915 Railroad Map of Marion County Stouffer's Railroad Map of Kansas 1915-1918 Marion County.png
1915 Railroad Map of Marion County
Marion County
Butler County
Cowley County
Rock, Kansas Unincorporated community in Kansas, United States

Rock is an unincorporated community in Cowley County, Kansas, United States. Rock is located at 37.2625°N 97.0023°E.

Akron is an unincorporated community in Fairview Township, Cowley County, Kansas, in the United States. Akron is located at 37°21′06″N97°00′54″W.

See also

Further reading

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Rice County, Kansas County in the United States

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Marion County, Kansas County in the United States

Marion County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 12,660. The county seat is Marion. The county was named in honor of Francis Marion, a Brigadier General of the American Revolutionary War, known as the "Swamp Fox".

Cowley County, Kansas County in the United States

Cowley County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 36,311. Its county seat is Winfield, and its most populous city is Arkansas City.

Butler County, Kansas County in the United States

Butler County is a county located in the southern portion of the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 65,880. Its county seat and most populous city is El Dorado.

Burns, Kansas City in Kansas, United States

Burns is a city in Marion County, Kansas, United States. The city name came from a nearby train station, which was named prior to the city being incorporated. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 228.

Maple City, Kansas Unincorporated community in Kansas, United States

Maple City is a small unincorporated community in Cowley County, Kansas, United States. The post office was established December 16, 1872.

Walnut River (Kansas) river in the United States of America

The Walnut River is a tributary of the Arkansas River, 154 miles (248 km) long, in the Flint Hills region of Kansas in the United States. Via the Arkansas, it is part of the Mississippi River watershed.

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Oursler, Kansas Ghost town in Kansas, United States

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The Marion and McPherson Railroad was a short-line railroad in central Kansas.

References

  1. ↑ Marion County Kansas : Past and Present; Sondra Van Meter; MB Publishing House; LCCN 72-92041; 344 pages; 1972.
  2. ↑ Florence & Arkansas City Division in Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History; Standard Publishing Co; 805 pages; 1912.
  3. ↑ Railway Abandonment 1942
  4. ↑ Burns Suffers From Stopped Rail Service, page 7; Peabody Gazette-Bulletin; 8 pages; October 8, 1942.
  5. ↑ Kansas Railroad Map; KDOT.
  6. ↑ Hampson in Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History; Standard Publishing Co; 805 pages; 1912.
  7. ↑ Akron in Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History; Standard Publishing Co; 805 pages; 1912.
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