Rock, Kansas
{{Short description|Unincorporated community in Cowley County, Kansas}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2017}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name = Rock, Kansas
|settlement_type = CDP
|image_skyline =
|image_caption =
|image_map =
|map_caption =
|image_map1 = Map of Cowley Co, Ks, USA.png
|map_caption1 = KDOT map of Cowley County (legend)
|pushpin_map = Kansas#USA
|pushpin_label = Rock
|pushpin_label_position = left
|coordinates = {{coord|37|26|25|N|97|0|23|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|subdivision_type = Country
|subdivision_name = United States
|subdivision_type1 = State
|subdivision_name1 = Kansas
|subdivision_type2 = County
|subdivision_name2 = Cowley
|subdivision_type3 = Township
|subdivision_name3 =
|established_title = Founded
|established_date =
|established_title1 = Platted
|established_date1 =
|named_for =
|area_footnotes =
|area_total_sq_mi =
|area_land_sq_mi =
|area_water_sq_mi =
|unit_pref = Imperial
|elevation_ft = 1175
|population_as_of = 2020
|population_total = 94
|pop_est_footnotes =
|pop_est_as_of =
|population_est =
|population_density_sq_mi = auto
|population_density_km2 = auto
|timezone = CST
|utc_offset = -6
|timezone_DST = CDT
|utc_offset_DST = -5
|postal_code_type = ZIP code
|postal_code = 67131
|area_code_type = Area code
|area_code = 620
|blank_name = FIPS code
|blank_info = {{FIPS|20|60400}}
|blank1_name = GNIS ID
|blank1_info = 470206 {{GNIS|470206}}
|website =
}}
Rock is a census-designated place (CDP) in Cowley County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 94.{{cite web |title=Profile of Rock, Kansas (CDP) in 2020 |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US2060400 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=April 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220406100324/https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US2060400 |archive-date=April 6, 2022 |url-status=live}}
History
=19th century=
The post office was established on August 12, 1870.{{cite web | url=https://www.kshs.org/geog/geog_postoffices/search/page:2/county:CL | title=Kansas Post Offices, 1828-1961, page 2|page=[https://www.kshs.org/geog/geog_postoffices/search/page:2/county:CL#:~:text=Rock,Open%20in%201961,-Seely 2] | publisher=Kansas Historical Society | accessdate=6 June 2014}}
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.Marion County Kansas : Past and Present; Sondra Van Meter; MB Publishing House; LCCN 72-92041; 344 pages; 1972.{{Cite web |last=Goodman|first=Jon|title=History of Rock Kansas |url=https://www.ksgenweb.org/cowley/towns/Rock/rock.shtml |access-date=25 September 2022|date=26 March 2017 |publisher=The KSGenWeb Project.|location=Arkansas City, Kansas|archive-date=3 August 2021|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210803114809/https://www.ksgenweb.org/cowley/towns/Rock/rock.shtml}} The line was leased and operated by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. The line from Florence to El Dorado was abandoned in 1942.{{Cite web |title=Florence to El Dorado, KS - Abandoned Rails |url=http://www.abandonedrails.com/florence-to-el-dorado |quote=Application for authority to abandon 27.54 miles of railroad between Florence in Marion County and Eldorado in Butler County, Kansas, approximately 27.54 miles.|access-date=25 September 2022|date=3 June 1942|publisher=Harrison, Greg|id=254 ICC 803|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211023074711/http://www.abandonedrails.com/florence-to-el-dorado|archive-date=23 October 2021}}[http://www.abandonedrails.com/Florence_to_El_Dorado Railway Abandonment 1942] The original branch line connected Florence, Burns, De Graff, El Dorado, Augusta, Douglass, Rock, Akron, Winfield and Arkansas City.
=20th century=
In 1905, the nearby Bucher Bridge, on the National Register of Historic Places, was built.
On August 24, 1978, the community was evacuated when a major oxidizer spill at a Titan II ICBM site (533-7) 2.5 miles south of Rock.{{Cite web|url=http://www.techbastard.com/missile/titan2/accident_533-7_1978.php|title = Titan II Accident McConnell AFB, Kansas 1978}} The spill resulted in the deaths of two airmen who were based out of the 381st Strategic Missile Wing, McConnell Air Force Base, approximately 20 miles away.
=21st century=
In 2010, the Keystone XL Pipeline was constructed about 2.5 miles west of Rock, north to south through Butler County, with much controversy over tax exemption and environmental concerns (if a leak ever occurs).[http://www.gpace.org/news/marion-county-commission-calls-out-legislative-leadership-on-pipeline-deal/ Keystone Pipeline - Marion County Commission calls out Legislative Leadership on Pipeline Deal; April 18, 2010.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111022015437/http://www.gpace.org/news/marion-county-commission-calls-out-legislative-leadership-on-pipeline-deal/ |date=October 22, 2011 }}[http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2010/dec/10/transcanada-inspecting-keystone-pipeline/ Keystone Pipeline - TransCanada inspecting pipeline; December 10, 2010.] A pumping station named Rock was built along the pipeline.
Demographics
{{US Census population
|align= left
|2020= 94
|estyear=
|estimate=
|estref=
|align-fn=center
|footnote=[https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html U.S. Decennial Census]
}}
{{clear left}}
File:381st SMW Titan II Missile Sites.png sites around Wichita, active from early-1960s to mid-1980s. Site 533-7 was located 2.5 miles south of Rock.]]
Education
The community is served by Udall USD 463 public school district.
References
{{Reflist}}
Further reading
{{See also|Cowley County, Kansas#Further reading|l1=List of books about Cowley County, Kansas}}
External links
- Cowley County maps: [https://www.ksdot.org/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/burTransPlan/maps/county-pdf/cowley.PDF Current], [https://www.ksdot.org/bureaus/burtransplan/maps/PastPublishedCounty.asp Historic], KDOT
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20051130055333/http://skyways.lib.ks.us/genweb/cowley/towns/Rock/rock.shtml History of Rock, Kansas]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20120806033948/http://www.transcanada.com/docs/Key_Projects/detailed_system_map.pdf Keystone Oil Pipeline], Detailed system map (near Rock)
{{Cowley County, Kansas}}
{{Authority control}}