Webster, Kansas
{{Short description|Unincorporated community in Rooks County, Kansas}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name = Webster, Kansas
|settlement_type = Unincorporated community
|image_skyline = File:Webster - Kansas - Livery and Feed.jpg
|image_caption = Webster street scene (est. early 1900s)
|image_map =
|map_caption =
|image_map1 = Map of Rooks Co, Ks, USA.png
|map_caption1 = KDOT map of Rooks County (legend)
|pushpin_map = Kansas#USA
|pushpin_label = Webster
|pushpin_label_position = left
|pushpin_map_caption =
|coordinates = {{coord|39|24|06|N|99|26|09|W|region:US-KS_type:city_source:GNIS|display=inline,title}}
|subdivision_type = Country
|subdivision_name = United States
|subdivision_type1 = State
|subdivision_name1 = Kansas
|subdivision_type2 = County
|subdivision_name2 = Rooks
|subdivision_type3 = Township
|subdivision_name3 = Belmont
|established_title = Founded
|established_date = late 1870s
|established_title1 = Platted
|established_date1 = 1885
|named_for = Daniel Webster
|area_footnotes =
|area_total_sq_mi =
|area_land_sq_mi =
|area_water_sq_mi =
|unit_pref = Imperial
|elevation_ft = 1870
|population_footnotes =
|population_as_of =
|population_total =
|pop_est_footnotes =
|pop_est_as_of =
|population_est =
|population_density_sq_mi = auto
|timezone = CST
|utc_offset = -6
|timezone_DST = CDT
|utc_offset_DST = -5
|postal_code_type = ZIP code
|postal_code = 67669
|area_code_type = Area code
|area_code = 785
|blank_name = FIPS code
|blank_info = 20-76265
|blank1_name = GNIS ID
|blank1_info = 484592 {{GNIS|484592}}
|website =
}}
Webster was an unincorporated community in Belmont Township, Rooks County, Kansas, United States.
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.{{cite web | title = Kansas Post Offices, 1828-1961 | publisher = Kansas Historical Society | url = https://www.kshs.org/geog/geog_postoffices/search/placename:Webster | accessdate = 20 December 2016}}
Webster, named for Daniel Webster, was surveyed, platted and filed in 1885. The town was never incorporated.{{cite web | url=http://www.hwy24.org/uploads/2/6/1/8/26189167/28_town_names.pdf | title=Origin of Town Names | publisher=Solomon Valley Highway 24 Heritage Alliance | accessdate=9 April 2018 | pages=5}}
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.Blackmar, Frank Wilson (1912). Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, Volume 2, Chicago: Standard Publishing Company, p. 898
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.{{cite web | title = History of Webster | publisher = Solomon Valley Highway 24 Heritage Foundation | url = http://www.hwy24.org/uploads/2/6/1/8/26189167/webster.pdf | accessdate = 30 December 2016 }}
Geography
Webster lies approximately {{convert|0.5|mi|km}} south-southeast of Webster Dam in the Smoky Hills region of the Great Plains.{{cite web | title = General Highway Map - Rooks County, Kansas | publisher = Kansas Department of Transportation | date = January 2010 | url = https://www.ksdot.org/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/burTransPlan/maps/county-dgn/rooks.JPG | accessdate = 2015-11-19}}{{cite web | title = 2003-2004 Official Transportation Map | publisher = Kansas Department of Transportation | year = 2003 | url = http://www.ksdot.org/burtransplan/maps/HistoricStateMaps/2003-04Mapside.pdf | accessdate = 2015-11-19}} Webster is {{convert|0.3|mi|km}} east of Kansas Highway 258, {{convert|2.5|mi|km}} south of U.S. Route 24, and roughly {{convert|8|mi|km}} west-southwest of Stockton, the county seat.
The original site of Webster was located at {{coord|39|24|06|N|99|26|09|W|type:city}} (39.4016756, -99.4359370), a location now submerged beneath Webster Reservoir. The site had an elevation of {{convert|1893|ft|m}}.
Education
Transportation
References
{{Reflist}}
Further reading
{{See also|Rooks County, Kansas#Further reading|l1=List of books about Rooks County, Kansas}}
External links
- [http://rookscounty.net/ Rooks County]
- [http://specialcollections.wichita.edu/kw/towns.asp?town=Webster&county=Rooks Historic Images], Wichita State University Library
- Rooks County maps: [https://www.ksdot.org/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/burTransPlan/maps/county-pdf/rooks.PDF Current], [https://www.ksdot.org/bureaus/burtransplan/maps/PastPublishedCounty.asp Historic], KDOT
{{Rooks County, Kansas}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Former populated places in Rooks County, Kansas
Category:Former populated places in Kansas
Category:1885 establishments in Kansas