Alexander, Kansas facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Alexander, Kansas
City
Location within Rush County and Kansas
KDOT map of Rush County (legend)
Country	United States
State	Kansas
County	Rush
Founded	1869
Incorporated	1926
Named for	Alexander Harvey
Area
• Total	0.26 sq mi (0.67 km2)
• Land	0.26 sq mi (0.67 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	2,077 ft (633 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	54
• Density	208/sq mi (80.6/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	67513
Area code	785
FIPS code	20-01050
GNIS ID	2393916

Alexander is a small city located in Rush County, Kansas, in the United States. In 2020, about 54 people lived there. It's known for its interesting history and its role in the early settlement of Kansas.

History of Alexander

Early Days: The 1800s

Alexander is the oldest city in Rush County, Kansas. It was started in 1869. The city became an important stop on the Fort Hays/Fort Dodge Trail. This trail was also part of the famous Santa Fe Trail.

The town got its name from Alexander Harvey. He was a Scottish immigrant. Harvey ran a trading post where people could trade goods. This post was located where the trail crossed the Wet Walnut Creek.

Alexander Harvey was a very important person in the western settlement. He was friends with William Bent, a famous trapper and trader. Bent built a well-known fort called Bent's Fort in Colorado. Harvey's daughter, Adaline, even married William Bent.

In its early years, Alexander was a busy trading spot. Trappers, buffalo hunters, and people who caught wild horses visited often. Famous figures like Buffalo Bill Cody and George Custer also traveled through the community. Alexander Harvey himself was once a soldier in the 6th Cavalry.

The first post office in Alexander opened in February 1874. This helped the growing community stay connected.

At its busiest in the late 1800s, Alexander had many businesses. It had a bank, a hospital, and even a newspaper. There was also a lumberyard and a Santa Fe Railroad Depot. The town also had a hotel, several churches, and many grocery stores.

Businesses in Alexander also included places to buy cream and eggs. There was a railroad stockyard for shipping cattle and sheep. The town also had many large buildings called grain elevators. These stored grain from local farms.

Alexander Today: The 2000s

Today, you can still see the old three-story brick school building in Alexander. It stands as a landmark along the K-96 highway. The old Alexander State Bank Building has been rebuilt. It is now used by NJR Clean Energy for their operations.

Alexander still has the biggest grain elevator in Rush County. This elevator is owned by local farmers. It helps them store and sell their crops. Another business in town is Grumbine's Metal Scrap Yard.

In 2015, a big project called the "Alexander Wind Farm" was built. It is located south of the city. This wind farm cost about $85 million to build. It creates 48 Megawatts of electricity. The Alexander Wind Farm started making power on January 1, 2016.

Geography and Climate

Alexander is a small city. It covers about 0.25 square miles (0.67 square kilometers) of land. There is no water area within the city limits.

The weather in Alexander has hot, humid summers. Winters are usually mild to cool. This type of weather is called a humid subtropical climate.

Population Changes

The population of Alexander has changed over the years. In 1930, there were 202 people living in the city. By 2020, the population was 54 people.

Education

The public schools in Alexander are part of the La Crosse USD 395 school district.

Alexander High School used to be in the city. It closed in 1966 when schools were combined. The school's mascot was the Whippets.

See also

In Spanish: Alexander (Kansas) para niños