Annelly, Kansas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Annelly, Kansas
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1915 Railroad Map of Harvey County
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 Annelly, Kansas
Location in Kansas
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| Country | United States |
| State | Kansas |
| County | Harvey |
| Township | Richland |
| Elevation | 1,388 ft (423 m) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 0 |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area code | 620 |
| FIPS code | 20-01890 |
| GNIS ID | 484651 |
Annelly is a ghost town located in Harvey County, Kansas, United States. It sits about 9 miles southeast of Newton. Once, a Missouri Pacific Railroad line ran through Annelly. However, this track was removed in 2003. Today, the land where Annelly once stood is privately owned farmland.
Contents
Discover Annelly: A Kansas Ghost Town
Annelly's Early Beginnings
For thousands of years, the Great Plains of North America were home to nomadic Native American tribes. Later, in the 16th to 18th centuries, France claimed much of North America. In 1762, France secretly gave its land, called New France, to Spain. This happened after the French and Indian War.
In 1802, Spain returned most of this land to France. Then, in 1803, the United States bought a huge area from France. This was part of the Louisiana Purchase. Modern-day Kansas was included in this large purchase. The U.S. paid about 2.83 cents per acre for 828,000 square miles.
Kansas Becomes a State
In 1854, the Kansas Territory was officially created. Kansas then became the 34th U.S. state in 1861. Harvey County, where Annelly is located, was established in 1872.
The community of Annelly started when the Missouri Pacific railroad was built through the area. A railroad employee named the town Annelly. He combined the names of his wife, Ann, and his daughter, Ellie. Annelly even had its own post office. It operated from August 25, 1885, until December 31, 1921.
Life in Annelly: What Was It Like?
In 1910, Annelly had a small population of 25 people. It was a busy little place for its size. The town had a post office where you could send money orders. It was also a station along the Missouri Pacific Railroad line.
Annelly had a grain elevator, which is a tall building used to store grain. There was also a hotel for travelers and a general store where people could buy everyday items. These places were important for the people living in and around Annelly.
Annelly Today: What Remains?
The railroad track that once ran through Annelly was abandoned in 2003. Today, not much of the original town remains. Only Main Street, also known as Annelly Road or SE 57th Street, still exists. You can reach it from S East Lake Road and SE 60th Street.
Until the early 2010s, an old one-room schoolhouse stood near the townsite. This schoolhouse was later moved to private property. It has been restored and is now on land owned by Lewis Earl Entz. Even after the school closed, this building was a community hub. It was used for 4H meetings and by the Women's Farm Bureau. This group later became the EHU Extension Homemakers Units. For many years, it was also where people in the township went to vote.
A farmhouse on the west end of Main Street is still occupied today. You can still see parts of the old railroad bed passing through the town. There are also some signs of where old buildings and streets used to be. Gypsum Creek, a small stream that flows into the Whitewater River, runs through the Annelly area.
Education
The rural area around Annelly today is part of the Remington USD 206 public school district.
