kids encyclopedia robot

Arkalon, Kansas facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Arkalon, Kansas
A pack train of burros in front of the bank in Arkalon (circa 1880-1899)
A pack train of burros in front of the bank in Arkalon (circa 1880-1899)
KDOT map of Seward County (legend)
Arkalon, Kansas is located in Kansas
Arkalon, Kansas
Arkalon, Kansas
Location in Kansas
Arkalon, Kansas is located in the United States
Arkalon, Kansas
Arkalon, Kansas
Location in the United States
Country United States
State Kansas
County Seward
Founded 1888
Platted 1888
Named for Arkalon Tenney
Elevation
2,618 ft (798 m)
Population
 • Total 0
Time zone UTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
Area code 620
FIPS code 20-02290
GNIS ID 484534

Arkalon is a ghost town in Seward County, Kansas, United States. It was located northeast of Liberal on the west side of the Cimarron River.

History

After the Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway built through the area in 1888, a townsite sprang up and platted in 1888. The town was named Arkalon for Arkalon Tenny, the father of the first postmaster of the town. A post office called Arkalon was established in 1888 and remained in operation until 1929.

The Arkalon News newspaper was published from April 1888 until December 1892. In 1891, a one-room school house was opened for children. A large stockyard was erected for shipping cattle to market. While the nearby river held promise for the early settlers, they soon found that the bottom land next the Cimarron River was too sandy for farming and flooded too often. By the 1920s most of the early settlers had left, leaving only the railroad and stockyards behind.

Historical photos
Historical railroad trestle - "Samson of the Cimarron"
Maps
  • Seward County Maps: Current, Historic, KDOT
kids search engine
Arkalon, Kansas Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.