Blaine, Kansas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Blaine, Kansas
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 Blaine, Kansas
Location in Kansas
Blaine, Kansas
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Kansas |
| County | Pottawatomie |
| Founded | 1873 |
| Platted | 1879 |
| Elevation | 1,506 ft (459 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area code | 785 |
| FIPS code | 20-07175 |
| GNIS ID | 473415 |
Blaine is a small, quiet community in Pottawatomie County, Kansas, United States. It is not a big city, but an "unincorporated community." This means it doesn't have its own local government like a city does. Blaine is located about 29 miles northeast of Manhattan. You can find it where two highways, K-99 and K-16, meet.
Contents
History of Blaine
How Blaine Was Founded
Many of the first families who settled in Blaine came from Ireland. They had moved to America during a very tough time called the Great Famine. This was a period in the 1840s when many people in Ireland faced starvation. These families slowly traveled west to Kansas to find new homes.
They started a settlement along Bluff Creek in 1873. This creek was their main source of water. They named their new town Butler City. It was officially set up in 1879. The town was named after Father Thomas Ambrose Butler, an Irish priest from St. Louis. He encouraged Irish families from a poor neighborhood in St. Louis to move here. About 60 Irish Catholic families were the first to settle in Butler City. A post office opened in Butler City in 1874.
Changing the Town's Name
There was already another town in Kansas named Butler City. So, the residents decided to change their town's name. They chose Blaine after James G. Blaine. He was a famous American politician.
Railroads in Blaine
Railroads were very important for towns back then. A narrow-gauge railroad called the Kansas Central ran through Blaine. A narrow-gauge railroad has tracks that are closer together than standard tracks. This line was later updated by the Union Pacific company. It was used until 1934.
Another small railroad was built from Blaine. It went seven miles south to Westmoreland. This line was first called the Kansas, Southern & Gulf Railway. Later, it became the Westmoreland Interurban Railway. It used a special touring car and trailer on railroad wheels to move goods. This railway was taken apart in 1915.
Blaine's Community and Population
Most of the people in Blaine and the surrounding area were Irish Catholics. But they were not alone. A few German families also joined them in the late 1800s. At its busiest time, about 200 people lived in Blaine. Today, only about 30 people live there. Many of them are descendants of the first families who settled the town.
Religion in Blaine
Catholic Faith in the Community
Blaine has always been a mostly Catholic community. In 1881, the first church was finished. It was named St. Columbkille Catholic Church. A cemetery called Mount Calvary was started in 1885.
In 1908, a larger church was built. It was made of red brick in a Gothic style. This new church replaced the older one. The local Knights of Columbus group was formed in 1921 and is still active today. The church has stayed open even as parishes in rural areas have combined. Weekly Mass is still held there. However, the church now shares a priest with several other churches nearby.
Education in Blaine
Public and Catholic Schools
The public schools for the community are part of the Rock Creek USD 323 school district.
A Catholic school opened in Blaine in 1919. It taught students until 1966. In June 2010, a big storm damaged both the school and the church. The church was repaired, but the school was too damaged to fix. So, it was taken down. Soon after, a new community center was built for parish events and gatherings.
Notable People from Blaine
- Thomas Ambrose Butler (1837–1897) was an Irish American Catholic Priest. He was known for his writings about Irish immigration. He also encouraged Irish settlements in Kansas. He was the founder of Butler City, which later became Blaine.
Images for kids
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Thomas Butler, for whom the town was originally named.
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The original wood-frame church in Butler City.
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The earliest photograph of the still standing church in Blaine.
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