Calista, Kansas facts for kids
Calista is a small, unincorporated community in Kingman County, Kansas, United States. An "unincorporated community" means it's a place where people live, but it doesn't have its own local government like a city or town. Calista got its name from the Greek word "Callista," which means "most beautiful."
Contents
The Story of Calista
How Calista Began
Calista became a community in 1886. Before that, there was a community called Maud. Maud existed from 1881 to 1886. Then, the people and buildings from Maud moved to where Calista is now.
Moving for the Railroad
The first Calista was known as "Old Calista." It lasted until 1896. At that time, the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway needed to build tracks through the area. So, the community had to move again to make way for the railroad.
"New" Calista was then founded. It was built about two miles west-southwest of "Old" Calista. This "New" Calista was a small town until 1955.
Calista Today
Today, Calista is much smaller. Only a few buildings remain there. There is also a small grain elevator. This elevator is open for about two weeks each year. This happens during the wheat harvest season.
Where is Calista?
Calista is located in southern Kansas. It is about nine miles west of the city of Kingman. The community is also near the south bank of the Ninnescah River.
Learning in Calista
The students in Calista attend public schools. The community is part of the Kingman–Norwich USD 331 public school district.
