Empire City, Kansas facts for kids
Empire City is a small place in Cherokee County, Kansas, United States. It's known as an unincorporated community, which means it's a group of homes and buildings that doesn't have its own local government, like a mayor or city council. Instead, the county government helps take care of things for the people living there. Empire City is located at 37°05′21″N 94°38′31″W / 37.08917°N 94.64194°W.
What is Empire City?
Empire City is a quiet community where people live, but it's not officially a city or town with its own local government. Imagine a neighborhood or a small village that relies on the larger county for services like roads, police, and fire protection. This is what an unincorporated community is like. People who live in Empire City are part of Cherokee County, Kansas, and they follow the rules and receive services from the county government.
Where is Empire City?
Empire City is located in the southeastern part of Kansas, a state in the central United States. Kansas is often called the "Sunflower State" and is known for its wide-open plains and farming. Cherokee County is right on the border with Missouri and Oklahoma, making Empire City close to three different states! This location means residents might be able to visit nearby cities and towns in all three states.
A Look at Its Past
Like many small communities, Empire City has a history that tells us about how people lived and connected in the past. Even though it's a small place, it once had an important service that helped people communicate and receive goods.
The Post Office Story
For many years, Empire City had its own post office. A post office is a place where people can send and receive letters, packages, and other mail. It was a very important part of community life, especially before phones and the internet became common. People would visit the post office to send news to family far away or to get important documents. Having a post office meant that Empire City was a recognized place where mail could be delivered directly. However, the post office in Empire City was closed down in 1913. This often happened in small communities as populations changed or as mail delivery methods became more centralized.
