Geneva, Kansas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Geneva, Kansas
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 Geneva, Kansas
Location in Kansas
Geneva, Kansas
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Kansas |
| County | Allen |
| Township | Geneva |
| Founded | 1857 |
| Elevation | 1,020 ft (310 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
66749 (Iola)
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| Area code | 620 |
| FIPS code | 20-26090 |
| GNIS ID | 478117 |
Geneva is a small, quiet place in Allen County, Kansas, in the United States. It's called an "unincorporated community" because it doesn't have its own local government like a city or town does.
Contents
History of Geneva
Geneva was started in the summer of 1857 by a group of people known as "free-state men." These were people who wanted Kansas to become a state where slavery was not allowed.
A group from New York, led by Ephraim Fisk, joined with another group from Michigan, led by Merritt Moore. Together, they formed the Union Settlement Association.
This association chose the northwestern part of Allen County as the perfect spot for their new town. They had big plans! They hoped about 300 families would move there right away.
They decided to create a town that would cover at least 640 acres (2.6 km2) of land. The area was chosen because it had rich, fertile land for farming and lots of trees near the streams.
The settlers also planned to build a large building for a college and an academy. An academy is like a school, often for older students.
Early Building Projects
With so many families expected and big building plans, the first step was to get a saw-mill. A man named L.L. Northrup agreed to build a steam saw-mill.
In return, the colony promised him 160 acres (0.65 km2) of good timber land. They also said they would pay him $15 for every thousand feet of wood he sawed.
The mill was set up in the summer of 1858, right by Indian Creek. However, the settlers didn't provide as much wood for sawing as expected. So, Northrup soon decided to open a store instead.
Challenges and Changes
Even though Geneva started with exciting plans, the dream of building a huge town didn't quite happen. Less than a quarter of the 300 families they hoped for actually moved there.
Many of the settlers who did come were not very wealthy. Because of this lack of money and fewer people, the college was never built. However, an academy was later established in its place.
The people who settled in Geneva were smart and hardworking. They believed that educating young people was very important, even after setting up their farms. So, they quickly built churches and schools.
Life in the Community
By 1869, Geneva was a small but active community. It had two stores where people could buy supplies. There was also a blacksmith shop and a wagon shop.
A hotel provided a place for travelers to stay. The town also had a stone church for the Congregational Church. The academy, which was a two-story wooden building, had been started in 1866.
At this time, about 100 people lived in Geneva. By 1872, more improvements were made, and new businesses tried to open.
However, the town's future depended on a railroad being built through the area. When the railroad plans changed and Geneva didn't get a train line, the community began to shrink.
Geneva had its own post office for many years, from November 1858 until September 1942.
Geography of Geneva
Geneva is located in a specific part of Allen County, Kansas. You can find it north of the Neosho River. It sits between two creeks, Martin Creek and Indian Creek.
The community is entirely within Geneva Township in Allen County. It is about 10 miles northwest of Iola, which is the main town and county seat of Allen County.
