Heizer, Kansas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Heizer, Kansas
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 Heizer, Kansas
Location in Kansas
Heizer, Kansas
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Kansas |
| County | Barton |
| Elevation | 1,887 ft (575 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area code | 620 |
| FIPS code | 20-31275 |
| GNIS ID | 475638 |
Heizer, also called Heizerton, is a small, unincorporated community in Barton 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.
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The Story of Heizer
Heizer was founded in the 1880s because the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway needed another stop for trains. This new stop was located northwest of the city of Great Bend, Kansas. The railroad company was building new lines heading southwest.
The community was named after David N. Heizer. He was one of the people who helped start Barton County. He was also a former Mayor of Great Bend and once owned the land where Heizer was built.
For many years, this small settlement grew quickly, especially during the time when railroads were very important in Kansas. At one point, over 100 people lived in Heizer. Many businesses were started during this busy time.
However, life on the Kansas plains became harder over time. The Great Depression in the 1930s and the Dust Bowl hit the area very badly. These events caused many people to leave Kansas. Heizer, like many small towns, saw its population drop a lot. Today, it is thought that only about 20 people live there.
Businesses in Heizer's Past
When Heizer was at its busiest, it had many different businesses. These included a train depot, a blacksmith shop, a hotel, and a stockyard. There was also a lumberyard, a church, and a school. People could find several grain elevators, general stores, and a hardware store. The Heizer Creamery Co. and a bank, started in 1911, also served the community.
Sadly, none of these businesses are open today. Only a few of the original buildings are still standing, and most of them are in poor condition.
The Walnut Creek Bridge
In 1887, Barton County decided to build four iron bridges. The contract for the Walnut Creek Bridge was given to C.R. Lane from Topeka, Kansas. This bridge was planned to be built about half a mile north and half a mile west of Heizer. Lane worked for the Lane Bridge and Iron Works, a company that did metalwork across the Midwest. The company was paid $3,700 for the bridge.
The Walnut Creek Bridge is a special type of bridge called a "pin connected Pratt through truss." It is 115 feet long and 16 feet wide. Its wooden deck is 21 feet above Walnut Creek. What makes this bridge unique is that it was built using wrought-iron. This material is not used for bridges anymore, as steel is now preferred. Also, this bridge is the only one of its kind known to be built by P.E. Lane, who worked for the Lane Bridge and Iron Works company.
The bridge was finished in 1887. This means that horses and wagons were the first to use it, long before cars existed. Later, it carried cars. In 1990, the bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This meant it was recognized as an important historical structure. However, this recognition was not enough to save it from falling apart. Today, the bridge is no longer used. Its main wooden deck has been removed, and the whole structure is considered unsafe.
Interesting People from Heizer
- Jacob Halman invented a new kind of plow point in 1903. A plow point is a part of a farm tool used to turn over soil.
- Fred Garrett, along with Charles Wilkins from Hutchinson, Kansas, created a new design for disk bearings in 1903. These bearings were used in cultivators, which are machines that prepare soil for planting.
- Frank Trauer patented his improvements for locomotive feed-water heaters in 1903. These devices helped steam boilers in trains work better.
Images for kids
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The entrance to the Heizer bank as it looked in 2016.
