Hesper, Kansas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hesper, Kansas
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Hesper Friends Church, organized in 1858
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 Hesper, Kansas
Location in Kansas
Hesper, Kansas
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Kansas |
| County | Douglas |
| Elevation | 922 ft (281 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area code | 785 |
| FIPS code | 20-31550 |
| GNIS ID | 479160 |
Hesper is a small, unincorporated community in Douglas County, Kansas, United States. An unincorporated community means it's a recognized place, but it doesn't have its own local government like a city or town. You can find Hesper about two and a half miles southeast of Eudora.
Hesper's Early Days
Hesper was started in 1858. It was founded by a group of people called the Quakers. They wanted to help the "free-state" cause in Kansas. This meant they were against slavery and wanted Kansas to become a state where slavery was not allowed.
In 1884, a school called the Hesper Academy opened in the community. It helped educate local students for many years. However, the academy closed its doors in 1912.
Hesper also had its own post office for a while. It opened in 1868. People could send and receive mail there. The post office stayed open until 1900, when it was closed down.
Learning in Hesper
Today, students living in the Hesper area attend public schools. The community is part of the Eudora USD 491 public school district. This district provides education for children from elementary grades through high school.
Famous Folks from Hesper
Even though Hesper is a small community, some notable people have connections to it. These are people who became well-known for their achievements.
- James Davis was from Hesper. He later helped start Friends University in Wichita. This university is a private Christian college.
- John H. Outland was born in Hesper. He became a famous college football player and coach. He was so important in football that a special award is named after him. It's called the Outland Trophy, given to the best college interior lineman each year.
- Walter R. Stubbs grew up near Hesper. He went on to become the Governor of Kansas. He served as governor from 1909 to 1913.
