Lone Oak, Kansas facts for kids

Lone Oak is a small place in Crawford County, Kansas, in the United States. It's called an unincorporated community. This means it's a group of homes and businesses that don't have their own local government, like a city or town does. Instead, it's usually managed by the county government.

A Look Back: Lone Oak's History

Lone Oak has a short but interesting history, especially related to its early days.

The Post Office

One important part of any community is its post office. Lone Oak had its own post office for a short time. It first opened its doors in 1884. However, it didn't stay open for very long. The post office closed just two years later, in 1886.

Coal Mining Days

In the past, Lone Oak was well-known for its coal mining operations. Coal mining was a big industry in many parts of Kansas during the late 1800s. Miners would dig deep underground to extract coal, which was used to power trains, factories, and heat homes.

Sadly, working in coal mines could be very dangerous. In 1885, a serious accident happened in the shaft of the Lone Oak Coal Company. This event caused injuries to several miners, and two miners tragically lost their lives.