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Penokee, Kansas facts for kids

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Penokee, Kansas
KDOT map of Graham County (legend)
Penokee, Kansas is located in Kansas
Penokee, Kansas
Penokee, Kansas
Location in Kansas
Penokee, Kansas is located in the United States
Penokee, Kansas
Penokee, Kansas
Location in the United States
Country United States
State Kansas
County Graham
Founded 1880s
Platted 1888
Elevation
2,225 ft (678 m)
Time zone UTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
67659
Area code 785
FIPS code 20-55375
GNIS ID 472354

Penokee is a small, unincorporated community located in Graham County, Kansas, United States. It sits in the beautiful Solomon Valley. 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. Instead, it's governed by the county.

The Story of Penokee's Name

The community of Penokee has an interesting past. It was first started in the 1880s. When it was first planned out in 1888, it was called Reford. To "plat" a town means to draw up a map showing its streets, lots, and public areas. This happened when the railroad lines reached this spot.

However, there was a problem with the name Reford. People often confused it with another town in Kansas called Rexford, Kansas. To avoid this mix-up, the people living in Reford decided to change their town's name. They chose "Penokee" after the Penokee Mountains, which are located near Lake Superior.

Learning in Penokee

Students living in the Penokee area attend public schools managed by the Graham County USD 281 school district. This district provides education for all the young people in the community.

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