Terra Cotta, Kansas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Terra Cotta, Kansas
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 Terra Cotta, Kansas
Location in Kansas
Terra Cotta, Kansas
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Kansas |
| County | Ellsworth |
| Elevation | 1,473 ft (449 m) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 0 |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area code | 785 |
| FIPS code | 20-70175 |
| GNIS ID | 484797 |
Terra Cotta is a ghost town located in Ellsworth County, Kansas, United States. A ghost town is a place where most people have left, and very few or no one lives there anymore.
History of Terra Cotta
Terra Cotta was once a busy little town. It was named for the red clay found in the nearby hills. "Terra Cotta" means "colored earth" in Italian.
Early Days and Growth
The town started in 1867 as a place to ship sand and clay. In 1878, a post office opened, helping people send and receive mail.
Terra Cotta grew to have about 15 to 20 people at first. It added important places like a grocery store, a grain elevator, a lumber yard, and a hotel. There was even a cheese factory and a blacksmith shop. Most of the people living there were farmers and ranchers. At its busiest, about 75 people lived in Terra Cotta.
The town was located along the Kansas Pacific Railway tracks. This made it a great spot for shipping goods. By 1885, Terra Cotta had several stockyards for animals. Between 1886 and 1912, more cattle were shipped from Terra Cotta and nearby Brookville than from any other place between Kansas City and Denver.
Why Terra Cotta Disappeared
Life in Terra Cotta became difficult due to several problems. In 1887, a wildfire burned down the hotel. The next year, a local economic problem caused many families and businesses to leave.
Even though the town was losing people, the Union Pacific Railway built a new train station in 1900. However, by 1910, only about 20 people remained. The post office closed in 1913, which was a sign that the town was fading away.
Today, all that is left of Terra Cotta are the railroad tracks. The old train station was moved to Ellsworth to be part of a museum.
