Wadsworth, Kansas facts for kids
Wadsworth was a small place, not officially a city or town, in Delaware Township, Leavenworth County, Kansas, United States. It was part of the larger Kansas City metropolitan area, which is a big group of cities and towns connected together.
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History of Wadsworth
Building a Home for Soldiers
The story of Wadsworth began in 1885. The city of Leavenworth gave some land to build a special place for soldiers. This place was called the Western Branch of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers (NHDVS). It was a home for soldiers who had been hurt or could no longer serve in the military.
In 1886, a post office opened in this area. It was named "National Military Home." The local train station for the Santa Fe Railway also used this name.
Changing Names Over Time
Over the years, the names of the post office and the area changed several times:
- In 1932, the post office was renamed "Veterans Administration Home."
- In 1936, it was renamed "Wadsworth." The train station also changed its name to Wadsworth.
The name "Wadsworth" was chosen to honor two important leaders of the NHDVS. They were Major James Wolcott Wadsworth Sr. and Colonel Charles W. Wadsworth. Even though they had the same last name, they were not related. Both men helped manage the homes for soldiers.
In 1963, the Wadsworth Post Office was given its own Zip Code, 66089. A Zip Code helps mail get to the right place.
Becoming Part of Leavenworth
Around 1971, the Wadsworth area became part of the nearby city of Leavenworth. This means Leavenworth officially took over the area. When this happened, the Wadsworth post office changed its name again. It became the Veterans Administration Center station of the Leavenworth Post Office.
The hospital in the area was renamed the Dwight D. Eisenhower VA Medical Center. The cemetery there became the Leavenworth National Cemetery.
In 1995, a new building for veterans was constructed. It was built west of the medical center. The older buildings for veterans were empty for a while. Then, starting in 2006, they were turned into apartments for veterans. This project was called Eisenhower Ridge.
