Walker, Kansas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Walker, Kansas
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 Walker, Kansas
Location in Kansas
Walker, Kansas
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Kansas |
| County | Ellis |
| Founded | 1872 |
| Named for | Robert J. Walker |
| Elevation | 1,942 ft (592 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
67674
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| Area code | 785 |
| FIPS code | 20-74675 |
| GNIS ID | 475301 |
Walker is a small community in Ellis County, Kansas, United States. It's called an unincorporated community because it doesn't have its own local government like a city does. Walker is located between the towns of Hays and Russell. You can find it along old Highway 40, just north of Interstate 70. The community has its own post office with the ZIP code 67674.
Contents
History of Walker, Kansas
Early Settlers and Naming
People from Ohio first settled Walker in 1872. They probably named the community after Robert J. Walker. He was the fourth Territorial Governor of Kansas. From 1876 to 1878, more settlers arrived. These included Volga German immigrants and Germans from Ohio and Kentucky. These new residents spoke a dialect called Plattdeutsch.
Community Buildings and Growth
Walker's first post office opened in 1873. It closed for a short time in 1876, then reopened in 1878. St. Ann's Church was built and opened in 1905. The community's first school was built in 1893. A second school building followed in 1925. The school is now closed, but it is still used as a community center.
Walker Army Airfield and World War II
In 1942, the U.S. Army built Walker Army Airfield. It was located northwest of Walker. During World War II, thousands of soldiers were stationed there. They mostly trained to fly the Boeing B-29 Superfortress bomber aircraft. The military closed the base in 1946.
Modern Transportation Arrives
Construction of Interstate 70 reached Walker in 1966. This major highway now passes right south of the community.
Geography of Walker
Walker is located about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) west of Walker Creek. This creek is part of the Smoky Hill River system. The area is known as the Smoky Hills region, which is part of the Great Plains. Walker is just north of Interstate 70. It is about 13 miles (21 km) east of Hays, which is the main town of Ellis County.
Transportation Routes
Roads in Walker
Walker Avenue is a paved county road. It runs north and south through Walker. This road crosses Interstate 70 and U.S. Route 40. These two highways run together, east to west, just south of town. The old path of U.S. 40 is now a paved county road. It runs northeast to southwest through Walker.
Railroad Lines
The Kansas Pacific (KP) line of the Union Pacific Railroad also runs through Walker. It goes northeast to southwest, next to the old U.S. 40 road.
