Woodsdale, Kansas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Woodsdale, Kansas
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 Woodsdale, Kansas
Location in Kansas
Woodsdale, Kansas
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Kansas |
| County | Stevens |
| Founded | 1886 |
| Named for | Samuel Wood |
| Elevation | 3,113 ft (949 m) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 0 |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area code | 620 |
| GNIS ID | 482630 |
Woodsdale is a ghost town in Stevens County, Kansas, United States. A ghost town is a place where almost no one lives anymore. Woodsdale was once a busy town. It was part of a big fight called a "county seat war" with another town, Hugoton, in the 1800s.
Contents
The Story of Woodsdale
How Woodsdale Started
Woodsdale was founded in 1886. It was planned to be near the center of Stevens County. The people who started Woodsdale hoped it would become the county seat. The county seat is the main town where the government offices are located.
Two people, Samuel Newitt Wood and I. C. Price, helped build the town. Woodsdale was named after Samuel Wood. The town opened its own post office on November 11, 1886. It officially became an incorporated town on April 11, 1887.
The County Seat War
Woodsdale became involved in a "county seat war." This was a big competition between towns. They wanted to be chosen as the official county seat. The fight between Woodsdale and Hugoton was very intense. It even became violent at times. The governor of Kansas had to send in two groups of the National Guard. The National Guard is like a state military force. They were sent to help keep the peace.
In the end, Woodsdale lost the county seat war to Hugoton. After losing, Woodsdale began to decline. This means fewer people lived there. Businesses started to close.
Woodsdale's Decline
The post office in Woodsdale closed on March 31, 1915. This was a sign that the town was shrinking. Today, there are no buildings or traces left of Woodsdale. It is truly a ghost town. The old town site was about two miles east and six miles north of Hugoton.
Famous People from Woodsdale
- Mabel Walker Willebrandt was born in Woodsdale. She later became a very important lawyer. She was the first woman to be an Assistant Attorney General of the United States.
