Conway, Kansas

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Conway is an unincorporated community in southwestern Jackson Township, McPherson County, Kansas, United States. It lies along U.S. Route 56 and a Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad line, west of the city of McPherson, the county seat of McPherson County.[1] Its elevation is 1,542 feet (470 m), and it is located at 38°22′10″N 97°47′11″W / 38.36944°N 97.78639°W / 38.36944; -97.78639 (38.3694530, -97.7864348).[2]

History

19th century

1915 Railroad Map of McPherson County

For millennia, the land now known as Kansas was inhabited by Native Americans. In 1803, most of modern Kansas was secured by the United States as part of the Louisiana Purchase. In 1854, the Kansas Territory was organized, then in 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state. In 1867, McPherson County was founded.

In 1878, Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway and parties from Marion County and McPherson County chartered the Marion and McPherson Railway Company.[3] In 1879, a branch line was built from Florence to McPherson, in 1880 it was extended to Lyons, in 1881 it was extended to Ellinwood.[4] The line was leased and operated by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. The line from Florence to Marion, was abandoned in 1968.[5] In 1992, the line from Marion to McPherson was sold to Central Kansas Railway. In 1993, after heavy flood damage, the line from Marion to McPherson was abandoned. The original branch line connected Florence, Marion, Canada, Hillsboro, Lehigh, Canton, Galva, McPherson, Conway, Windom, Little River, Mitchell, Lyons, Chase, Ellinwood.

20th century

The National Old Trails Road, also known as the Ocean-to-Ocean Highway, was established in 1912, and was routed through Windom, Conway, McPherson.

Economy

Conway is home to a large underground refined petroleum storage facility. The storage facility consists of large caverns carved into the underlying salt beds. The storage facility is owned by the National Cooperative Refinery Association in McPherson, KS and has a holding capacity of over 4 million barrels used for gasoline, propane, and other refined petroleum products. The Conway storage facility holds approximately 30% of the propane stored in the United States.[6]

References

Map of McPherson County from KDOT (map legend)
  1. ↑ DeLorme. Kansas Atlas & Gazetteer. 4th ed. Yarmouth: DeLorme, 2009, 48. ISBN 0-89933-342-7.
  2. ↑ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Conway, Kansas
  3. ↑ Marion County Kansas : Past and Present; Sondra Van Meter; MB Publishing House; LCCN 72-92041; 344 pages; 1972.
  4. ↑ Fourth Annual Report of the Board of Railroad Commissioners for the Year Ending December 1, 1886 in State of Kansas; Kansas Publishing House; 1886.
  5. ↑ Railway Abandonment 1968
  6. ↑

Further reading

Kansas
USA

External links

Municipalities and communities of McPherson County, Kansas, United States
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  • Christian
  • Elivon
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‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties
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