Detroit, Kansas

Detroit, Kansas from the South viewed from State Highway K-43
Old Detroit school house
"The Beer Joint"

Detroit (pronounced "dee-troit" by local residents) is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Dickinson County, Kansas, United States.

History

It was named after Detroit, Michigan.[1]

In the early years of the county, Detroit was once strongly considered to be the county seat because Abilene was considered to be "too wild" of a town to serve as a center of government. However, Abilene became the county seat and Detroit ceased to grow from that point forward.[2]

A post office was opened in Detroit in 1866, and remained in operation until it was discontinued in 1961.[3]

Detroit was a station on the Union Pacific Railroad.[4]

Geography

It is located halfway between Abilene and Chapman, two miles north of Enterprise. The town is at an elevation of 1,147 feet.[5]

Detroit is a "square" town, two blocks long and two blocks wide. The three north-south streets are Main, Middle, and School. The three east-west streets are First, Second, and Third. There are no more streets in Detroit. All six streets are unpaved.

Commerce

At one time Detroit maintained an active store and grocery, a train depot, a nightclub, a school and a church. In recent years most buildings have collapsed or been renovated for use as a dwelling. The one exception is the pub. Although it has changed ownership and its official business name, locals have simply referred to it as "The Midway" or "The Beer Joint." Because of its proximity to the intersection of county roads, it has become a local landmark.

Agriculture and agriculture-related businesses are the primary economic industries.

The United States Post Office operated a branch in Detroit that opened on April 6, 1866 and ceased operation on June 23, 1961.[6]

Further reading

References

  1. ↑ Heim, Michael (2007). Exploring Kansas Highways. p. 39.
  2. ↑ Cutler, William. "Dickinson County Early History". Kansas Collection of Books. Retrieved March 16, 2012.
  3. ↑ "Kansas Post Offices, 1828-1961 (archived)". Kansas Historical Society. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
  4. ↑ Blackmar, Frank Wilson (1912). Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, Embracing Events, Institutions, Industries, Counties, Cities, Towns, Prominent Persons, Etc. Standard Publishing Company. p. 516.
  5. ↑ Blue Skyways
  6. ↑ Kansas State Historical Society

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Detroit, Kansas.

Coordinates: 38°56′06″N 97°07′15″W / 38.93500°N 97.12083°W