Centropolis, Kansas

Centropolis is an unincorporated community in Franklin County, Kansas, United States.[1] It is located about 11 miles northwest of Ottawa. In the 1850s, Centropolis had the distinction of briefly vying for territorial capital of Kansas.

History

The area was first settled by Perry Fuller in 1855 who established a store in order to trade with the nearby Ottawa Indians. His store prospered and in 1856 he established the Centropolis Town Company and began selling lots.[2] The community name is a portmanteau of central and metropolis. A missionary newspaper published by Jotham Meeker for the Ottawa Baptist Mission was the first newspaper in Franklin County. The first commercial newspaper in the County, the Kansas Leader, was founded in 1857. Not only did Fuller expect his new town to become county seat but also the territorial capital of Kansas and eventually state capital.[3]

Just a couple miles east of Centropolis, St. Bernard was established and the Territorial Legislature made St. Bernard the Franklin County seat[4] but despite having the county seat, St. Bernard did not grow and post office was closed and renamed Minneola.

The Centropolis post office closed in 1930.[5]

Geography

Centropolis has an elevation of 961 feet (293 m).[1]

Demographics

For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau has defined this community as a census-designated place (CDP).

References
  1. "Centropolis, Kansas", Geographic Names Information System, United States Geological Survey
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-06-07. Retrieved 2019-02-14.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. kancoll.com
  4. Ghost Towns of Kansas: A Traveler's Guide by Daniel Fitzgerald. University Press of Kansas. 1988.
  5. "Kansas Post Offices, 1828-1961 (archived)". Kansas Historical Society. Archived from the original on October 9, 2013. Retrieved 10 June 2014.

Further reading
See also: List of books about Franklin County, Kansas


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