White Rock is a ghost town in Republic County, Kansas, United States.[1] It is located 6 miles (9.7 km) north of Courtland.

History

Several attempts were made to settle the area,[2] but it wasn't until 1866 when Thomas Lovewell settled the town permanently. White Rock was formally laid out in 1871[3] and school began to be taught that same year.[2] It was considered a desirable location because of its land qualities.[3]

The town was located on the west side of the Republican River in the White Rock township about 14 miles northwest of Belleville. It was the first settlement in the county west of the Republican River. In 1873 there were 3 general stores, a sawmill, a corn mill and a hotel.

In 1878 Republic County voters had the chance to approve $130,000 worth of bonds for the Kansas Pacific railway company to build a railroad line that would have extended from Clifton to the then-thriving towns of Seapo, Belleville and White Rock. County voters defeated the bond issue 1,126 to 850. In White Rock township, only two people voted in favor and 95 against. The last residents of White Rock related that city leaders believed their town was so prosperous that the railroad would build through their town whether or not they approved the bonds to help fund the connection.[4]

As of 1912, there were no businesses and only about 30 people that resided in the location.[5]

References

  1. ↑ "White Rock, Kansas", Geographic Names Information System, United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior
  2. 1 2 Savage, Isaac (1901). A history of Republic County, Kansas : embracing a full and complete account of all the leading events in its history, from its first settlement down to June 1, '01. Beloit, Kansas: Jones & Chubbic. p. 150. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  3. 1 2 Cutler, William (1883). William G. Cutler's History of the State of Kansas. Chicago, Illinois: A. T. Andreas. Archived from the original on March 21, 2003. Retrieved March 27, 2012.
  4. ↑ A Story About White Rock. 2019. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  5. ↑ Blackmar, Frank (1912). Kansas: a cyclopedia of state history, embracing events, institutions, industries, counties, cities, towns, prominent persons, etc. Chicago, Illinois: Standard Publishing Company. p. 907.

Further reading

39°53′10″N 97°55′56″W / 39.88611°N 97.93222°W / 39.88611; -97.93222

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