You’ll find the ghost town of Blakeman nestled five miles west of Atwood, Kansas, where the Burlington and Missouri Railroad‘s grand vision for a thriving prairie hub emerged in 1886. Originally named Weeks, this settlement reached 100 residents by 1910 before its decline. The Lincoln Land Company’s failed bid to make Blakeman the county seat, coupled with fierce local resistance, led to its transformation into farmland. The town’s ruins hold fascinating tales of railroad ambitions and political power struggles.
Key Takeaways
- Blakeman was established in 1886 by the Burlington and Missouri Railroad as a promising prairie settlement five miles west of Atwood, Kansas.
- Originally named Weeks, the town peaked at 100 residents by 1910 before its decline into abandoned farmland.
- Failed attempts to make Blakeman the county seat, opposed by Atwood, contributed significantly to the town’s eventual abandonment.
- Lincoln Land Company’s unsuccessful development plans and subsequent sale of assets to W.E. Thompson marked the end of Blakeman’s urban aspirations.
- Buildings were relocated back to Atwood as residents departed, transforming the once-bustling railroad town into vacant agricultural land.
The Birth of a Railroad Town
When the Burlington and Missouri Railroad laid tracks north of Atwood in 1886, they set their sights on establishing a promising new settlement in Logan Township, Rawlins County, Kansas.
You’ll find the town’s strategic location near the junction of Middle and North Beaver Creeks, just five miles west of Atwood, wasn’t chosen by chance. The Lincoln Land Company, working hand in hand with the railroad, carefully planned the town’s layout and development.
As railroad construction pushed westward from Orleans, Nebraska, the company’s vision for Blakeman took shape. By 1910, the growing community had reached a population of one hundred residents.
Originally named Weeks, the settlement was renamed Blakeman on August 5, 1887. Town planning included a large depot and the relocation of several buildings from Atwood, reflecting the railroad’s determination to create a thriving commercial hub along their expanding line. The town’s fate was sealed when it was sold as farmland in 1910.
Political Power Struggle for County Seat
Shortly after establishing Blakeman, the Burlington and Missouri Railroad launched an ambitious plan to wrestle the county seat designation away from Atwood.
You’d have witnessed the dramatic political dynamics unfold as the railroad’s subsidiary, Lincoln Land Company, constructed a prominent depot and orchestrated the relocation of several Atwood buildings to bolster Blakeman’s legitimacy.
When Blakeman’s supporters filed a petition for a county seat election, they hit a significant roadblock. The county commissioners rejected it, citing insufficient voter signatures – the law required a three-fifths majority.
Even an appeal to the Kansas Supreme Court couldn’t overturn the decision. The stalemate dragged on for years until the railroad finally abandoned its quest, leaving Blakeman’s dreams of political dominance to fade into the Kansas prairie.
The town, established near Middle and North Beaver Creeks, remained an important junction point despite losing the county seat battle.
Lincoln Land Company’s Strategic Vision
You’ll find that the Lincoln Land Company‘s ambitious vision for Blakeman centered on transforming raw Kansas prairie into a thriving railroad hub and county seat through strategic infrastructure investments and building relocations from nearby Atwood.
Much like Frontier Guard actions to protect Lincoln in Washington, resolute leadership was needed to establish new settlements in Kansas Territory during turbulent times.
Despite investing heavily in a large depot and orchestrating an organized campaign to secure county seat status, the company’s plans were ultimately thwarted by legal defeats at the Kansas Supreme Court and insufficient voter support.
Key figures like Freeling Tufts and Deane played central roles in the development strategy for the region, though their efforts proved unsuccessful.
The railroad’s grand designs for Blakeman faded into memory as the town declined, with the company eventually selling off its assets to W.E. Thompson, marking the end of its failed land development scheme.
Railroad’s Failed Land Grab
In the early 1900s, the Lincoln Land Company, a subsidiary of the Burlington and Missouri Railroad, orchestrated an ambitious plan to establish Blakeman as a rival to the existing county seat of Atwood.
You can trace their railroad expansion strategy through their deliberate placement of tracks north of Atwood, where they built a large depot at the junction of Middle and North Beaver Creeks. This expansion reflected the intense railroad building period that swept across America until 1873. Much like the Santa Fe Railroad in 1872, they sought to rapidly extend their reach across Kansas.
Their town planning efforts included moving buildings from Atwood to Blakeman and filing petitions to relocate the county seat.
But you’ll find their ambitions were thwarted when county commissioners rejected their petition for lacking sufficient voter support. After the Kansas Supreme Court upheld this decision, the railroad’s dreams crumbled.
Development Plans Fade Away
Despite grand ambitions for Blakeman’s development, Lincoln Land Company’s strategic vision began unraveling as market conditions shifted against their plans.
You would’ve seen their initial optimism fade as development challenges mounted – from costly infrastructure demands to complex zoning approvals that hindered construction.
Economic factors dealt the heaviest blows. Agricultural struggles discouraged settlers, while nearby towns with better rail connections drew away potential residents.
You’d have noticed the company’s promotional activities dwindling as sales offices closed and marketing campaigns quieted.
Their once-ambitious vision of a bustling railroad hub withered under the weight of reduced financing options and weakened investor interest.
What remained was mostly unsold lots, with the land eventually reverting to farmland or selling at bargain prices – a stark reminder of unrealized dreams in America’s heartland.
From Bustling Settlement to Farmland
As railroad tracks stretched across Rawlins County in 1887, Blakeman emerged as a promising settlement with a newly established post office and an impressive depot.
You’d have seen buildings moved from Atwood, their wooden frames settling into the prairie landscape as the Burlington and Missouri Railroad aimed to create a thriving hub of economic sustainability.
Yet the town’s hopes of becoming a county seat were dashed when voters chose to keep Atwood’s status intact.
In a pivotal vote, Blakeman’s ambitions crumbled as residents affirmed Atwood’s position as the rightful county seat.
The shifting community dynamics led to a gradual exodus, with many buildings being hauled back to Atwood.
Like many towns impacted by bad weather conditions, Blakeman’s fate was sealed by devastating storms that further discouraged settlement.
Much like Mindenmines, Missouri in 1920, the decline of local industry spelled the end for this once-hopeful community.
Where merchants once traded and railroad workers bustled about, you’ll now find only farmland stretching to the horizon.
The land where Blakeman stood hasn’t been forgotten – it’s simply transformed, trading urban dreams for agricultural purpose.
Life Along the Beaver Creeks
Life near Beaver Creek painted a different picture from Blakeman’s brief urban experiment. You’d find early settlers establishing homesteads along this essential water source, where they’d build private cemeteries that doubled as informal property markers.
Just five miles away, Sappa Creek offered additional resources for survival.
The area’s native presence was rich with history, including El Quartelejo – Kansas’s only Indian pueblo – established by Picurie Indians from New Mexico around 1604.
Later, you’d witness intense conflicts as tribes defended their ancestral lands, culminating in the 1867 Battle of Beaver Creek where volunteer cavalry clashed with Sioux, Cheyenne, and Kiowa warriors. The battle lasted for three intense hours as troops formed defensive squares against repeated attacks.
Legacy in Kansas Prairie History
When the Burlington and Missouri Railroad established Blakeman in 1887, you’d find a carefully orchestrated plan to create a thriving prairie hub five miles west of Atwood.
The railroad’s strategic placement near Middle and North Beaver Creeks exemplified how railroad expansion shaped Kansas settlement patterns.
You’ll recognize Blakeman’s story in countless prairie settlements across Kansas – a tale of corporate ambition colliding with local interests.
The railroad’s attempt to forcibly relocate Atwood’s county seat status to Blakeman sparked fierce resistance, leading to court battles and eventual abandonment.
By 1910, what started as a promising railroad town had transformed into farmland under W.E. Thompson’s ownership.
Today, Blakeman stands as a reflection of the boom-and-bust cycle that defined many railroad-driven prairie settlements in late 19th-century Kansas.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Was the Peak Population of Blakeman During Its Most Prosperous Years?
While exact records aren’t crystal clear, you’ll find population dynamics point to a peak of 100-150 residents during the prosperity timeline of late 1880s through early 1900s, when railroads brought opportunity.
Were There Any Notable Businesses or Industries Besides the Railroad Depot?
You’d find limited local businesses beyond the Field and Badgley Store, post office, and telegraph services. The town’s economic impact centered mainly on agricultural shipping through the railroad depot.
What Indigenous Tribes Originally Inhabited the Area Before Blakeman’s Establishment?
You’ll find the cultural heritage of three Native tribes in this region: the Cheyenne, who hunted buffalo across the plains; the Arapaho, who shared their territory; and the Lakota Sioux, who roamed freely.
Did Any Famous Historical Figures Ever Visit or Live in Blakeman?
You won’t find any famous visitors or residents in Blakeman’s history. Historical records don’t show any notable figures passing through this small railroad town during its brief period of local significance.
What Happened to the Original Buildings That Weren’t Moved Back to Atwood?
In 1910, you’d find most buildings facing demolition when W.E. Thompson converted 100% of Blakeman into farmland. Without historical preservation efforts, building decay claimed the rest, except the schoolhouse that’s now a shooting range.
References
- https://legendsofkansas.com/blakeman-kansas/
- https://fhsuguides.fhsu.edu/kansasheritage/rawlinscounty
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPZtNoncnig
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ghost_towns_in_Kansas
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blakeman
- http://kansasheritage.org/research/rr/rrhistory.html
- http://genealogytrails.com/kan/rawlins/news_community.html
- https://legendsofkansas.com/extinct-towns-rawlins-county/
- https://kids.kiddle.co/Rawlins_County
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rawlins_County
