You’ll find the fascinating ghost town of Colokan, Kansas just half a mile from the Colorado border, where Civil War veterans and United Presbyterians built their dreams in 1887. The town boasted a hotel, grocery, blacksmith shop, and its own newspaper, the Colokan Graphic. When the Denver, Memphis & Atlantic Railroad chose nearby Towner for its depot in 1889, Colokan’s fate was sealed. The Kansas Legislature officially vacated this once-promising settlement in 1897, though its untold stories still echo across the prairie.
Key Takeaways
- Colokan was established in 1887 near the Colorado border by Civil War veterans and United Presbyterians seeking railroad prosperity.
- The town’s decline began in 1889 when the railroad depot was built in nearby Towner, Colorado instead of Colokan.
- Key businesses included a hotel, grocery store, blacksmith shop, and the Colokan Graphic newspaper during its brief existence.
- The population of surrounding Greeley County plummeted from 2,600 to 500 by 1900 as residents left for better opportunities.
- The Kansas Legislature officially vacated Colokan in 1897, and harsh prairie conditions have erased most physical traces of the settlement.
The Birth of a Border Town (1887)
Two distinct colonies merged in 1887 to establish Colokan, Kansas – a settlement of Civil War veterans from Illinois and a United Presbyterian group who’d arrived just a year earlier.
A unique prairie town born when Civil War veterans and Presbyterian settlers joined forces on the Kansas frontier.
You’ll find it’s no coincidence they chose this strategic location, just half a mile east of the Colorado border, where settler motivations centered on the promise of the Denver, Memphis & Atlantic Railroad.
Like many early Kansas settlements, the farmers faced significant challenges in the semiarid terrain of western Kansas.
The newly formed Colokan Town Company wasted no time developing town infrastructure.
Within months, you’d have found Robert Rockwell’s bustling hotel and restaurant, a well-stocked grocery, a blacksmith shop, and even a newspaper called the Colokan Graphic. Unfortunately, the loss of their railroad depot to Towner in 1889 marked the beginning of the town’s decline.
The town’s very name – a clever blend of “Colorado” and “Kansas” – reflected its founders’ ambitions to create a thriving cross-border hub for commerce and opportunity.
Railroad Dreams and Broken Promises
While Colokan’s early settlers dreamed big, their hopes hinged on one critical promise – the Denver, Memphis & Atlantic Railroad’s depot. You can imagine their devastation when, in 1889, the railroad chose neighboring Towner, Colorado instead. This fateful decision, born from railroad speculation and interstate rivalry, sealed Colokan’s fate.
The impact was swift and merciless. Without the essential rail connection, you’d have watched local businesses wither – the hotels emptied, shops closed, and the once-proud Colokan Graphic newspaper fell silent. Many residents joined the mass exodus that reduced Greeley County’s population from 2,600 to 500 by 1900.
The economic decline spiraled as residents departed for towns with better prospects. Located just a mile from Towner, Colokan’s proximity to its rival town only intensified the competition for survival. Some locals, desperate to save their community, even attempted to steal Towner’s depot building under cover of darkness.
Life in Early Colokan
As Civil War veterans from Illinois staked their claims in 1886, they established more than just another Kansas settlement – they created a unique community where military camaraderie merged with Presbyterian values.
You’d find daily routines centered around the town’s bustling businesses, where community interactions flourished at the local hotel and restaurant.
While grabbing supplies at the grocery store, you might’ve caught up on the latest news from O.Q. McNeil’s Colokan Graphic or discussed property deals at the real estate office.
The blacksmith’s rhythmic hammering would’ve provided a constant backdrop to your errands.
Though records don’t reveal exact population numbers, you’d have witnessed a tight-knit society where settlers supported each other’s dreams of building a thriving railroad town near the Colorado border.
The Fight for Survival
Despite Colokan’s promising start, the town’s fate hinged on a single essential decision in 1889 – the placement of the Denver, Memphis & Atlantic Railroad depot.
A single railroad depot decision in 1889 sealed Colokan’s destiny, despite the town’s early promise and potential.
When neighboring Towner, Colorado won this significant infrastructure, you’d have witnessed Colokan’s desperate bid for survival. The town’s community resilience showed in their bold attempt to physically relocate the depot, though they mistakenly took the wrong building.
The economic rivalry with Towner proved too much to overcome. You would’ve seen businesses struggling, settlers departing, and hope fading as trade and transport centered elsewhere.
Without the crucial railroad connection, Colokan’s initial advantages – its unified veteran and Presbyterian colonies, communal spirit, and early institutions – couldn’t sustain the town.
A Town Lost to Time
Today, you’ll find almost nothing left of what was once proudly called “The Star of Western Kansas.”
After the Kansas Legislature officially vacated Colokan in 1897, time and the harsh prairie elements gradually erased most traces of this ambitious frontier settlement.
The forgotten history of this Civil War veterans’ community speaks volumes about the fragile nature of frontier dreams.
Beyond scattered records and local legends, Colokan’s story survives through:
- The legacy of its unique name, blending Colorado and Kansas in a representation of its border identity
- Tales of determined settlers who fought to preserve their community’s railroad connection
- Records from the Colokan Graphic newspaper, chronicling the town’s brief but vibrant life
- The enduring spirit of community identity that drew veterans to build their soldiers’ colony
Frequently Asked Questions
What Happened to the Civil War Veterans After Colokan Was Abandoned?
You’ll find these veterans faced post-war struggles as they scattered to nearby railroad towns like Tribune and Towner, with their veteran migration patterns following economic opportunities rather than staying together as a colony.
Were There Any Notable Crimes or Lawlessness During Colokan’s Brief Existence?
In a town of fewer than 100 souls, you’d find surprisingly few crime incidents documented. Records don’t mention any significant lawlessness, suggesting the veterans and settlers maintained order without formal law enforcement.
What Was the Highest Recorded Population of Colokan?
You won’t find exact Colokan demographics in historical records, though population peaked in the late 1880s before its rapid decline. No official census numbers were documented during the town’s brief existence.
Did Any Families From Colokan’s Original Settlement Stay in Greeley County?
Like scattered seeds taking root elsewhere, it’s likely some Colokan families stayed in Greeley County, though you won’t find clear records tracking these descendants through nearby towns like Tribune and Horace.
What Natural Disasters or Weather Events Affected Colokan During Its Existence?
You’ll find that severe drought challenges devastated early farming efforts, while tornado impact remained a constant threat. Harsh winters and windstorms battered the struggling settlement, making survival increasingly difficult for pioneers.
References
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colokan
- https://fhsuguides.fhsu.edu/kansasheritage/greeleycounty
- http://kansasghosttowns.blogspot.com/2013/05/go-west-young-man-greeley-county-ghost.html
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsVp7y2gTNc
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alC1wDdSVvg
- http://genealogytrails.com/kan/greeley/history.html
- https://digging-history.com/2014/09/17/ghost-town-wednesday-ghost-towns-of-sherman-county-kansas/
- https://dianastaresinicdeane.wordpress.com/2012/06/12/ghost-trains-on-the-low-plains-a-kansas-railroad-story/
- https://www.hhhistory.com/2019/05/ghost-towns-of-kansas.html
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxPSWCOESdI
