Walker, Kansas
Walker, Kansas | ||
---|---|---|
ZIP code 67674 | ||
Area code | 785 | |
FIPS code | 20-74675 | |
GNIS ID | 475301[1] |
Walker is an
History
Settlers from
The first post office in Walker opened in 1873, closed temporarily in 1876, and then reopened in 1878.[6] St. Ann's Church was built and dedicated in 1905. The community's first school was built in 1893, followed by a second building in 1925. The school has since closed but remains in use as a community center.[4]
In 1942, the U.S. Army built Walker Army Airfield northwest of Walker. During World War II, thousands were stationed at the airfield, mostly for training in operation of the Boeing B-29 Superfortress bomber aircraft. The military closed the base in 1946.[7]
Construction of Interstate 70 reached Walker in 1966, passing immediately south of the community.
Geography
Walker is located approximately 1.5 miles (2.4 km) west of Walker Creek, part of the Smoky Hill River watershed, in the Smoky Hills region of the Great Plains.[8][9] Walker is immediately north of Interstate 70 roughly 13 miles (21 km) east of Hays, the county seat.[9]
Transportation
Walker Avenue, a paved county road, runs north–south through Walker, intersecting
The Kansas Pacific (KP) line of the Union Pacific Railroad runs northeast–southwest through Walker, parallel to the old alignment of U.S. 40.[9][11]
See also
- Walker Army Airfield, an abandoned World War II airfield.
References
- ^ a b c d U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Walker, Kansas
- ^ "General Highway Map - Ellis County, Kansas" (PDF). Kansas Department of Transportation. 1978. Retrieved December 18, 2010.
- ^ ZIP Code Lookup
- ^ a b c "Ellis County". Kansas Heritage Project. Fort Hays State University. Retrieved October 27, 2014.
- ISBN 9780974435886.
- ^ "Kansas Post Offices, 1828-1961 (archived)". Kansas Historical Society. Archived from the original on October 9, 2013. Retrieved June 9, 2014.
- ^ "U.S. Army and Air Force Wings Over Kansas". Kansas Historical Quarterly. 25 (1). Kansas State Historical Society: 334–360. Spring 1959.
- ^ "2003-2004 Official Transportation Map" (PDF). Kansas Department of Transportation. 2003. Retrieved December 18, 2010.
- ^ a b c d "General Highway Map - Ellis County, Kansas" (PDF). Kansas Department of Transportation. June 1, 2010. Retrieved December 18, 2010.
- ^ "Official 1960-61 Kansas Highway Map" (PDF). Kansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved December 18, 2010.
- ^ "UPRR Common Line Names" (PDF). Union Pacific Railroad. Retrieved October 10, 2010.