| Coordinates | 37°26′25″N 97°0′23″W |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| State | Kansas |
| County | Cowley |
| Unit pref | Imperial |
| Elevation | 1175 ft |
| Population as of | 2020 |
| Population total | 94 |
| Time zone | CST (UTC-6) |
| Time zone (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| ZIP code | 67131 |
| Area code | 620 |
| GNIS ID | 470206 [1] |
Rock is a census-designated place (CDP) in Cowley County, Kansas, United States.[1] As of the 2020 census, the population was 94.[2]
History
19th century
The post office was established on August 12, 1870.[3]
In 1877, the Florence, El Dorado, and Walnut Valley Railroad Company built a branch line from Florence to El Dorado; in 1881 it was extended to Douglass, and later to Arkansas City.[4][5] The line was leased and operated by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. The line from Florence to El Dorado was abandoned in 1942.[6][7] The original branch line connected Florence, Burns, De Graff, El Dorado, Augusta, Douglass, Rock, Akron, Winfield and Arkansas City.
20th century
In 1905, the nearby Bucher Bridge, on the National Register of Historic Places, was built.
On August 24, 1978, the community was evacuated when a major oxidizer spill at a Titan II ICBM site (533-7) 2.5 miles south of Rock.[8] The spill resulted in the deaths of two airmen who were based out of the 381st Strategic Missile Wing, McConnell Air Force Base, approximately 20 miles away.
21st century
In 2010, the Keystone XL Pipeline was constructed about 2.5 miles west of Rock, north to south through Butler County, with much controversy over tax exemption and environmental concerns (if a leak ever occurs).[9][10] A pumping station named Rock was built along the pipeline.
Education
The community is served by Udall USD 463 public school district.
References
- ^
- ^ "Profile of Rock, Kansas (CDP) in 2020". United States Census Bureau. Archived April 6, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
- ^ "Kansas Post Offices, 1828-1961, page 2". Kansas Historical Society. p. 2. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
- ^ Marion County Kansas : Past and Present; Sondra Van Meter; MB Publishing House; LCCN 72-92041; 344 pages; 1972.
- ^ Goodman, Jon (26 March 2017). "History of Rock Kansas". Arkansas City, Kansas: The KSGenWeb Project. Archived 3 August 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
- ^ "Florence to El Dorado, KS - Abandoned Rails". Harrison, Greg. 3 June 1942. 254 ICC 803. Archived 23 October 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
Application for authority to abandon 27.54 miles of railroad between Florence in Marion County and Eldorado in Butler County, Kansas, approximately 27.54 miles.
- ^ Railway Abandonment 1942
- ^ "Titan II Accident McConnell AFB, Kansas 1978"
- ^ Keystone Pipeline - Marion County Commission calls out Legislative Leadership on Pipeline Deal; April 18, 2010. Archived October 22, 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Keystone Pipeline - TransCanada inspecting pipeline; December 10, 2010.
Further reading
External links
- Cowley County maps: Current Archived April 6, 2022 at the Wayback Machine, Historic Archived February 24, 2024 at the Wayback Machine, KDOT
- History of Rock, Kansas
- Keystone Oil Pipeline, Detailed system map (near Rock)