{{Short description|Unincorporated community in Rooks County, Kansas}} {{Use American English|date=July 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox settlement <!-- Basic info --> |name = Webster, Kansas |settlement_type = Unincorporated community
<!-- Images --> |image_skyline = File:Webster - Kansas - Livery and Feed.jpg |image_caption = Webster street scene (est. early 1900s)
<!-- Maps --> |image_map = |map_caption = |image_map1 = Map of Rooks Co, Ks, USA.png |map_caption1 = KDOT map of Rooks County (legend) |pushpin_map = Kansas#USA |pushpin_label = Webster |pushpin_label_position = left <!-- the position of the pushpin label: left, right, top, bottom, none --> |pushpin_map_caption =
<!-- Location --> |coordinates_footnotes = <ref name="GNIS"/> |coordinates = {{coord|39|24|06|N|99|26|09|W|region:US-KS_type:city_source:GNIS|display=inline,title}} |subdivision_type = Country |subdivision_name = United States |subdivision_type1 = State |subdivision_name1 = Kansas |subdivision_type2 = County |subdivision_name2 = Rooks |subdivision_type3 = Township |subdivision_name3 = Belmont
<!-- Established --> |established_title = Founded |established_date = late 1870s |established_title1 = Platted |established_date1 = 1885 |named_for = Daniel Webster
<!-- Area --> |area_footnotes = |area_total_sq_mi = |area_land_sq_mi = |area_water_sq_mi = |unit_pref = Imperial
<!-- Elevation --> |elevation_footnotes = <ref name="GNIS"/> |elevation_ft = 1870
<!-- Population --> |population_footnotes = |population_as_of = |population_total = |pop_est_footnotes = |pop_est_as_of = |population_est = |population_density_sq_mi = auto
<!-- General information --> |timezone = CST |utc_offset = -6 |timezone_DST = CDT |utc_offset_DST = -5 |postal_code_type = ZIP Code |postal_code = 67669 |area_code_type = Area code |area_code = 785 |blank_name = FIPS code |blank_info = 20-76265 |blank1_name = GNIS ID |blank1_info = 484592 <ref name="GNIS">{{cite gnis2|484592|Webster, Kansas}}</ref> |website = }}
'''Webster''' was an unincorporated community in Belmont Township, Rooks County, Kansas, United States.<ref name="GNIS"/>
==History== The community of '''Webster''' was established in the Solomon Valley along the South Fork Solomon River in the late 1870s. Webster was created from two settlements; Webster settled on the north side of the river and Belmont that originated on the south side of the river.
'''Belmont''' was founded as a trading post in 1876. Due to flooding, the Belmont settlement was moved across the river adjoining the Webster settlement. Belmont was first to file an application for a post office. The Belmont application was denied as another Kansas town had previously been granted the name. Instead, Webster was granted a post office in 1879.<ref>{{cite web | title = Kansas Post Offices, 1828-1961 | publisher = Kansas Historical Society | url = https://www.kshs.org/geog/geog_postoffices/search/placename:Webster | accessdate = 20 December 2016}}</ref>
Webster, named for Daniel Webster, was surveyed, platted and filed in 1885. The town was never incorporated.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.hwy24.org/uploads/2/6/1/8/26189167/28_town_names.pdf | title=Origin of Town Names | publisher=Solomon Valley Highway 24 Heritage Alliance | accessdate=9 April 2018 | pages=5}}</ref>
In 1888, Webster had two doctors, two churches, a school and 24 businesses. A large city park called The Grove featured towering cottonwood trees. The population in 1910 was 200.<ref name="Blackmar">Blackmar, Frank Wilson (1912). Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, Volume 2, Chicago: Standard Publishing Company, p. 898</ref>
Construction of Webster Dam on the South Fork Solomon River was approved in 1953. Webster Reservoir would encompass the area occupied by the town of Webster. As a result, the town was relocated 2 miles to the southeast. Many businesses and residents chose not to relocate to the new town site.<ref name="Hwy24">{{cite web | title = History of Webster | publisher = Solomon Valley Highway 24 Heritage Foundation | url = http://www.hwy24.org/uploads/2/6/1/8/26189167/webster.pdf | accessdate = 30 December 2016 }}</ref>
==Geography== Webster lies approximately {{convert|0.5|mi|km}} south-southeast of Webster Dam in the Smoky Hills region of the Great Plains.<ref name=CountyMap>{{cite web | title = General Highway Map - Rooks County, Kansas | publisher = Kansas Department of Transportation | date = January 2010 | url = https://www.ksdot.org/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/burTransPlan/maps/county-dgn/rooks.JPG | accessdate = 2015-11-19}}</ref><ref name=KDOT>{{cite web | title = 2003-2004 Official Transportation Map | publisher = Kansas Department of Transportation | year = 2003 | url = http://www.ksdot.org/burtransplan/maps/HistoricStateMaps/2003-04Mapside.pdf | accessdate = 2015-11-19 | archive-date = June 14, 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110614151512/http://www.ksdot.org/burtransplan/maps/HistoricStateMaps/2003-04Mapside.pdf | url-status = dead }}</ref> Webster is {{convert|0.3|mi|km}} east of Kansas Highway 258, {{convert|2.5|mi|km}} south of U.S. Route 24, and roughly {{convert|8|mi|km}} west-southwest of Stockton, the county seat.<ref name=CountyMap/>
The original site of Webster was located at {{coord|39|24|06|N|99|26|09|W|type:city}} (39.4016756, -99.4359370), a location now submerged beneath Webster Reservoir. The site had an elevation of {{convert|1893|ft|m}}.<ref name="GNIS"/>
==Education== Webster High School was closed in 1963. The grade school closed in 1969.<ref name="Hwy24" /> The Webster High School mascot was Webster Eagles.
==Transportation== Webster lies at the intersection of two unpaved county roads: 11 Road, which runs north-south, and M Terrace, which runs east-west.<ref name=CountyMap/> ==References== {{Reflist}}
==Further reading== {{See also|Rooks County, Kansas#Further reading|l1=List of books about Rooks County, Kansas}}
==External links== * [http://specialcollections.wichita.edu/kw/towns.asp?town=Webster&county=Rooks Historic Images], Wichita State University Library
{{Rooks County, Kansas}} {{Authority control}}
Category:Former populated places in Rooks County, Kansas Category:Former populated places in Kansas Category:1885 establishments in Kansas Category:Populated places in the United States established in 1885