Saline County, Kansas Extinct Towns

Hedville, Kansas about 1905.

Hedville, Kansas, about 1905.

Bavaria/Honek

Bridgeport

Town Post Office Dates Additional Information
Appin 1873-1875
Bavaria/Honek 1867-1986 Bavaria, Kansas, first called Honek, is an unincorporated community and ghost town located about nine miles southwest of Salina.
Berwick 1881-1885
Black Warrior 1871 The post office was open for less than three months.
Bridgeport 1879-1976 Bridgeport, Kansas, is an unincorporated community on the Smoky Hill River in Smoky View Township of Saline County. It is also an “extinct town” as it no longer has a post office.

Bridgeport, Kansas Business Building, courtesy Google Maps.

Bridgeport, Kansas Business Building

Bridgeport, Kansas Grain Elevator, courtesy Google Maps.

Bridgeport, Kansas Grain Elevator

Broadview 1875-1879 The post office moved to Torry.
Chico/Bridge 1877-1897 The name changed from Bridge to Chico on April 27, 1886.
Crown Point 1879-1892
Digby/Gypsum Creek 1869-1887 The name changed from Gypsum Creek to Digby on October 21, 1886.
Dry Creek 1877-1887
Glendale None It was an unincorporated community in Glendale Township, about 15 miles northwest of Salina, along a Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad line.
Hebron 1874 The post office was only open for about six months.
Hedville None
An old building in Hedville, Kansas by Kathy Alexander.

An old building in Hedville, Kansas.

An unincorporated community in Ohio Township on Mulberry Creek. Named for Hed, a pioneer. It lies along Hedville Road and a Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad line, one mile south of Interstate 70, northwest of Salina. There are still a few remaining buildings.

Iron Mound 1866-1868
Kipp 1890-1957
Kipp, Kansas Highschool, about 1910.

Kipp, Kansas Highschool, 1910.

Elevator Complex in Kipp, Kansas courtesy Google Maps.

Elevator Complex in Kipp, Kansas courtesy Google Maps.

It was located on the line between Solomon and Eureka Townships on the Missouri Pacific Railroad. In 1910, it had telegraph and express offices, a money order post office, and a population of 150. It was located about 11 miles southeast of Salina. As of the 2020 census, the community’s population and nearby areas was 60. It is located southeast of Salina along Schilling Road between Whitmore Road and Kipp Road, next to an abandoned railroad. The West Branch of Gypsum Creek flows through the community.

Lesterville 1872-1875
Marietta 1874 The post office was open for less than five months.
Marydel 1885-1891
Mentor 1881-1995 Located in Smolan Township, it was on the Union Pacific Railroad. The town was named by settlers who hailed from Mentor, Ohio. In 1910, it had an express office, a money order post office with one rural route, and a population of 38. At some point, the railroad was abandoned. Mentor still has several buildings, numerous grain silos, and a small population. It is eight miles south of Salina.

Mentor, Kansas old store by Kathy Alexander.

Mentor, Kansas old store.

Mentor, Kansas Silo by Kathy Alexander.

Mentor, Kansas Silo.

Mulberry 1871-1890
Oasis 1873-1875
1879-1880
Poheta 1870-1887
Sabra 1867-1870
Salemsburg 1875-1902
Lutheran Church in Salemsburg, Kansas by Kathy Alexander.

Lutheran Church in Salemsburg, Kansas.

Also spelled Salemsburgh. this was an inland hamlet in Smoky View Township. In February 1869, a large group from Galesburg and Swedonia arrived and settled in the Salemsborg community. By Spring 1870, all the available land in the area was taken. In September 1869, the Salemsborg Lutheran Church was established, serving the local and surrounding farming area. In 1910, its population was 35. It still has a sizeable Lutheran Church and cemetery that are still active today. It is ten miles south of Salina at Burma Road and Salemsborg Road intersection.

 

Shipton/York 1888-1895 The name changed from York to Shipton on March 29, 1890. It was located northwest of Salina, about 0.75 miles west of the intersection of Halstead Road and Shipton Road, next to an abandoned railroad.
Smolan 1887-1997 Located in Smolan Township, it was named after the Swedish province of Småland, the native home of many early settlers. It was on the Missouri Pacific Railroad. In 1910, it had telegraph and express offices, a money order post office with two rural routes, and a population of 175. Smolan High School was closed through school unification. The town still boasts several old business buildings, homes, silos, and a grain elevator. As of the 2020 census, its population was 162. It is 11 miles southwest of Salina.

Smolan, Kansas Silos by Kathy Alexander.

Smolan, Kansas Silos.

Old school in Smolan, Kansas by Kathy Alexander.

Old school in Smolan, Kansas.

Strickler 1899-1901 Located in Solomon Township, about half a mile from the east line of the county and about 12 miles from Salina. The population in 1910 was 15.
Torry 1879-1886 The post office moved from Broadview.
Trenton/Nasby 1885-1898
Trenton Schoolhouse, 1890.

Trenton Schoolhouse, 1890.

The name changed from Nasby to Trenton on April 29, 1887. It was located northwest of Salina at the intersection of Gerard Road and Pleasant Hill Road, next to an abandoned railroad.

Valley 1870-1872
Wonderly 1888-1906 A small Missouri Pacific Railroad station located in Liberty Township, 18 miles from Salina. The population in 1910 was 20.

© Kathy Alexander/Legends of America, September 2024.

Saline County, Kansas Map by L.H. Everts & Co., 1887.

Saline County, Kansas Map by L.H. Everts & Co., 1887.

Also See:

Emerging Ghost Towns of the Plains

Kansas Ghost Towns

Saline County, Kansas

Saline County Photo Gallery

Sources:

Blackmar, William; Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, Standard Publishing Co., Chicago, IL,1912.
Cutler, William; History of the State of Kansas, A.T. Andreas, Chicago, IL, 1883.
Kansas Post Office History
Wikipedia