Wheeler, Kansas View by Kathy Alexander.
Wheeler, Kansas, is an unincorporated ghost town in Cheyenne County.
The Lincoln, Nebraska Land Company laid out Wheeler during the building of the Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy Railroad to St. Francis, Kansas, in 1887.
Wheeler, Kansas Garage by Kathy Alexander.
The town thrived during the building of the railroad, and a post office was established on October 12, 1888.
Though it remained small, it grew to include a large store, a lumberyard, three grain elevators, a brick schoolhouse, and a garage. In 1919, the Farmer’s State Bank was chartered, and a small brick building was established. It opened in June 1920.
However, the town suffered from grasshopper invasions and drought in the next years. The bank and other businesses soon closed due to slim profits. However, the school continued until 1968. The post office continued until February 1, 1988.
Wheeler, Kansas Lumberyard by Kathy Alexander.
Today, the old town is dotted with falling-down buildings and just a few residents.
Wheeler is located about five miles east of St. Francis.
© Kathy Alexander/Legends of Kansas, updated September 2023.
Also See:
Old School in Wheeler, Kansas, by Kathy Alexander.
Source: Fort Hays University