Antelope is an unincorporated community in Marion County, Kansas, United States.[1] Antelope got its name from antelope grazing near where the first school was being built.[2] It is located northeast of Marion, about 0.9 miles west of the intersection of U.S. Route 77 (aka U.S. Route 56) highway and 250th Street along the Union Pacific Railroad.

Antelope, Kansas
KDOT map of Marion County (legend)
Antelope is located in Kansas
Antelope
Antelope
Antelope is located in the United States
Antelope
Antelope
Coordinates: 38°26′10″N 96°58′26″W / 38.43611°N 96.97389°W / 38.43611; -96.97389[1]
CountryUnited States
StateKansas
CountyMarion
TownshipClear Creek
Founded1870
Named forantelope
Elevation1,368 ft (417 m)
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
Area code620
FIPS code20-01950
GNIS ID477249[1]

History

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1915 Railroad Map of Marion County

Early history

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For many millennia, the Great Plains of North America was inhabited by nomadic Native Americans. From the 16th century to 18th century, the Kingdom of France claimed ownership of large parts of North America. In 1762, after the French and Indian War, France secretly ceded New France to Spain, per the Treaty of Fontainebleau.

19th century

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In 1802, Spain returned most of the land to France. In 1803, most of the land for modern day Kansas was acquired by the United States from France as part of the 828,000 square mile Louisiana Purchase for 2.83 cents per acre.

In 1854, the Kansas Territory was organized, then in 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state. In 1855, Marion County was established within the Kansas Territory, which included the land for modern day Antelope.[3]

In 1887, the Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway built a branch line north–south from Herington through Antelope to Caldwell.[4] It foreclosed in 1891 and was taken over by Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway, which shut down in 1980 and reorganized as Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas Railroad, merged in 1988 with Missouri Pacific Railroad, and finally merged in 1997 with Union Pacific Railroad. Most locals still refer to this railroad as the "Rock Island".

A post office existed in Antelope from July 25, 1870, to June 20, 1988.[5]

Geography

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Antelope is located in the scenic Flint Hills and Great Plains of the state of Kansas.[1] between Marion and Lincolnville next to the Union Pacific Railroad.

Area attractions

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Antelope has one listing on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP).

  • Amelia Park Bridge[6] (NRHP), 1 mile north-east of Antelope on 260th Street.
  • Island Field Ranch House[7] (NRHP), 1 mile east of Antelope on U.S. Route 77. Childhood home of Alvin Silas Wight.

Education

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The community is served by Centre USD 397 public school district. The high school is a member of T.E.E.N., a shared video teaching network between five area high schools.[8]

Media

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Print

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Infrastructure

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1893 Railroad Map

Transportation

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U.S. Route 77 is 1 mile (1.6 km) east of Antelope. The Oklahoma Kansas Texas (OKT)[9] line of the Union Pacific Railroad runs through the community.

Utilities

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Notable people

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Antelope, Kansas
  2. ^ Marion County Kansas, Past and Present; Sondra Van Meter; 1972.
  3. ^ "The History of Marion County and Courthouse". Archived from the original on February 27, 2018. Retrieved April 23, 2014.
  4. ^ "Rock Island Rail History". Archived from the original on June 19, 2011. Retrieved July 31, 2010.
  5. ^ "Kansas Post Offices, 1828–1961 (archived)". Kansas Historical Society. Archived from the original on October 9, 2013. Retrieved June 14, 2014.
  6. ^ National Register of Historic Places - Amelia Park Bridge
  7. ^ National Register of Historic Places - Island Field Ranch House
  8. ^ T.E.E.N. video teaching network
  9. ^ "UP Railroad Common Line Names" (PDF). Union Pacific Railroad. Retrieved August 2, 2010.
  10. ^ Kansas Legislators Past & Present Archived 2010-08-01 at the Wayback Machine

Further reading

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Historical
Maps