Towns and Places in Grant County, Kansas

Towns & Places of Grant County, Kansas

Towns & Places

Hickok

Ryus

Ulysses

Santa Fe Trail Thru Kansas

Wagon Bed Springs

Extinct Towns

Grant County, Kansas Map, 1899

Grant County map, 1899.

Though Grant County once supported more than a dozen towns, only three remain today -- Ulysses, Hickok and Ryus, though the latter two are incorporated and very small.

Hickok - An unincorporated small town located along U.S. 160, about seven miles east of Ulysses. Though the town was never as big as others that have long gone extinct, such as Appomattox or Zionville, it remains populated today. The Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad barreled through the small town in the early 20th Century, which was probably the reason for its existence. The town has no open retail businesses but two large grain elevators tower above Highway 160 on both sides. Somewhere along the line the Cimarron Valley Railroad took over the tracks of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad and the trains continue to operate through the town. Several small homes are scattered about the small town, as well as a number of buildings that appear to have held businesses at one time. The small town never had a post office.

The Santa Fe Trail passed about 7 ½ miles south of Hickok. The location is designated with a Daughters of the American Revolution marker. To reach the marker travel south off Highway 160 on Road R, six miles to Road 19, the west 1 ½ miles. The marker sits on the north side of the road.

West of Hickok on the south side of Highway 160 is a residence that was very clearly a school at one time. Behind the building, a brick outhouse and playground equipment still stand. We have been unable to identify the school. If you know more about this building, we would love to update our story. Just zap us an email.

Now serving as a residence this building, west of Hickok, Kansas was once a

school, Kathy Weiser, April, 2009.

Behind the building stands an old outhouse and playground

equipment, Kathy Weiser, April, 2009.

Ryus - Another unincorporated town situated on the original Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad, Ryus remains very small today. It too was probably formed as a railroad town, but was also populated by employees of the area Carbon Black Plant. It is located about 14 miles southeast of Ulysses at the intersection of the Cimarron Valley Railroad and Kansas Highway 190.

Another Santa Fe Trail marker, also established by the Daughters of the American Revolution, lies midway between Ryus and Hickok. it is located south of U.S. highway 160, about 1.9 miles on the west side of Road V.

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