Big Springs, Kansas

Big Springs is an unincorporated community in northwest Douglas County, Kansas, United States.

Big Springs, Kansas
Unincorporated community
Big Springs along Highway 40
KDOT map of Douglas County (legend)
Big Springs
Big Springs
Coordinates: 39°0′47″N 95°29′6″W
CountryUnited States
StateKansas
CountyDouglas
Named forsprings
Elevation
1,102 ft (336 m)
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
Area code785
FIPS code20-06750
GNIS ID484942 [1]

History

The first settlement at Big Springs was made in the fall of 1854.[2] The town was founded by William Harper and John Chamberlain but had always been a popular watering hole along the Oregon Trail. It was named from the mineral springs nearby.[3][4] On September 5, 1855, Big Springs was home to a free-state convention in which determined men vowed to give their lives to defend their homes from border ruffians from Missouri. The first sermon was preached in 1855 by Reverend W.A. Cardwell in the log home of Ephraim Banning. The first church was built a year later.[5] Also in 1856, the first post office was established, as well as the first schooling took place then in the town hall. The post office was discontinued in 1903.[6] The population did not grow, but hovered around 40 people, as there was no railroad running through the town.

According to the Lawrence Journal-World, Big Springs was the location of T. J. Custard's birth, making him the first American citizen to be born in Douglas County.[7]

Today it has a water tower, tool shop, church and a fire station that is part of the Lecompton Township Fire Dist. 1. Its mailing address is Lecompton.

In 2010, a building on the east side of town caught fire, leaving a restricted area of charred rubble.

Education

It is part of USD 450 Shawnee Heights School District in Tecumseh.

Infrastructure

US Highway 40 runs through the community.

References
  1. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  2. History of the State of Kansas: Containing a Full Account of Its Growth from an Uninhabited Territory to a Wealthy and Important State. A. T. Andreas. 1883. p. 352.
  3. Heim, Michael (2007). Exploring Kansas Highways. p. 49.
  4. Carpenter, Tim (November 28, 1997). "What's in a name? Key elements of area history". Lawrence Journal-World. pp. 3B. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
  5. Cleland, Nora (Jun 12, 1961). "Only few of 45 county settlements left". Lawrence Journal-World. pp. 12A. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
  6. "Kansas Post Offices, 1828-1961, page 2". Kansas Historical Society. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
  7. Carpenter, Tim (November 28, 1997). "What's in a Name? Key Elements of Area History". Lawrence Journal-World. p. 3B. Retrieved April 28, 2015.

Further reading
See also: List of books about Douglas County, Kansas
  • Fitzgerald, Daniel. Ghost Towns of Kansas: A Traveler's Guide. 1988.


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