Riga, Kansas

Riga is an unincorporated community in Trego County, Kansas, United States.[2][3]

Riga, Kansas
Unincorporated community
KDOT map of Trego County (legend)
Riga Riga
Coordinates: 38°57′2″N 99°39′1″W
Country	United States
State	Kansas
County	Trego
Township	Glencoe
Elevation	2,221 ft (677 m)
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	67656[1]
Area code	785
FIPS code	20-59850
GNIS ID	484721 [2]

Geography

Riga is located at 39°06′12″N 99°14′44″W at an elevation of 2,221 feet (677 m).[2] It is in far east-central Trego County roughly 4 miles (6.4 km) west of Ellis in neighboring Ellis County[4] It lies to the north of Big Creek in the western extent of the Smoky Hills region of the Great Plains.[4]

Transportation

Rail

• The Kansas Pacific (KP)[3][5] line of the Union Pacific Railroad runs southeast–northwest through Riga, with a siding for the grain elevator.
  • Until 1946, Riga received scheduled local passenger service, at least twice daily; e.g., morning westbound train 69-369 and evening eastbound train 370-70.[6][7]
    • However, there is recollection that, in the 1950's, the eastbound and westbound Portland Rose trains would meet at Riga.[8]
    • In the 50s and 60s, the eastbound and westbound Portland Rose trains were scheduled to leave Oakley and Ellis, respectively, at about the same time in the early afternoon; and, would have to meet each other at a passing siding on the single track in between.[9][10]
    • If the westbound was delayed in leaving Ellis, Riga was the last siding outside of Ellis where the eastbound could wait for the westbound to clear the station.
  • When the Union Pacific rebuilt the Kansas Pacific line in the late 1990s, a new 9300 ft. siding was built just west of Riga.[8]

Highways

• Riga Road (FAS 1854)[3] runs north–south through the location, connecting to Exit 140 of Interstate 70 a mile to the north.[4]
  • The first section of Interstate 70 to be built in western Kansas was completed by 1961 from Riga to Collyer.[11]
• 40 Hwy (FAS 1977),[3] parallel to and south of the railroad tracks, an old alignment of U.S. Route 40,[11] runs southeast–northwest through Riga and is a direct connection between the downtowns of WaKeeney (county seat) and Ellis.[12]

References

1. "Trego County Profile". zipdatamaps. Retrieved 2020-12-30.
2. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2020-12-30. Retrieved 2020-12-30.
3. "General Highway Map - Trego County, Kansas" (PDF). Kansas Department of Transportation. 1978. Retrieved 2020-12-30.
4. "Riga, Glencoe, Kansas". Google Maps. Retrieved 2020-12-30.
5. "UPRR Common Line Names" (PDF). Union Pacific Railroad. Retrieved 2020-12-30.
6. Time Tables (PDF). Union Pacific Railroad. June 2, 1946. Retrieved 2021-01-09.
7. Condensed Time Tables (PDF). Union Pacific Railroad. September 1, 1947. Retrieved 2021-01-09. Riga is not listed on any table
8. "Historic Venues on the Prairies of Kansas". Trainorders.com Nostalgia & History. 2020-12-30.
9. Time Tables (PDF). Union Pacific Railroad. September 26, 1954. Retrieved 2021-01-09.
10. Time Tables (PDF). Union Pacific Railroad. Summer 1958. Retrieved 2021-01-09.
11. "Official 1960–61 Kansas Highway Map" (PDF). Kansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved 2015-07-16.
12. Kansas 2005–2006 Official Transportation Map

Further reading

External links

• Trego County Maps: Current, Historic, KDOT