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A Remembrance of Black Wolf, a Forgotten Kansas Town

Legends of Kansas
/
Public Domain

The Legends of Kansaswebsite has posted a fascinating history of a Kansas ghost town known as Black Wolf, which was situated on the north bank of the Smoky Hill River. Located halfway between Ellsworth and Wilson, the town began as a station on the Union Pacific Railroad.

By 1910 the town had grown to 100 people and boasted a post office and telegraph office, as well as telephone connections and a grain elevator. In the 1940s Black Wolf became known for its Saturday night dances, which were held on a large outdoor platform, but were brought inside of a machinery barn during cold weather. The dances lasted until dawn, so that the revelers could safely see their way home. As with many communities, the closing of the Union Pacific Depot in 1952 spelled the end for the little town. 

Credit Legends of Kansas / Public Domain
/
Public Domain