Hesper, Kansas

Hesper is an unincorporated community in Douglas County, Kansas, United States. It is located two and a half miles southeast of Eudora.

Hesper, Kansas
Unincorporated community
Hesper Friends Church, organized in 1858
KDOT map of Douglas County (legend)
Hesper
Hesper
Coordinates: 38°53′55″N 95°04′29″W
CountryUnited States
StateKansas
CountyDouglas
Elevation
922 ft (281 m)
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
Area code785
GNIS ID479160 [1]

History

Hesper was founded in 1858 by Quakers wanting to lend support to the free-state cause. In 1884, the Hesper Academy was opened but it closed in 1912.[2]

A post office was opened in Hesper in 1868, and remained in operation until it was discontinued in 1900.[3]

Education

The community is served by Eudora USD 491 public school district.

Notable people

Friends University in Wichita was founded by James Davis, who was a native of Hesper.[4] The town is also the birthplace of the college football player and coach John H. Outland, namesake of the Outland Trophy. Walter R. Stubbs, Governor of Kansas from 1909-1913 grew up in the Hesper area.

References
  1. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  2. Shortridge, James R. Shortridge (1988) [1977]. Kaw Valley Landscapes. University Press of Kansas.
  3. "Kansas Post Offices, 1828-1961". Kansas Historical Society. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  4. Shortridge, James R. Shortridge (1988) [1977]. Kaw Valley Landscapes. University Press of Kansas.

Further reading
See also: List of books about Douglas County, Kansas
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