Hesper, Kansas

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

Hesper Friends Church.jpg
Coordinates: 38°53′55″N 95°04′29″W / 38.89861°N 95.07472°W / 38.89861; -95.07472Coordinates: 38°53′55″N 95°04′29″W / 38.89861°N 95.07472°W / 38.89861; -95.07472
CountryUnited States
StateKansas
CountyDouglas
Elevation
922 ft (281 m)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
GNIS feature ID479160[1]

History

Hesper was created in 1858 by Quakers. They wanted to help the free-state cause. In 1884, the Hesper Academy opened, but it closed in 1912.[2]

A post office was opened in Hesper in 1868. It closed in 1900.[3]

Friends University in Wichita was created by James Davis. He was from Hesper.[2] The college football player and coach John H. Outland was also from Hesper. The Outland Trophy was named after him.

References

  1. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  2. 2.0 2.1 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.