Aulne is an unincorporated community in Marion County, Kansas, United States.[1] The Aulne name was suggested by officials of the railroad when it was built through Aulne during the 19th century.[2] It is located southwest of Marion at the intersection of Pawnee Road and 140th Street next to the Union Pacific Railroad.

Aulne, Kansas
KDOT map of Marion County (legend)
Aulne is located in Kansas
Aulne
Aulne
Aulne is located in the United States
Aulne
Aulne
Coordinates: 38°16′34″N 97°04′36″W / 38.2761266°N 97.0766933°W / 38.2761266; -97.0766933[1]
CountryUnited States
StateKansas
CountyMarion
TownshipWilson
Founded1887
Platted1887
Elevation1,408 ft (429 m)
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP Code
66861
Area code620
FIPS code20-03400 [1]
GNIS ID477370 [1]

History

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1915 Railroad Map of Marion County

Early history

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For many millennia, the Great Plains of North America was inhabited by nomadic Native Americans. From the 16th century to 18th century, the Kingdom of France claimed ownership of large parts of North America. In 1762, after the French and Indian War, France secretly ceded New France to Spain, per the Treaty of Fontainebleau.

19th century

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In 1802, Spain returned most of the land to France. In 1803, most of the land for modern day Kansas was acquired by the United States from France as part of the 828,000 square mile Louisiana Purchase for 2.83 cents per acre.

In 1854, the Kansas Territory was organized, then in 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state. In 1855, Marion County was established within the Kansas Territory, which included the land for modern day Aulne.[3]

In 1872, a railroad contractor, named Col. W. Sherburn, decided the location would be good location for a town and named it after himself, Sherburn, but it was too early and never used.

In 1887, the Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway built a branch line north–south from Herington through Aulne to Caldwell.[4] It foreclosed in 1891 and was taken over by Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway, which shut down in 1980, and reorganized as Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas Railroad which merged in 1988 with Missouri Pacific Railroad, and finally merged in 1997 with Union Pacific Railroad. Most locals still refer to this railroad as the "Rock Island".

A post office existed in Aulne from August 19, 1887, to February 28, 1954.[5]

20th century

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Aulne was one of the finalist communities considered for Tabor College before it was established in Hillsboro in 1908.[6]

During World War I, the local telephone company decreed that "No German could be spoken over the telephones", because of anti-German sentiment towards German-Americans.[7]

Geography

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Aulne is located at coordinates 38.2761266, -97.0766933 in the scenic Flint Hills and Great Plains of the state of Kansas.[1] It is roughly halfway between Marion and Peabody next to the Union Pacific Railroad.

Area attractions

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  • Aulne United Methodist Church, north-east corner of 140th St and Pawnee Rd.
  • 1890 Marion County Poor Farm (asylum), 1 mi west, 2.1 mi north. Large 3-story limestone house, now privately owned house, occasional tours by appointment. Darren E. Burrows lived here briefly as a child. Indigent, and somewhat "incompetent" people would live here with adult supervision, work the land, raise their own food, and earn their keep. Unwed pregnant girls could stay there until they delivered their babies, which were put up of adoption. The asylum was self-sustaining for a number of years, even paying taxes to the county.[8][9][10]
  • Marion Reservoir, approximately seven miles north of Aulne.

Education

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The community is served by Marion–Florence USD 408 public school district. All students attend schools in Marion. The high school is a member of T.E.E.N., a shared video teaching network between five area high schools.[11]

Media

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Print

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Infrastructure

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Transportation

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U.S. Route 56 is 5.75 miles (9.25 km) to the north, U.S. Route 50 is 7 miles (11 km) to the south, and U.S. Route 77 is 4.5 miles (7.2 km) east of the community. The Oklahoma Kansas Texas (OKT)[14] line of the Union Pacific Railroad runs through the community, but it no longer has a side-spur at Aulne.

Utilities

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Notable people

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  • Floyd B. Danskin, American politician, Washington State House of Representatives from 1921 to 1933, and Speaker of the House from 1925 to 1927.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "Aulne, Kansas", Geographic Names Information System, United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior
  2. ^ Marion County Kansas, Past and Present; Sondra Van Meter; 1972.
  3. ^ "The History of Marion County and Courthouse". Archived from the original on February 27, 2018. Retrieved April 23, 2014.
  4. ^ "Rock Island Rail History". Archived from the original on June 19, 2011. Retrieved July 31, 2010.
  5. ^ "Kansas Post Offices, 1828-1961 (archived)". Kansas Historical Society. Archived from the original on October 9, 2013. Retrieved June 14, 2014.
  6. ^ Ghost Towns - Aulne, Kansas
  7. ^ Mob Violence and Kansas Mennonites in 1918; Kansas Historical Quarterly; Autumn 1977.
  8. ^ Marion County Poor Farm - History; Marion County Record; October 14, 1998. Archived October 13, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ "Marion County Poor Farm - History; Peabody News; 1901". Archived from the original on October 14, 2012. Retrieved December 19, 2010.
  10. ^ "Marion County Poor Farm - Photo; Peabody News; 1901". Archived from the original on October 14, 2012. Retrieved December 19, 2010.
  11. ^ T.E.E.N. video teaching network Archived 2010-12-05 at the Wayback Machine
  12. ^ Marion Middle School
  13. ^ Marion Elementary School
  14. ^ "UP Railroad Common Line Names" (PDF). Union Pacific Railroad. Retrieved August 2, 2010.

Further reading

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  • Centennial Anniversary, United Methodist Church, Aulne, Kansas, 1875-1975.
  • 125th Anniversary Celebration, United Methodist Church, Aulne, Kansas, 1875-2000.
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Historical

Maps