Lakin began as a railroad town. The United States government made a grant of land to the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. By law the A,T&SF acquired the title to all their lands within the ten mile limits as fast as they could complete and operate the road, that is, taking it in subdivisions of twenty miles in length of the road. They also acquired the title to the indemnity land, which is outside of ten miles and within the twenty miles of the road on each side, when they completed and operated the road to the west line of the State of Kansas, provided they completed the road by March 3, 1873. In spite of human predators, bad weather, tight money, long supply lines, and innumerable other complications, the track of the railroad reached the true state line on Dec. 28, 1872.
J.D. Criley, Superintendent of Construction, announced the good news in a wire to the General Manager of the railroad, “We send you greeting over the completion of the road to the State line. Beyond us lie fertile valleys that invite us forward, and broad plains die away in the distance, dotted with mingling herds of bison, and cattle, awaiting our further advance … We send you three cheers over past successes, and three times three for that which is yet to come.”
The A,T&SF then established stations every 18 to 20 miles where a well was dug, a windmill and water tank erected, and coal bins built. A section house for the railroad workers and a box car equipped for a depot was included. The towns west from Dodge City located and named in 1872 by the railway company were: Dodge City, Cimarron, Pierceville, Sherlock (now known as Holcomb), Lakin, Aubrey (now known as Kendall), Holidaysburg (which became Syracuse) and Sargent (known now as Coolidge).
As Lakin enters its 150th year of existence, check in frequently here or on our Facebook page to learn more about the history of our community.
(Information from Kansas Historical Quarterly Collections Vol. 51 and Virginia Pierce Hicks, first president of the Kearny County Historical Society.)
