Vinland, Kansas
Encyclopedia
Vinland is a small agricultural unincorporated community
south of the city of Lawrence
and near Baldwin City
in Douglas County, Kansas
, United States
. It is part of the Lawrence Metropolitan Statistical Area.
. Renowned Jayhawker
Silas Soule
was among them. Like much of eastern Kansas, Vinland struggled in the Bleeding Kansas
period to keep the land free from slavery, and at least one man was killed in various skirmishes, including the Battle of Black Jack
in June 1856. Some consider this to have been the "first battle of the American Civil War
."
Today, "downtown" Vinland has about a dozen homes (many dating from the early part of the 20th century), an airfield (mostly used by small private planes), the Vinland Grange Hall
, and Coal Creek Library (founded in 1859), the oldest extant subscription library
west of the Mississippi River
.
Most years since 1874 Vinland has hosted a country fair, attracting thousands of visitors; the 100th Vinland Fair was held in 2007.
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
south of the city of Lawrence
Lawrence, Kansas
Lawrence is the sixth largest city in the U.S. State of Kansas and the county seat of Douglas County. Located in northeastern Kansas, Lawrence is the anchor city of the Lawrence, Kansas, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Douglas County...
and near Baldwin City
Baldwin City, Kansas
Baldwin City is a city in Douglas County, Kansas, United States about south of Lawrence and west of Gardner. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 4,515. It is part of the Lawrence, Kansas Metropolitan Statistical Area...
in Douglas County, Kansas
Douglas County, Kansas
Douglas County is a county located in northeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 110,826...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is part of the Lawrence Metropolitan Statistical Area.
History
The first settlers came in 1854 or 1855; they were mostly abolitionists spurred on by the Kansas-Nebraska ActKansas-Nebraska Act
The Kansas–Nebraska Act of 1854 created the territories of Kansas and Nebraska, opening new lands for settlement, and had the effect of repealing the Missouri Compromise of 1820 by allowing settlers in those territories to determine through Popular Sovereignty if they would allow slavery within...
. Renowned Jayhawker
Jayhawker
Jayhawkers is a term that came to prominence just before the American Civil War in Bleeding Kansas, where it was adopted by militant bands affiliated with the free-state cause. These bands, known as "Jayhawkers", were guerrilla fighters who often clashed with pro-slavery groups from Missouri known...
Silas Soule
Silas Soule
Silas Stillman Soule was a Massachusetts abolitionist, Kansas Territory Jayhawker, and a soldier in the Colorado infantry and cavalry during the American Civil War. Captain Soule, as commander of Company D, 1st Colorado Cavalry, was present at the Sand Creek Massacre on November 29, 1864...
was among them. Like much of eastern Kansas, Vinland struggled in the Bleeding Kansas
Bleeding Kansas
Bleeding Kansas, Bloody Kansas or the Border War, was a series of violent events, involving anti-slavery Free-Staters and pro-slavery "Border Ruffian" elements, that took place in the Kansas Territory and the western frontier towns of the U.S. state of Missouri roughly between 1854 and 1858...
period to keep the land free from slavery, and at least one man was killed in various skirmishes, including the Battle of Black Jack
Battle of Black Jack
The Battle of Black Jack took place on June 2, 1856, when anti-slavery forces, led by the noted abolitionist John Brown, attacked the encampment of Henry C. Pate near Baldwin City, Kansas. The battle is cited as one incident of “Bleeding Kansas” and a contributing factor leading up to the American...
in June 1856. Some consider this to have been the "first battle of the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
."
Today, "downtown" Vinland has about a dozen homes (many dating from the early part of the 20th century), an airfield (mostly used by small private planes), the Vinland Grange Hall
Vinland Grange Hall
Vinland Grange Hall, in Vinland, Kansas, was built in 1884. It historically served as a meeting hall and as a business. It was listed, for its architecture, on the National Register of Historic Places in 2000....
, and Coal Creek Library (founded in 1859), the oldest extant subscription library
Subscription library
A subscription library is a library that is financed by private funds either from membership fees or endowments...
west of the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
.
Most years since 1874 Vinland has hosted a country fair, attracting thousands of visitors; the 100th Vinland Fair was held in 2007.