Riga, Kansas Explained
| Riga, Kansas |
| Settlement Type: | Unincorporated community |
| Image Map1: | Map of Trego Co, Ks, USA.png |
| Map Caption1: | KDOT map of Trego County (legend) |
| Pushpin Map: | Kansas#USA |
| Pushpin Label: | Riga |
| Pushpin Label Position: | right |
| Coordinates: | 38.9506°N -99.6503°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | United States |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Name1: | Kansas |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name2: | Trego |
| Subdivision Type3: | Township |
| Subdivision Name3: | Glencoe |
| Established Title: | Founded |
| Established Title1: | Platted |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
| Elevation Ft: | 2221 |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | auto |
| Timezone: | CST |
| Utc Offset: | -6 |
| Timezone Dst: | CDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | -5 |
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP code |
| Postal Code: | 67656[1] |
| Area Code Type: | Area code |
| Area Code: | 785 |
| Blank Name: | FIPS code |
| Blank1 Name: | GNIS ID |
Riga is an unincorporated community in Trego County, Kansas, United States.
Geography
Riga is located at 39.1033°N -99.2456°W at an elevation of 2,221 feet (677 m). It is in far east-central Trego County roughly 4miles west of Ellis in neighboring Ellis County It lies to the north of Big Creek in the western extent of the Smoky Hills region of the Great Plains.[2]
Transportation
Rail
- The Kansas Pacific (KP)[3] [4] line of the Union Pacific Railroad runs southeast–northwest through Riga, with a siding for the grain elevator.
- Until 1946, Riga received scheduled local passenger service, at least twice daily; e.g., morning westbound train 69-369 and evening eastbound train 370-70.[5] [6]
- However, there is recollection that, in the 1950s, the eastbound and westbound Portland Rose trains would meet at Riga.[7]
- In the 50s and 60s, the eastbound and westbound Portland Rose trains were scheduled to leave Oakley and Ellis, respectively, at about the same time in the early afternoon; and, would have to meet each other at a passing siding on the single track in between.[8] [9]
- If the westbound was delayed in leaving Ellis, Riga was the last siding outside of Ellis where the eastbound could wait for the westbound to clear the station.
- When the Union Pacific rebuilt the Kansas Pacific line in the late 1990s, a new 9300 ft. siding was built just west of Riga.[7]
Highways
- Riga Road (FAS 1854) runs north–south through the location, connecting to Exit 140 of Interstate 70 a mile to the north.[2]
- The first section of Interstate 70 to be built in western Kansas was completed by 1961 from Riga to Collyer.
- 40 Hwy (FAS 1977), parallel to and south of the railroad tracks, an old alignment of U.S. Route 40,[10] runs southeast–northwest through Riga and is a direct connection between the downtowns of WaKeeney (county seat) and Ellis.[11]
External links
Notes and References
- Web site: Trego County Profile . 2020-12-30 . zipdatamaps .
- Web site: Riga, Glencoe, Kansas . . 2020-12-30.
- Web site: General Highway Map - Trego County, Kansas . . 1978 . 2020-12-30.
- Web site: UPRR Common Line Names . . 2020-12-30 .
- Book: Time Tables . Union Pacific Railroad . June 2, 1946 . 2021-01-09 .
- Book: Condensed Time Tables . Union Pacific Railroad . September 1, 1947 . 2021-01-09 . Riga is not listed on any table .
- Web site: Historic Venues on the Prairies of Kansas . Trainorders.com Nostalgia & History . 2020-12-30 .
- Book: Time Tables . Union Pacific Railroad . September 26, 1954 . 2021-01-09 .
- Book: Time Tables . Union Pacific Railroad . Summer 1958 . 2021-01-09 .
- Web site: Official 1960–61 Kansas Highway Map . . 2015-07-16.
- [:File:Map_of_Trego_Co,_Ks,_USA.png|Kansas 2005–2006 Official Transportation Map]
