Silkville, Kansas

Silkville, Kansas, is a ghost town located in Franklin County, Kansas, United States. It was founded in 1877 by French utopian socialist Ernest de Boissière, who named it after the silk industry he hoped to establish there. The town was never very successful, and by the early 1900s it was largely abandoned. Today, the only remaining structures are a few old buildings and the Silkville Ranch.

Silkville was originally located on a 600-acre tract of land that de Boissière purchased from the federal government. He envisioned a community of self-sufficient farmers and craftsmen who would live and work together in harmony. However, the town's location was not ideal for agriculture, and the silk industry never took off. By the early 1900s, most of the residents had moved away, and Silkville was essentially abandoned.

The Silkville Ranch was established in the 1920s by William and Mary Clair. The Clairs raised cattle and horses on the ranch, and they also operated a small store. The ranch remained in the Clair family until the 1970s, when it was sold to the Kansas Historical Society. The ranch is now a state historic site, and it is open to the public for tours.

Silkville is a fascinating example of a utopian community that never quite achieved its goals. However, the town's history is still worth learning about, and the Silkville Ranch is a beautiful and peaceful place to visit.

Here are some additional facts about Silkville:

The town was never incorporated, so it technically never existed.

The population of Silkville peaked at around 100 people in the late 1800s.

The town's post office closed in 1903.

Silkville was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.

If you're interested in learning more about Silkville, I recommend visiting the Kansas Historical Society's website or the Silkville Ranch. There are also a few books and articles that have been written about the town.