Codell, Kansas

Codell is an unincorporated community in Township 12, Rooks County, Kansas, United States.

History

Codell was established as a Union Pacific Railroad depot in 1887. Union Pacific could not reach agreement with the nearby town of Motor, so Union Pacific established the town of Codell three-quarters of a mile west of Motor. The frame buildings in Motor were moved to Codell and Motor was soon abandoned.

Early in its history Codell had a school, two churches and numerous businesses including: the Codell State Bank, telephone central office, two lumber yards, machine shop, implement company, three stores, hardware store, hotel, restaurant, harness shop, doctor and barber.[1]

Codell is notable for its exceptional tornado history which earned it mention in Ripley's Believe It or Not!. The town was hit by tornadoes on May 20 in three successive years: 1916, 1917 and 1918.[2]

The 1916 tornado was an F2 passing west of town in the early evening.[3] The 1917 tornado was an F3 passing east of town also in the early evening.[4] In 1918, Codell took a direct hit from an F4 tornado just after dark. The school, M. E. church, hotel and several residences were completely destroyed. Many more buildings were badly damaged. Although the school was rebuilt and a new high school was built in 1938, the town never fully recovered from the devastation of the 1918 tornado.[5]

Geography

Codell lies in the middle of the double township of Paradise, south of the city of Stockton (the county seat of Rooks County[6]) and near the southeastern corner of Rooks County. The community lies along the banks of Paradise Creek and an abandoned railroad line. The nearest city, Plainville, lies approximately 9 miles (14 km) away to the northwest by road; the community is connected via 24 Road to a state highway, K-18, which lies approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) to the north.[7]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Darland, H. O. "A History of Paradise Township", Plainville Times, 23 February 1961, p. 8.
  2. ↑ http://www.islandnet.com/~see/weather/almanac/arc2006/alm06may.htm
  3. ↑ "CYCONE SAT. EVENING", Plainville Times, 25 May 1916, p. 1.
  4. ↑ "DESTRUCTIVE TORNADO", Plainville Times, 24 May 1917, pp. 1, 5.
  5. ↑ "Tornado Traverses Trego, Ellis, Rooks and Osborne Counties. Ten Killed, Scores of Injured. Property Damage in Million. Codell in Part Ruins.", Plainville Times, 23 May 1918, p. 1.
  6. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  7. ↑ DeLorme. Kansas Atlas & Gazetteer. 4th ed. Yarmouth: DeLorme, 2009, 32. ISBN 0-89933-342-7.

External links

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Coordinates: 39°11′36″N 99°10′38″W / 39.19333°N 99.17722°W / 39.19333; -99.17722

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