Runnymede is an
unincorporated community
An unincorporated area is a region that is not governed by a local municipal corporation. Widespread unincorporated communities and areas are a distinguishing feature of the United States and Canada. Most other countries of the world either hav ...
in
Harper County, Kansas
Harper County (county code HP) is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 5,485. Its county seat and most populous city is Anthony. The county was named for Sergeant Marion Harper of the 2 ...
, United States.
It is located northeast of
Harper
Harper may refer to:
Names
* Harper (name), a surname and given name
Places
;in Canada
* Harper Islands, Nunavut
*Harper, Prince Edward Island
;In the United States
*Harper, former name of Costa Mesa, California in Orange County
* Harper, Il ...
along
K-2 state highway at the intersection of NE 140 Rd and NE 60 Ave.
History
Runnymede was touted by an Irish promoter as a planned community in Kansas to wealthy Irish and Great British families in the
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the European mainland, continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...
as a place in a "dry" state where their sons could come to begin a career as gentlemen farmers. Begun in 1888, the speculative though impressive scheme essentially collapsed within four years. The livery stable burned down in 1890. Other buildings were moved south close to the new constructed rail line. In 1891, the centerpiece of the town, a hotel, was partly disassembled and moved into the recently opened
Cherokee Strip
The Cherokee Outlet, or Cherokee Strip, was located in what is now the state of Oklahoma in the United States. It was a 60-mile-wide (97 km) parcel of land south of the Oklahoma-Kansas border between 96 and 100°W. The Cherokee Outlet wa ...
in
Alva, Oklahoma
Alva is a city in and the county seat of Woods County, Oklahoma, United States, along the Salt Fork Arkansas River. The population was 4,945 at the 2010 census. Northwestern Oklahoma State University is located in Alva.
History
Alva was esta ...
in 1893. It remains in use there today, thanks to a successful local effort at restoration.
Runnymede's church was moved to Harper, Kansas in 1893, where it now serves as a museum.
A post office was opened in Runnymede in 1879, and remained in operation until it was discontinued in 1944.
The community was named after
Runnymede
Runnymede is a water-meadow alongside the River Thames in the English county of Surrey, and just over west of central London. It is notable for its association with the sealing of Magna Carta, and as a consequence is, with its adjoining h ...
in England.
William Desmond Taylor
William Desmond Taylor (born William Cunningham Deane-Tanner, 26 April 1872 – 1 February 1922) was an Anglo-Irish-American film director and actor. A popular figure in the growing Cinema of the United States, Hollywood motion picture colony o ...
joined the Runnymede community in August 1891.
Area attractions
* Kansas Historical Marker - ''Old Runnymede''.
Kansas Historical Marker - Old Runnymede
/ref>
*Old Runnymede Church
The Old Runnymede Church, also known as St. Patrick's Episcopal Church, is a historic church at 11th and Pine Streets in Harper, Kansas
Harper is a city in Harper County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population of the ...
, located in Harper, Kansas.
Education
The community is served by Chaparral USD 361
Chaparral USD 361 is a public unified school district headquartered in Anthony, Kansas, United States. The district includes the communities of Anthony, Harper, Bluff City, Danville, Waldron, Crystal Springs, Duquoin, Freeport, Runnyme ...
public school district.
References
Further reading
*
*
*
*
External links
* Harper County maps
CurrentHistoric
KDOT
Unincorporated communities in Harper County, Kansas
Unincorporated communities in Kansas
{{HarperCountyKS-geo-stub