Russell Springs is a city in Logan County, Kansas, United States.

History

Russell Springs, founded in 1865, was the Eaton stop on the Butterfield Overland Dispatch stage line. The line ran through rough Indian country to connect the gold mines in Denver, Colorado, with Fort Riley, Kansas. It ran until the Kansas Pacific Railroad was built. Travelers on the Butterfield Trail always made the natural springs in the area a watering place and calling them "Russell's Springs".

It was named for Avra P. Russell, of the 2nd Regiment Kansas Volunteer Cavalry.

Russell Springs was the county seat of Logan County until 1963. There was much feuding over which town should serve as county seat, and Oakley won the honor in 1963. In 1965, the old county courthouse in Russell Springs became the Butterfield Trail Museum.

Climate

According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Russell Springs has a semi-arid climate, abbreviated "BSk" on climate maps.

Demographics

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 24 people, 13 households, and 8 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 27 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 100.0% White. Hispanics and Latinos of any race were 0.0% of the population.

There were 13 households, of which 15.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.8% were married couples living together, 0.0% had a male householder with no wife present, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.5% were non-families. 38.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 30.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.85, and the average family size was 2.38.

Russell Springs lies within Kansas's 1st U.S. Congressional District. For the purposes of representation in the Kansas Legislature, the city is located in the 40th district of the Kansas Senate and the 118th district of the Kansas House of Representatives.

Russell Springs schools were closed through school unification. The Russell Springs High School mascot was Russell Springs Hornets.

Transportation

Kansas Highway 25 (K-25) runs north-south through Russell Springs.

Culture

Points of interest

  • Butterfield Trail Historical Museum

References

Further reading

  • The 1880s Logan County Nickel Mine Hoax; John M. Peterson; Kansas History: A Journal of the Central Plains; 8 pages; Vol 2, No 1, Spring 1979.
  • Russell Springs - Directory of Public Officials