In 1802, Spain returned most of the land to France, but keeping
title to about 7,500 square miles. In 1803, most of the land for modern
day Kansas was acquired by the United States from France as part of the
828,000 square mile Louisiana Purchase for 2.83 cents per acre.
In
1854, the Kansas Territory was organized, then in 1861 Kansas became
the 34th U.S. state. In 1887, Jewell
County was established and named for Lieutenant Colonel Lewis R.
Jewell of the 6th Regiment Kansas Volunteer Cavalry.
In
1887, Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway built a branch line
from Neva (3 miles west of Strong City) to Superior,
Nebraska. This branch line connected Strong City, Neva, Rockland, Diamond
Springs, Burdick, Lost Springs, Jacobs, Hope, Navarre, Enterprise, Abilene, Talmage, Manchester, Longford, Oak
Hill, Miltonvale, Aurora, Huscher, Concordia, Kackley, Courtland, Webber, and
Superior. At some point, the line from Neva to Lost Springs was
pulled but the right of way has not been abandoned. This branch line was
originally called "Strong City and Superior line" but later the name
was shortened to the "Strong City line". In 1996, the Atchison,
Topeka and Santa Fe Railway merged with Burlington Northern Railroad and
renamed to the current BNSF Railway. Most locals still refer to this
railroad as the "Santa Fe".