Riga, Kansas

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Coordinates: 38°57′2″N 99°39′1″W / 38.95056°N 99.65028°W / 38.95056; -99.65028
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Riga, Kansas
Unincorporated community
KDOT map of Trego County (legend)
KDOT map of Trego County (legend)
Riga is located in Kansas
Riga
Riga
Riga is located in the United States
Riga
Riga
Coordinates: 38°57′2″N 99°39′1″W / 38.95056°N 99.65028°W / 38.95056; -99.65028[1]
CountryUnited States
StateKansas
CountyTrego
TownshipGlencoe
Elevation
[1]
2,221 ft (677 m)
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
67656[2]
Area code785
FIPS code20-59850 [1]
GNIS ID484721 [1]

Riga is an unincorporated community in Trego County, Kansas, United States.[1]

Geography[edit]

Riga is located at 39°06′12″N 99°14′44″W / 39.10333°N 99.24556°W / 39.10333; -99.24556 at an elevation of 2,221 feet (677 m).[1] It is in far east-central Trego County roughly 4 miles (6.4 km) west of Ellis in neighboring Ellis County[3] It lies to the north of Big Creek in the western extent of the Smoky Hills region of the Great Plains.[3]

Transportation[edit]

Rail[edit]

  • The Kansas Pacific (KP)[4][5] line of the Union Pacific Railroad runs southeast–northwest through Riga, with a siding for the grain elevator.
    • Until 1946, Riga received scheduled local passenger service, at least twice daily; e.g., morning westbound train 69-369 and evening eastbound train 370-70.[6][7]
      • However, there is recollection that, in the 1950s, the eastbound and westbound Portland Rose trains would meet at Riga.[8]
      • In the 50s and 60s, the eastbound and westbound Portland Rose trains were scheduled to leave Oakley and Ellis, respectively, at about the same time in the early afternoon; and, would have to meet each other at a passing siding on the single track in between.[9][10]
      • If the westbound was delayed in leaving Ellis, Riga was the last siding outside of Ellis where the eastbound could wait for the westbound to clear the station.
    • When the Union Pacific rebuilt the Kansas Pacific line in the late 1990s, a new 9300 ft. siding was built just west of Riga.[8]

Highways[edit]

  • Riga Road (FAS 1854)[4] runs north–south through the location, connecting to Exit 140 of Interstate 70 a mile to the north.[3]
  • 40 Hwy (FAS 1977),[4] parallel to and south of the railroad tracks, an old alignment of U.S. Route 40,[11] runs southeast–northwest through Riga and is a direct connection between the downtowns of WaKeeney (county seat) and Ellis.[12]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Riga, Kansas", Geographic Names Information System, United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior
  2. ^ "Trego County Profile". zipdatamaps. Retrieved 2020-12-30.
  3. ^ a b c "Riga, Glencoe, Kansas". Google Maps. Retrieved 2020-12-30.
  4. ^ a b c "General Highway Map - Trego County, Kansas" (PDF). Kansas Department of Transportation. 1978. Retrieved 2020-12-30.
  5. ^ "UPRR Common Line Names" (PDF). Union Pacific Railroad. Retrieved 2020-12-30.
  6. ^ Time Tables (PDF). Union Pacific Railroad. June 2, 1946. Retrieved 2021-01-09.
  7. ^ Condensed Time Tables (PDF). Union Pacific Railroad. September 1, 1947. Retrieved 2021-01-09. Riga is not listed on any table
  8. ^ a b "Historic Venues on the Prairies of Kansas". Trainorders.com Nostalgia & History. 2020-12-30.
  9. ^ Time Tables (PDF). Union Pacific Railroad. September 26, 1954. Retrieved 2021-01-09.
  10. ^ Time Tables (PDF). Union Pacific Railroad. Summer 1958. Retrieved 2021-01-09.
  11. ^ a b "Official 1960–61 Kansas Highway Map" (PDF). Kansas Department of Transportation. Retrieved 2015-07-16.
  12. ^ Kansas 2005–2006 Official Transportation Map

Further reading[edit]

See also: List of books about Trego County, Kansas

External links[edit]


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