Vinland is an unincorporated community in Douglas County, Kansas, United States. It is located south of Lawrence and north of Baldwin City.
Vinland, Kansas | |
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Unincorporated community | |
Coal Creek Library in Vinland, erected in 1900, which is the oldest subscription library in Kansas | |
![]() KDOT map of Douglas County (legend) | |
![]() ![]() Vinland ![]() ![]() Vinland | |
Coordinates: 38°50′22″N 95°10′56″W | |
Country | United States |
State | Kansas |
County | Douglas |
Founded | 1854 |
Platted | 1860s |
Elevation | 889 ft (271 m) |
Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
Area code | 785 |
FIPS code | 20-74000 |
GNIS ID | 479519 [1] |
The first settlement was made at Vinland in 1854.[2] In the earliest days of the community, some called it "Coal Creek", due to deposits of the sedimentary rock in a nearby waterway.[3] The settlement eventually earned the name "Vineland" (after the orchard of one of the first settlers, William Barnes), which later evolved into "Vinland" after a clerical error. Most of the settlers of the early community were abolitionists or Free-Staters from New England, and consequently, they opposed the extension of slavery into Kansas Territory.[4][5]
In 1859, Annie Soule and Martha Cutter helped found a library (and an associated book club), in the hopes that it "would contribute to the 'moral, social, and intellectual improvement of [the settlement's] members";[5] specifically, they hoped "to prevent dancing from becoming the only amusement in the community."[3] The library initially boasted a collection 10 books (which eventually grew to over 2,000), and residents of the small town were allowed to check them out if they contributed an annual fee of 50 cents.[6][7] The building that currently holds the collection was constructed in 1900 when the community's book supply grew too large.[7] Today, Coal Creek Library is considered the oldest subscription library in the state.[5]
Vinland was not legally platted until the 1860s.[8] A post office was opened in Vinland in 1868, and remained in operation until 1954.[9] In 1912, the population of the settlement was 75, and it housed "a fine agricultural district ... [and] express and telegraph facilities".[2] Today, the Vinland Grange Hall is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[10]
Municipalities and communities of Douglas County, Kansas, United States | ||
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County seat: Lawrence | ||
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Unincorporated communities |
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Ghost towns | ||
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