Ghost Town of the Week: Week of November 16th, 2014: Wellsford

Those of you familiar with Kansas Ghost Towns may know that Freeport, in Harper County, is the smallest incorporated city in Kansas, with just five residents. What you may not know is before 1975, Freeport did not hold that title.

An inset from the city populations section of the 1972 Kansas Road Map. Freeport and Wellsford are highlighted. At this time, Wellsford was the smallest incorporated city in Kansas (Courtesy KDOT).

Wellsford is in the extreme eastern portion of Kiowa County, along US-54. It's just a mile west of the Pratt County line. The town had a post office that closed in 1955. The town was also an incorporated city of the third class until 1975, when it could no longer afford to operate as such and the state legislature unincorporated the city.

The town's former Main Street. Not much is left on it today.

DISCLAIMER: I visited Wellsford in 2010, the city may not look the same today
The town today is expansive, covering close to a quarter square mile, but at first glance there appears to be nearly nothing left. My father said that up until the 1980s there was an old tin grain elevator along US-54 that blew down in a strong thunderstorm. The town still runs a flea market along the highway. And then there's this.

Wellsford Christian Church still operates on the east edge of town. The church backs up to wheat fields and is visible for more than a mile as you approach the town from the east on US-54.

Other than the church and flea market, there are no operating businesses in Wellsford. And there's not much that's even standing anymore.

Along the town's old Main Street you can still see old sidewalks. Note that this portion has been fenced off for some reason.

Most of the city is heavily overgrown; building ruins are not that hard to spot, though, if you look.

A barely visible abandoned house, hidden behind thick overgrowth, on Main Street.

I couldn't find an old school building in the town, unless this is it. 

This abandoned building is a little closer to the old downtown on Main Street. It could've been just a house, a store, or possibly an old two-room school.

The town's former downtown is almost completely gone. It sits towards the south edge of town and the shell of one brick building is the most notable remnant.

Very little is left of Wellsford's downtown. This partially destroyed brick building does remain.

Just behind the brick building ruin is this pile of bricks. This is in the middle of town, but note all the empty lots.

The population listed in the 1970 census for Wellsford was 9. I would guess that's about the number today. There is a farmstead sitting on the south side of town, as well as 2 occupied houses near the flea market, but most of the rest of town is filled with ruins, like this one.

This large concrete ruin sits immediately across the street from the brick building ruin in the old downtown. I would guess this was a business building at one time.

Near the church, this partially standing stone house remains.

Wellford, as previously mentioned, is expansive and filled with ruins. Farming operations have begun to take over the south side of town, but most of the rest is still intact, yet overgrown. I still strongly recommend visiting this place, because I really enjoyed it, plus it's easily accessible right off of US-54.