I recently had occasion to visit the fine town of Norton, Kansas located in north central part of the state. Driving there on a fine winter's morn, I passed a sign that read "Long Island 9 Miles North" with a bold arrow pointing the way. In the clear sunlight, it caught my eye and piqued my curiosity. I had never heard of Long Island, Kansas.
When people settled the West they surely named the new communities for the places they had left behind, places they were likely to never see again. I assume that most were named with tongue in cheek. Pittsburg, Princeton, Oxford, Assaria, Alexander, Everest, Delphos, Washington, Jamestown, Lebanon, Manhattan - all Kansas towns but by no means is it an exhaustive list of famous place names scattered across the state.
On the way home Sunday, I made it a point to see what had become of the settlers' dreams in the place they named Long Island.
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| The settlers may have left this relic behind. It is the only one in all of Kansas, I think! |
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| Puts me in mind of Honolulu... |
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| Looking north, from city limit to city limit. Bet New Yorker's cannot do that in their Long Island! |
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| The settlers sense of humor seems to have survived as well. |
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