Oursler is a ghost town in Marion County, Kansas, United States.[1] It is currently a ghost town that was located approximately 3.5 miles southeast of Marion next to a former railroad.[2] No buildings remain of this former community.
In 1802, Spain returned most of the land to France. 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.
Oursler was named for W.E.M. Oursler, who came to Kansas in 1870 and kept a post office on his place for several years. After the railroad was built from Florence to Marion on the southwest side of Oursler, a depot was built and mail was brought to the station early each day. In addition to the post office, there was a brick kiln and a small grocery store. On October 17, 1877, W.E.M. Oursler and his wife filed a plot for a small town named Oursler with a size of two blocks.[4]
20th century
The railroad from Florence to Oursler to Marion, was abandoned in 1968.[6]
21st century
Currently no buildings or landmarks exist in Oursler, thus it's considered a Ghost Town.
Geography
Oursler was located at coordinates 38°17′23″N, 96°58′52″W in the scenic Flint Hills and Great Plains of the state of Kansas.[1] It was on a triangular plot, located at the southwest corner of 150th Street and Union Road in Marion County, Kansas. It was bordered by the two roads and the railroad southwest of the corner. Its platted location was the NE 1/4 of the NW 1/4 of Section 27, Township 20, Range 4.[4][7]
