Near Ellsworth in Ellsworth County, Kansas — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Smoky Hills Region

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, April 18, 2012

1. Smoky Hills Region Marker

Inscription. This region of Kansas contains the Smoky Hills, an area of rolling hills, occasional mesas, and buttes, with striking outcroppings. Pawnee Rock, Coronado Heights, and Rock City are notable Dakota sandstone formations in this region. The Smoky Hills Region features sandstone caps in the east such as the rock "toadstools" in this park. More of these unique forms, sculpted by erosion, may be seen at Mushroom Rocks State Park near Carneiro, east of Ellsworth. In the mid-section of the region, hills are capped with limestone. Because of the scarcity of wood, early settlers made stone fence posts from this limestone. This custom is still in use. Chalk outcroppings can be seen in the western part of the region. Castle Rock and Monument Rocks are large chalk formations found in Gove County. Chalk bluffs are also located in Logan and Trego counties. These chalk formations, such as Wildcat Canyon in Trego County, are excellent sources of fossils from the Cretaceous Era.

Erected by the State of Kansas. (Marker Number 102.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Environment. In addition,

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it is included in the Kansas Historical Society series list.

Location. 38° 51.345′ N, 98° 7.438′ W. Marker is near Ellsworth, Kansas, in Ellsworth County. It can be reached from Interstate 70 at milepost 224. Marker is in the east bound rest area. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Ellsworth KS 67439, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Kansas’ Smoky Hills.

It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Corn Belt,

on the prairies,

and on the Southern Plains.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 11 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Historic Kansas (approx. half a mile away); Mushroom Rock State Park (approx. 10.3 miles away); Civil War Memorial (approx. 10.4 miles away); Ellsworth County Veterans Memorial (approx. 10.4 miles away); 1873 County Jail (approx. 10½ miles away); North Main Street (approx. 10½ miles away);

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, April 18, 2012

2. Smoky Hills Region Marker

Kansas Pacific Stockyards (approx. 10½ miles away); Grand Central Hotel (approx. 10½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Ellsworth.

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, April 18, 2012

3. Smoky Hills Region Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on May 13, 2012, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 1,212 times since then and 55 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 13, 2012, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.