Page Contents for Westmoreland, Kansas

Statistics & Facts

History & History-related items

City Attractions

Organizations, Churches, and Sports.

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Statistics & Facts

The Kansas state capital is Topeka.
The population of Westmoreland is approximately 541 (1990), 778 (2010).
The approximate number of families is 233 (1990), 301 (2010).
The amount of land area in Westmoreland is 1.182 sq. kilometers.
The amount of surface water is 0 sq kilometers.
The distance from Westmoreland to Washington DC is 1100 miles.
The distance to the Kansas state capital is 47 miles. (as the crow flies)
Westmoreland is positioned 39.39 degrees north of the equator and 96.41 degrees west of the prime meridian.

History & History Related Items

Westmoreland, the county seat, is located along Highway 99, in the center of the county. The community is nestled in Rock Creek Valley where Oregon Trail travelers once camped. Graves and wagon ruts remain in the area of this pioneer oasis

The Pottawatomie County Courthouse, located in Westmoreland, is constructed of native limestone. It was built in 1884, and is the second oldest courthouse in the state.

In 1993, Pottawatomie County established a War Memorial on the grounds of the County Court House lawn. The names of all the men and women serving from Pottawatomie County are in bronze and the memorial is a patriotic setting.
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Attractions

The Rock Creek Valley Historical Society Museum is located at the corner of 6th and State Street, Westmoreland, Kansas 66549. Open from the Saturday before Memorial Day until October 1, Tuesdays and Saturdays 2-4 pm and by appointment. The Museum purpose is to Collect, Display, Preserve, and Study The People Of This Valley of the past and present for Future Generations. The Museum houses many historical items from the early settlement of this area.

The Oregon Trail Park and Covered Wagon and Oxen Team are located 1 mile south of Westmoreland on Highway 99, at Scott Springs Oregon Trail Camp Site. This Park was dedicated in 1993 in commemoration of the emigrants who traveled the Oregon Trail 150 years ago. Here you can see the grave and wagon ruts from these pioneer days.

Westmoreland has what is reputed to be the second-highest hand-dug well in the world. Working without the benefit of modern machinery in 1914 as many as forty men labored through the winter using picks and shovels to dig this well. The well was covered with a conical shingled roof, and a pump and engine house that was constructed of native stone. This building was later moved stone by stone to its present location on the northeast corner of Second and Main.

The Pottawatomie No. 1 State Fishing Lake and Wildlife Area is located 4 1/2 miles North of Westmoreland on Highway 99. This is a public fishing lake with camping and picnick sites.

One of the regions largest lakes, Tuttle Creek,is just 16 miles west of Westmoreland. There are numerous public sites around the lake for, boating, water skiing, swimming, hunting, pinicking, camping and outdoor sports. For more information please contact:
Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks
Tuttle Creek 5020-B Tuttle Creek Blvd.
Manhattan, Kansas 66502
Phone: (785) 539-7941
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