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K-14 (Kansas highway)
Encyclopedia
K-14 is a north–south state highway
which runs most of the length of the U.S. state
of Kansas
. The highway runs through the central part of the state.
in Harper County
. From there, it travels north into Kingman County
, crossing the Chikaskia River
near the community of Rago. K-14 continues north to Kingman
, where it crosses the South Fork of the Ninnescah River
and meets US-54/US-400. K-14 travels west with US-54/400 for approximately 4 miles (6.4 km) before turning north again and continuing into Reno County
. K-14 meets K-61
just southwest of the town of Arlington
, and the two highways are briefly duplexed while traveling northeast through the town. Past Arlington, K-61 continues to the northeast toward Hutchinson
, while K-14 resumes its due north bearing, crossing the North Fork of the Ninnescah River.
Just south of the Reno/Rice
county line, K-14 meets K-96
and the two highways are duplexed for the next 15 miles (24.1 km). The two highways travel west for around a mile when they first meet, before turning north again into Rice County. The highway crosses the Arkansas River
and continues north through Sterling
. At Lyons
, the highway meets US-56, at which point K-96 splits from K-14 and continues west along US-56 toward Great Bend
, while K-14 continues north into Ellsworth County
. In the historic town of Ellsworth
, the highway crosses the Smoky Hill River
and continues north to I-70. K-14 travels east along I-70 for approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) before exiting and resuming north into Lincoln County
, where K-14 passes through the Smoky Hills Wind Farm
.
K-14 passes north through Lincoln and Mitchell
Counties, crossing the Saline River
in the town of Lincoln and the Solomon River in Beloit
(the largest town along the highway). The highway jogs to the west for close to 2 miles (3.2 km) at the Mitchell/Jewell
county line before continuing north into Jewell County. K-14 passes through the town of Jewell
and meets US-36 just east of Mankato
. K-14 is duplexed with US-36 for three miles (5 km) as it heads east, before splitting off again to the north. K-14 passes over White Rock Creek at the far western end of Lovewell Reservoir and continues north into Nebraska near the town of Superior, Nebraska
, where the highway continues as Nebraska Highway 14
.
The northern and southern halves of the highway differ fairly significantly in terms of terrain and landscape. The southern half of K-14 travels over fairly flat terrain in the valley of the Arkansas River. Just north of the intersection with K-4 in southern Ellsworth County, K-14 passes into the Smoky Hills
region, traveling over a series of broad, rolling hills, providing several scenic vistas of the surrounding countryside. The portion of the highway between Lincoln and Beloit is particularly hilly.
State highway
State highway, state road or state route can refer to one of three related concepts, two of them related to a state or provincial government in a country that is divided into states or provinces :#A...
which runs most of the length of the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
. The highway runs through the central part of the state.
Route description
K-14 begins on its southern end at US-160 in the town of HarperHarper, Kansas
Harper is a city in Harper County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,473.-Geography:Harper is located at . According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 1,567...
in Harper County
Harper County, Kansas
Harper County is a county located in South Central Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 6,034. Its county seat and most populous city is Anthony...
. From there, it travels north into Kingman County
Kingman County, Kansas
Kingman County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 7,858. The largest city and county seat is Kingman.-History:...
, crossing the Chikaskia River
Chikaskia River
The Chikaskia River is a tributary of the Salt Fork of the Arkansas River in southern Kansas and northern Oklahoma in the United States...
near the community of Rago. K-14 continues north to Kingman
Kingman, Kansas
Kingman is a city in and the county seat of Kingman County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 3,177.-Geography:Kingman is located at...
, where it crosses the South Fork of the Ninnescah River
Ninnescah River (Kansas)
The Ninnescah River is a river of southern Kansas. It has two branches. The main stream flows southeast and empties its waters into the Arkansas River near the town of Oxford . In the southern part of Stafford County, this north fork flows northeastwardly to Plevna, where the course changes to...
and meets US-54/US-400. K-14 travels west with US-54/400 for approximately 4 miles (6.4 km) before turning north again and continuing into Reno County
Reno County, Kansas
Reno County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. The county's population was 64,511 for the 2010 census. The largest city and county seat is Hutchinson. The Hutchinson Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Reno County.-19th century:In 1887, the Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska...
. K-14 meets K-61
K-61 (Kansas highway)
K-61 is a Kansas state highway originating at US-54 and US-400 on the east side of Pratt. Signed as a north–south highway, K-61 is a diagonal highway running southwest and northeast. K-61 is long.-Route description:...
just southwest of the town of Arlington
Arlington, Kansas
Arlington is a city in Reno County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 473.-History:In 1887, the Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway built a main line from Herington through Arlington to Pratt. In 1888, this line was extended to Liberal. Later, it was extended...
, and the two highways are briefly duplexed while traveling northeast through the town. Past Arlington, K-61 continues to the northeast toward Hutchinson
Hutchinson, Kansas
Hutchinson is the largest city in and the county seat of Reno County, Kansas, United States, northwest of Wichita, on the Arkansas River. It has been home to salt mines since 1887, thus its nickname of "Salt City", but locals call it "Hutch"...
, while K-14 resumes its due north bearing, crossing the North Fork of the Ninnescah River.
Just south of the Reno/Rice
Rice County, Kansas
Rice County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas; it was named in memory of Samuel Allen Rice, Brigadier-General, United States volunteers, killed April 30, 1864, at Jenkins Ferry, Arkansas. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 10,083...
county line, K-14 meets K-96
K-96 (Kansas highway)
K-96 is a state highway in central and southern Kansas. Its western terminus is at the Colorado state line east of Towner, Colorado, where it continues as Colorado State Highway 96; its eastern terminus since 1999 is at U.S. Route 54/U.S. Route 400 east of Wichita.The eastern terminus was once at...
and the two highways are duplexed for the next 15 miles (24.1 km). The two highways travel west for around a mile when they first meet, before turning north again into Rice County. The highway crosses the Arkansas River
Arkansas River
The Arkansas River is a major tributary of the Mississippi River. The Arkansas generally flows to the east and southeast as it traverses the U.S. states of Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. The river's initial basin starts in the Western United States in Colorado, specifically the Arkansas...
and continues north through Sterling
Sterling, Kansas
Sterling is a city in Rice County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 2,328. Sterling is home to Sterling College.- History :...
. At Lyons
Lyons, Kansas
Lyons is a city in and the county seat of Rice County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 3,739.-History:Although Coronado's exact route across the plains is uncertain and has been widely disputed, he and his men are thought to have camped near the present...
, the highway meets US-56, at which point K-96 splits from K-14 and continues west along US-56 toward Great Bend
Great Bend, Kansas
Great Bend, named for its location at the historic big bend of the Arkansas River, is the most populous city in and the county seat of Barton County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 15,995.-History:...
, while K-14 continues north into Ellsworth County
Ellsworth County, Kansas
Ellsworth County is a county located in Central Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 6,497. Its county seat and most populous city is Ellsworth.-19th century:...
. In the historic town of Ellsworth
Ellsworth, Kansas
Ellsworth is a city in and the county seat of Ellsworth County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 3,120.-19th century:...
, the highway crosses the Smoky Hill River
Smoky Hill River
The Smoky Hill River is a river in the central Great Plains of North America, running through the U.S. states of Colorado and Kansas.-Names:The Smoky Hill gets its name from the Smoky Hills region of north-central Kansas through which it flows...
and continues north to I-70. K-14 travels east along I-70 for approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) before exiting and resuming north into Lincoln County
Lincoln County, Kansas
Lincoln County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 3,241...
, where K-14 passes through the Smoky Hills Wind Farm
Smoky Hills Wind Farm
The Smoky Hills Wind Farm is a 100.8 megawatt wind farm in Lincoln and Ellsworth Counties, 140 miles west of Topeka in Kansas, north of Ellsworth. The farm is operated by Enel Green Power. Highway K-14 and Interstate 70 pass through parts of the wind farm, with clear views of many of the wind...
.
K-14 passes north through Lincoln and Mitchell
Mitchell County, Kansas
Mitchell County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 6,373...
Counties, crossing the Saline River
Saline River (Kansas)
The Saline River is a tributary of the Smoky Hill River in the central Great Plains of North America. The entire length of the river lies in the U.S. state of Kansas. The river takes its name from the French translation of its Native name Ne Miskua, referring to its salty content.-Geography:The...
in the town of Lincoln and the Solomon River in Beloit
Beloit, Kansas
Beloit is a city in and the county seat of Mitchell County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 3,835.- History :...
(the largest town along the highway). The highway jogs to the west for close to 2 miles (3.2 km) at the Mitchell/Jewell
Jewell County, Kansas
Jewell County is a county located in North Central Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 3,077. Its county seat and most populous city is Mankato.-19th century:...
county line before continuing north into Jewell County. K-14 passes through the town of Jewell
Jewell, Kansas
Jewell is a city in Jewell County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 432.-History:The City of Jewell began in 1870 as a large sod enclosure called Fort Jewell. Named in honor of Lieutenant-Colonel Lewis R. Jewell, Sixth Kansas Cavalry, who died November 30,...
and meets US-36 just east of Mankato
Mankato, Kansas
Mankato is a city in and the county seat of Jewell County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 869.-Geography:Mankato is located at...
. K-14 is duplexed with US-36 for three miles (5 km) as it heads east, before splitting off again to the north. K-14 passes over White Rock Creek at the far western end of Lovewell Reservoir and continues north into Nebraska near the town of Superior, Nebraska
Superior, Nebraska
Superior is a city in Nuckolls County, Nebraska, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,957.Superior bills itself as the "Victorian Capital of Nebraska", and holds an annual Victorian Festival...
, where the highway continues as Nebraska Highway 14
Nebraska Highway 14
Nebraska Highway 14 is a highway in Nebraska. It has a southern terminus at the Kansas border southwest of Superior and a northern terminus east of Niobrara at the South Dakota border.-Route description:...
.
The northern and southern halves of the highway differ fairly significantly in terms of terrain and landscape. The southern half of K-14 travels over fairly flat terrain in the valley of the Arkansas River. Just north of the intersection with K-4 in southern Ellsworth County, K-14 passes into the Smoky Hills
Smoky Hills
The Smoky Hills are an upland region of hills in the central Great Plains of North America. They are located in the central United States, encompassing north-central Kansas and a small portion of south-central Nebraska. The hills are a dissected plain covered by tallgrass and mixed-grass prairie...
region, traveling over a series of broad, rolling hills, providing several scenic vistas of the surrounding countryside. The portion of the highway between Lincoln and Beloit is particularly hilly.