Editing Alta Vista, Kansas (section)

==History==
Alta Vista was founded in 1887, and it was incorporated as a city in 1905.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=o8X5krq3fP8C&pg=PA66 | title=Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, Embracing Events, Institutions, Industries, Counties, Cities, Towns, Prominent Persons, Etc. | publisher=Standard Publishing Company | author=Blackmar, Frank Wilson | year=1912 | pages=66| isbn=9780722249055 }}</ref> Alta Vista is derived from the Spanish word for "high view", and the city was so named from its lofty elevation.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KAMtAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA53 | title=Business Directory and History of Wabaunsee County  | publisher=Kansas Directory Company | year=1907 | pages=53}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=4421 | title=Profile for Alta Vista, Kansas | publisher=[[ePodunk]] | accessdate=27 June 2014}}</ref>

In 1887, the [[Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway]] built a main line from [[Topeka, Kansas|Topeka]] through Alta Vista to [[Herington, Kansas|Herington]].<ref name="Rock Island Rail History">{{Cite web |url=http://home.covad.net/~scicoatnsew/rihist4.htm |title=Rock Island Rail History |access-date=2011-04-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110619230000/http://home.covad.net/~scicoatnsew/rihist4.htm |archive-date=2011-06-19 |url-status=dead }}</ref>  The [[Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway]] was foreclosed in 1891 and taken over by [[Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway]], which shut down in 1980 and reorganized as [[Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas Railroad]], merged in 1988 with [[Missouri Pacific Railroad]], merged in 1997 with [[Union Pacific Railroad]].  Most locals still refer to this railroad as the "Rock Island".

The first post office in Alta Vista was established in March 1887.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kshs.org/geog/geog_postoffices/search/county:WB |title=Kansas Post Offices, 1828-1961 |publisher=Kansas Historical Society |accessdate=27 June 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131009123651/http://www.kshs.org/geog/geog_postoffices/search/county%3AWB |archivedate=October 9, 2013 }}</ref>