Editing Matfield Green, Kansas (section)

==History==

===Early history===
{{See also|History of Kansas}}
For many [[millennia]], the [[Great Plains]] of [[North America]] was inhabited by [[nomadic]] [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]].  The historic Native American tribes of Kansas are many, including the [[Kaw people|Kansa]], or "Wind People," from whom the name of the state is derived. Also included are the related [[Osage Nation|Osage]], [[Pawnee people|Pawnee]], and [[Wichita people|Wichita]]. From the west and north ranged the [[Comanche]] and [[Apache]], as well as the [[Kiowa]], [[Cheyenne]] and [[Arapaho]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Emporia State University, The Historic Indians of Kansas.|url=https://legendsofkansas.com/native-american-history-kansas/|access-date=2023-08-03}}</ref>

From the 16th century to 18th century, the [[Kingdom of France]] claimed ownership of large parts of [[North America]].  In 1762, after the [[French and Indian War]], France secretly ceded [[New France]] to [[Spain]], per the [[Treaty of Fontainebleau (1762)|Treaty of Fontainebleau]].

===19th century===
In 1802, Spain returned most of the land to France.  In 1803, most of the land for [[History of Kansas|modern day Kansas]] was acquired by the United States from France as part of the 828,000 square mile [[Louisiana Purchase]] for 2.83 [[Penny (United States coin)|cents]] per [[acre]].

In 1854, the [[Kansas Territory]] was organized, then in 1861 [[Kansas]] became the 34th [[U.S. state]].  In 1859, [[Chase County, Kansas|Chase County]] was established within the [[Kansas Territory]], which included the land for modern day Matfield Green.

Matfield Green was named after [[Matfield]], in England.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ODXKhgH3e6AC&pg=PA12 | title=Exploring Kansas Highways | author=Heim, Michael | year=2007 | pages=12| publisher=Exploring America's Highway | isbn=9780974435886 }}</ref> The [[village green]] at Matfield in Kent is known as Matfield Green.<ref>[https://getoutside.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/local/matfield-green-tunbridge-wells Ordnance Survey]</ref>

In 1870, [[Bazaar Township, Chase County, Kansas]] which includes Matfield Green had a population of 376, growing to 1,096 by 1880.<ref>{{cite web|title=William G. Cutler's History of the State of Kansas, 1883, Chase County, Bazaar Township.|url=http://www.kancoll.org/books/cutler/chase/chase-co-p1.html#TOC|access-date=2023-08-03}}</ref> In its heyday, at the beginning of the 20th century, Matfield Green grew to about 350 residents and possessed a bank, grocery store, livery and blacksmith, hardware, flour mill and lumberyard, and even a hotel for visitors. It also had its own schools. A post office existed in Matfield Green from January 11, 1867 to September 30, 1995.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kshs.org/geog/geog_postoffices/search/county:CS |title=Kansas Post Offices, 1828-1961 (archived) |publisher=Kansas Historical Society |accessdate=June 5, 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131009125935/http://www.kshs.org/geog/geog_postoffices/search/county%3ACS |archivedate=October 9, 2013 }}</ref>

===Present===
Like many small towns in Kansas, Matfield Green struggles to maintain its existence. It is helped by a small colony of artists and writers who work to preserve the community, along with the nearby historic Pioneer Bluffs ranch headquarters.<ref>{{cite web|title=Center for Living Education, Matfield Green.|url=http://www.matfieldgreen.org/thebank/center-for-living-education/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160826063315/http://matfieldgreen.org/thebank/center-for-living-education/|archive-date=2016-08-26}}</ref> Additionally great conservation efforts have been made by both private individuals such as Texas billionaire [[Ed Bass]] and non profit organizations [[Nature Conservancy]] to combat development and preserve the [[Flint Hills]], which is one of the most threatened ecosystems in the world.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.drovers.com/news/flint-hills-ranch-listed-858-million | title=Flint Hills Ranch Listed for $8.58 Million | date=June 28, 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://placesjournal.org/article/the-flint-hills-middle-of-everywhere/|doi = 10.22269/191112|title = The Middle of Everywhere|year = 2019|last1 = Schuler|first1 = Timothy A.|journal = Places Journal|issue = 2019|s2cid = 214340391|doi-access = free}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://services.autoclubmo.aaa.com/traveler/mid/2010/05/musical-prairie.html|title = Traveler - Musical Prairie}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tallgrassartistresidency.org/program/|title=Program – Tallgrass Artist Residency}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.emporiagazette.com/news/article_a82892fd-8367-560f-b83d-38e406bddbf9.html|title=Couple protects Flint Hills land|date=September 2006 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.travelks.com/kansas-magazine/articles/category/flint-hills-coalition/577fe2ec82a8db5e070ee3d9/|title = Posts in Flint Hills Coalition &#124; Articles| date=December 3, 2012 }}</ref>