Blue Stem Ghost Town
Russell County, Kansas39.0186, -98.5292
Can you visit?
Likely private land
Private or unlisted land · Ask the owner first
- Nearest town
- 20 miRussell, KS
- Mild months
- Mar–Nov7 of 12
- Elevation
- 1,540 ft469 m
Blue Stem is a former settlement in Russell County, Kansas, listed among the ghost towns of Kansas. It lies at about 1,540 feet above sea level.
On the map
- Private or unlisted
Star: Blue Stem. Dots: other ghost towns within 40 miles, colored by land manager. Squares: towns over 1,000 people. Rings are straight-line distance. Live map: © OpenFreeMap, OpenMapTiles, OpenStreetMap contributors.
The closest town with more than 1,000 people is Russell, KS, about 20 miles southwest in a straight line. The nearest city over 50,000 is Manhattan, KS, 104 miles away.
Ghost towns nearby
- East Wolf4.9 mi north
- Rosette7.5 mi northeast
- Bayne8.3 mi north
- Orbitello8.7 mi southeast
- Bacon9 mi northeast
- Delhi9.9 mi north
- Success11 mi west
- Pottersburg12 mi northeast
Distances are straight lines. Roads to ruins are often dirt, and a 20-mile hop can take an hour.
Who owns the land
Private or unlisted land
The point we have for this town is not on any public or protected parcel in PAD-US, the national map of public land. That usually means private land. Ruins on private land are off limits without the owner's permission, even when no fence or sign is visible. Look from the public road.
The point is the town location from Wikidata, and the land record is from PAD-US 3.0 (USGS). Ruins can spread past that point, and land changes hands faster than the database. How we read PAD-US.
Weather by month
Mild months here run March to June, September to November, judging by NOAA normals from Wilson Lake. June to August bring 10 or more days at 90°F and up; snow is normal from December to February.
NOAA 1991–2020 normals from the Wilson Lake station (USC00148946), 4.2 miles away. About 26.4 inches of precipitation a year.
Facts
| Location | Russell County, Kansas |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 39.01861, -98.52917 |
| Elevation | 1,540 ft (469 m) |
| Also known as | Blue Stem, Kansas |
| Sources | Wikidata Q48848652 · Wikipedia article |
Questions
Where is Blue Stem ghost town?
In Russell County, Kansas, at 39.0186, -98.5292. The closest town with more than 1,000 people is Russell, KS, about 20 miles southwest in a straight line. The nearest city over 50,000 is Manhattan, KS, 104 miles away.
Can you visit Blue Stem?
Likely private land. The point we have for this town is not on any public or protected parcel in PAD-US, the national map of public land. That usually means private land. Ruins on private land are off limits without the owner's permission, even when no fence or sign is visible. Look from the public road.
When is the best time to visit Blue Stem?
Mild months here run March to June, September to November, judging by NOAA normals from Wilson Lake. June to August bring 10 or more days at 90°F and up; snow is normal from December to February.
Are there other ghost towns near Blue Stem?
Yes. East Wolf (4.9 mi), Rosette (7.5 mi), Bayne (8.3 mi), Orbitello (8.7 mi).
