Dunlap

History

On March 19, 1874, a post office was established in Hillsborough, Kansas. It was later reestablished on April 20 of the same year as Dunlap, Kansas. This was named after an Indian agent representing the Kanza tribe named Joseph Gage Dunlap who had founded the town in 1869 once the Kanza tribe had migrated to Oklahoma. The town grew slowly after its founding. The town really started to take off when former slave Benjamin "Pap" Singleton came to town in the spring of 1878. Here he formed Singleton's Colony, which consisted of 200 black families. Between 1877 and 1879, hundreds followed Singleton to Kansas. These people are known as Exodusters. After Singleton's death, the community continued to grow through the beginning of the 20th century. In 1880, the Presbyterian church's Freedmen's Academy was founded, so that African Americans could have a proper education. African-Americans in Dunlap were also restricted to their own cemetery: Dunlap Colored Cemetery. Dunlap Colored Cemetery, also known as the Exoduster Cemetery, was nominated to the National Register of Historic Places by Janet Kimbrell and the Morris County Historical Society. Dunlap's Colored Cemetery was built in response to segregation and the prejudice against the Exoduster community. The cemetery was first established in 1880 and is now occupied with over a hundred African American graves. Dunlap's Colored Cemetery was added to the register on September 14, 2018. The cemetery was officially added for its association with the Exoduster's Movement and to “Pap” Singleton, the Father of the Exodus.

Geography

Dunlap is located at (38.575818, -96.366117). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land. Dunlap is near the Neosho River, which has historically caused issues with flooding. The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Dunlap has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Eastern Meadowlark

  Sturnella magna (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  683
• Turkey Vulture

  Cathartes aura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  577
• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  570
• American Crow

  Corvus brachyrhynchos C.L.Brehm, 1822 · Aves
  562
• Dickcissel

  Spiza americana (J.F.Gmelin, 1789) · Aves
  511
• Barn Swallow

  Hirundo rustica Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  489
• Mourning Dove

  Zenaida macroura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  484
• Red-bellied Woodpecker

  Melanerpes carolinus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  420

Largest nearby schools

• Council Grove Elementary School
  Elementary · Council Grove · 352 students · 13.5:1 ratio
• Council Grove Junior Senior High School
  High · Council Grove · 350 students · 12.1:1 ratio

Most recent

• M 2.5 — 2026-07-31
  5 km SW of Hope, Kansas
• M 2.6 — 2025-12-13
  6 km NW of Ramona, Kansas
• M 3.7 — 2025-12-09
  10 km SW of Gypsum, Kansas
• M 2.7 — 2025-10-27
  7 km SE of Enterprise, Kansas
• M 2.6 — 2025-09-30
  9 km SW of Gypsum, Kansas
• M 2.9 — 2025-09-23
  7 km WSW of Gypsum, Kansas