Moscow

History

The settlement of Moscow was established in 1887. One tradition says, the community was named for a member of de Soto's expedition, the maestro de campo (field commander) Luis de Moscoso (the source mistakenly indicates Francisco Coronado southwest expedition, but at this time Moscoso was a member of de Soto's expedition, furthermore he took command of the expedition after de Soto's death). During the settlement name registration there were a series of mistakes. The residents, in their application for a post office, had shortened it to Mosco. A postal clerk in Washington, upon receipt of their petition, being in a helpful spirit, and thinking the hay-seeds in the west did not know their spelling, added a "w" to the name, changing it to Moscow. The first post office in Moscow was established on April 28, 1888, when it was moved from Valparaiso (now ghost town), which was located approximately southeast of Moscow. Moscow moved 8 miles to the north in 1913, where in 1912 the CVR railroad was built, so it was also called "New Moscow". The Census separated city of Moscow in 1930.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land. The town is located in southwestern Kansas in the Rolling Cropland and Range region of the Great Plains. The town is in the shape of a right triangle. The northwestern border of Moscow adjoins U.S. Route 56. The city part of the Route 56 is named Cimarron Avenue, named after the Cimarron River, which is located north of Moscow.

Race & ethnicity

Largest nearby schools

• Moscow High
  High · Moscow · 80 students · 10:1 ratio
• Moscow Elem
  Elementary · Moscow · 63 students · 9:1 ratio