Founded: 1884, Pop.: 2045 , Elev.: 3050 Ft.
Located in Logan County (County Seat). Oakley was known by several names. First was Blaisville, then Carlyle, Cleveland, Gilmore, and finally Oakley. The town is situated along US Hwy 83 and near the Saline River and I-70 Exits 70 and 76.
This region of Kansas was included in the Homestead Act of 1862. Oakley has always been a transportation center, still served by 2 branches of the UP Railroad. Most of the present downtown brick buildings replaced original wood structures due to a 1904 fire.
Another attraction is the Fick Fossil and History Museum listed among the 25 Great Museums in the U.S. Fossils dug by the renowned paleontologist George F. Sternberg, (See Sternberg Museum of Natural History), are among the many displays.
Trail ruts left by the thousands of pioneers who crossed the Butterfield Overland Despatch (BOD), (See Fort Harker), are still visible just south of the Monument Rocks, (See Northwest Region), the trail is marked with stone posts with BOD carved on one side.