Riga, Kansas

Riga is an unincorporated community in Trego County, Kansas, United States.

Geography
Riga is located at 39.10333°N, -99.24556°W at an elevation of 2,221 feet (677 m). It is in far east-central Trego County roughly 4 mi west of Ellis in neighboring Ellis County It lies to the north of Big Creek in the western extent of the Smoky Hills region of the Great Plains.

Rail

 * The Kansas Pacific (KP) line of the Union Pacific Railroad runs southeast–northwest through Riga, with a siding for the grain elevator.
 * Until 1946, Riga received scheduled local passenger service, at least twice daily; e.g., morning westbound train 69-369 and evening eastbound train 370-70.
 * However, there is recollection that, in the 1950s, the eastbound and westbound Portland Rose trains would meet at Riga.
 * In the 50s and 60s, the eastbound and westbound Portland Rose trains were scheduled to leave Oakley and Ellis, respectively, at about the same time in the early afternoon; and, would have to meet each other at a passing siding on the single track in between.
 * If the westbound was delayed in leaving Ellis, Riga was the last siding outside of Ellis where the eastbound could wait for the westbound to clear the station.
 * When the Union Pacific rebuilt the Kansas Pacific line in the late 1990s, a new 9300 ft. siding was built just west of Riga.

Highways

 * Riga Road (FAS 1854) runs north–south through the location, connecting to Exit 140 of Interstate 70 a mile to the north.
 * The first section of Interstate 70 to be built in western Kansas was completed by 1961 from Riga to Collyer.
 * 40 Hwy (FAS 1977), parallel to and south of the railroad tracks, an old alignment of U.S. Route 40, runs southeast–northwest through Riga and is a direct connection between the downtowns of WaKeeney (county seat) and Ellis.