12 Facts About Fort Riley

Fort Riley is a United States Army installation located in North Central Kansas, on the Kansas River, known as the Kaw, between Junction City and Manhattan.

The portion of the fort that contains housing development is part of the Fort Riley census-designated place, with a residential population of 7,761 as of the 2010 census.

Fort Riley is named in honor of Major General Bennet C Riley, who led the first military escort along the Santa Fe Trail.

In 1887, Fort Riley became the site of the United States Cavalry School.

Early history of Fort Riley is closely tied to the movement of people and trade along the Oregon and Santa Fe trails.

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Conclusion of the Civil War in 1865 witnessed Fort Riley again assuming an importance in providing protection to railroad lines being built across Kansas.

Fort Riley was used by state militia units for encampments and training exercises.

Fort Riley had branch POW camps, a large branch Camp Phillips in Salina, and 12 smaller branch camps in Kansas and Missouri: Council Grove, El Dorado, Eskridge, Hutchinson, Lawrence, Neodesha, Ottawa, Peabody, Wadsworth, Grand Pass, Lexington, Liberty.

On June 5,1999, Fort Riley became a Division Headquarters with the reactivation of the 24th Infantry Division.

Soldiers from Fort Riley continue to be deployed to areas in all corners of the world.

From Southwest Asia to the Caribbean and the Balkans, Fort Riley soldiers have been engaged in numerous peacekeeping and nation-building missions.

Fort Riley site has contaminated groundwater stemming from years of improper waste disposal.