Kansas Counties
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Kansas Counties

Kansas has one hundred and five counties. Originally 33 counties were organized by the Territorial Legislature in 1855. The Chase County Courthouse in Cottonwood Falls, Kansas was built in 1873 and is the oldest operating courthouse in Kansas. As of January 1, 2009 Greeley County and the city of Tribune unified to form the Unified Government of Greeley County..
 

Graham County, Kansas

Graham County Education, Geography, and HistoryGraham County, Kansas Courthouse

Graham County is a county located in the state of Kansas. Based on the 2010 census, the county population was 2,597.  Graham County was created on February 26, 1867. The county seat and most populous city is Hill City. The county is named in honor of Captain John L. Graham, of Company D, Eighth Kansas Infantry, who was killed in action at the Battle of Chickamauga on September 19, 1863.

Etymology - Origin of Graham County Name

 The county is named in honor of Captain John L. Graham, of the Eighth Regiment, Kansas Infantry--killed in action at Chickamauga, Tennessee, September 19, 1863.

Demographics:

County QuickFacts: CensusBureau Quick Facts

Graham County History

Graham County, in the northwestern part of the state, is the fourth county from the west line and the second south from Nebraska. It is bounded on the north by Norton county, on the east by Rooks, on the south by Trego, and on the west by Sheridan.

County organization was effected on April 1, 1880, with Millbrook as the county seat. John L. Graham, Captain, 8th Kansas, for whom the county was named, was killed at the Civil War battle of Chickamauga.

The county is home to Nicodemus, founded 1877, which is the only remaining western town established by African Americans during the Reconstruction Period following the American Civil War.

Geography: Land and Water

As reported by the Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 899 square miles (2,330 km2), of which 899 square miles (2,330 km2) is land and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km2) (0.03%) is water.

Graham county is located in northwest Kansas. The average elevation in the county is 2,700 feet (820 m) above sea level. The county is intersected by the south fork of Solomon River, and drained by Saline River.

Description

The beautiful valley of the Solomon river runs across Graham County from west to east; highway US24 takes advantage of the natural highway and follows the river across the county. US283 crosses both at Hill City.
  • Antelope Lake near Morland was built in the 1930's as a WPA project and now offers fine fishing.
  • Morland is justly proud of the relief on the front of the Citizens State Bank on Main Street.
  • An historical marker at Nicodemus describes this old black "exoduster" settlement which is nearly gone; good signs help understand what's left.

The largest stream is the south fork of the Solomon river which flows east through the central part. It has numerous tributaries. Several creeks in the southern part of the county are tributary to the Saline. The timber belts along these streams are narrow and contain the varieties of wood most common to Kansas. The bottom lands average one mile in width. Limestone, sandstone, and gypsum are plentiful.

This is a remarkable alfalfa section, and has some of the largest farms in the state. It is also a stock and grain county.

Neighboring Counties

Bordering counties are as follows:

  • Norton County (north)
  • Phillips County (northeast)
  • Rooks County (east)
  • Trego County (south)
  • Gove County (southwest)
  • Sheridan County (west)

Education

Unified School Districts

Hill City USD 281, effective July 1, 2002, Morland USD 280 was consolidated into USD 281.



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