Kansas Atlas of Historical County Boundaries
John H. Long, Editor; Peggy Tuck Sinko, Associate Editor and Historical Compiler; Emily Kelley, Research Associate; Laura Rico- Beck, GIS Specialist and Digital Compiler; Peter Siczewicz, ArcIMS Interactive Map Designer; Robert Will, Cartographic Assistant
Copyright The Newberry Library 2005
30 April 1803
The United States purchased Louisiana from France, taking formal possession on 20 December 1803; the boundaries were not clearly defined, but included the western half of the Mississippi drainage basin (from the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains). It included all of present Kansas. (Parry, 57:2740; Van Zandt, 2326)
1 October 1804
The United States divided the Louisiana Purchase at the parallel of 33 degrees north latitude into the District of Louisiana and Orleans Territory. All of present Kansas became part of the District of Louisiana; the District was not fully organized and was attached to Indiana Territory for administrative and judicial purposes. The District of Louisiana created five districts (counties) from non-county area, four of which included parts of present Kansas. (Terr. Papers U.S., 13: 5152; U.S. Stat., vol. 2, ch. 38 [1804]/pp. 283289)
CAPE GIRARDEAU District (Mo.) included parts of present Kansas, Colorado, and Missouri.
NEW MADRID District (Mo.) included all or part of seven present states, including part of Kansas.
ST. LOUIS District (Mo.) included all or part of eight present states, including all of northern Kansas.
STE. GENEVIEVE District (Mo.) included parts of present Kansas, Colorado, and Missouri.
4 July 1805
CAPE GIRARDEAU District (Mo.), NEW MADRID District (Mo.), ST. LOUIS District (Mo.), and STE. GENEVIEVE District (Mo.) became districts (counties) in Louisiana Territory when the District of Louisiana was renamed Louisiana Territory. (U.S. Stat., vol. 2, ch. 31[1805]/pp. 331332)
1 July 1806
NEW MADRID District (Mo.) gained from CAPE GIRARDEAU District (Mo.); area within present Kansas was unchanged. (Terr. Papers U.S., 13:541542)
15 August 1806
CAPE GIRARDEAU District (Mo.) gained from NEW MADRID District (Mo.); NEW MADRID eliminated from present Kansas. (Ford, 56)
7 December 1812
All of present Kansas became a non-county area in Missouri Territory when Louisiana Territory was renamed Missouri Territory. CAPE GIRARDEAU (Mo.), ST. LOUIS (Mo.), and STE. GENEVIEVE (Mo.) were eliminated from present Kansas when their boundaries were changed. (Royce, 676677, pls. 112, 144; Terr. Papers U.S., 14:599601)
22 February 1819
Spain gained control over the southwestern section of present Kansas when the Adams-Onis Treaty between the United States and Spain established the southern and western boundaries of the United States territory south of the parallel of 42 degrees north latitude. (Parry, 70:130; Van Zandt, 2627)
10 August 1821
Missouri Territory was eliminated upon the creation of the state of Missouri. All that part of the former Territory north and west of the state of Missouri, including part of present Kansas, became unorganized federal territory. (U.S. Stat., vol. 3, ch. 22[1820]/pp. 545548 and res. 1[1821]/p. 645; Van Zandt, 117)
24 August 1821
Mexico gained its independence from Spain; that part of present Kansas that had been under the authority of Spain came under the control of the Republic of Mexico. ("Mexican War of Independence," New Handbook of Texas, 4:698)
2 March 1836
Texas declared its independence from Mexico. The Republic of Texas claimed all that part of present Kansas that had been part of the Mexican Republic. ("Republic of Texas," New Handbook of Texas, 5:537538; Swindler, 9:247, 249)
19 December 1836
BEXAR (Texas) boundaries were implicitly expanded to cover all non-county area in the Republic of Texas when the boundaries of the Texas Republic were defined. BEXAR included territory in present Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, and Wyoming. Map depicts only that part of BEXAR in present Kansas. Changes in BEXAR boundary between December 1836 and March 1848 did not affect the area within present Kansas and are not mapped. ("Mexican War of Independence," New Handbook of Texas, 4:698; Texas Repub. Laws 1836, 1st cong./p. 133)
31 December 1838
BUCHANAN (Mo.) created by Missouri from non-county area. Due to the shifting course of the Missouri River (especially following the 1944 flood), BUCHANAN (Mo.), at its creation, included territory that is now part of present Kansas. Such boundary changes are not generally mapped here, but later boundary changes between ATCHISON and DONIPHAN, located across the Missouri River from BUCHANAN (Mo.), made it necessary to include this Missouri county. (Mo. Laws 18381839, pub., pp. 2325)
29 December 1845
The United States Congress admitted Texas to the Union; state of Texas continued to claim part of present Kansas. (U.S. Stat., vol. 9, res. 1[1846]/p. 108)
15 March 1848
SANTA FE (Texas, extinct) created by the state of Texas from BEXAR (Texas); BEXAR eliminated from present Kansas. SANTA FE included territory in present Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, and Wyoming; only the portion in present Kansas is mapped here. SANTA FE boundaries changed on 31 December 1849, but the area within present Kansas was unchanged. (Texas Laws 1847, 2d reg. sess., ch. 87/p. 95)
13 December 1850
The state of Texas sold land in present Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Wyoming to the United States, eliminating SANTA FE (Texas, extinct) from present Kansas; former area of SANTA FE became unorganized federal territory in present Kansas. (U.S. Stat., vol. 9, ch. 49[1850]/pp. 446452 and ch. 51[1850]/pp. 453458; Van Zandt, 159)
30 May 1854
The United States created Kansas Territory from unorganized federal territory; included all of present Kansas and part of present Colorado. (Van Zandt, 138139)
25 August 1855
Kansas Territorial Legislature created thirty-six new counties in Kansas Territory:
ALLEN created by Kansas Territory from non-county area; ALLEN not fully organized. DORN (now NEOSHO), GODFREY (later SEWARD original, extinct), GREENWOOD, HUNTER (extinct), WILSON, and WOODSON not fully organized, attached to ALLEN "for civil and military purposes." MARION and WASHINGTON not fully organized, attached to ALLEN "for judicial and other purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1855, 1st leg., ch. 30, secs. 9, 34/pp. 206, 210 and ch. 33/pp. 214215)
ANDERSON created by Kansas Territory from non-county area; ANDERSON not fully organized. COFFEY not fully organized, attached to ANDERSON "for civil and military purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1855, 1st leg., ch. 30, secs. 8, 34/pp. 206, 210)
ARAPAHOE (Kansas Territory, extinct) created by Kansas Territory from non-county area; ARAPAHOE was located entirely within present Colorado. ARAPAHOE not fully organized, attached to MARSHALL "for all business purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1855, 1st leg., chs. 3738/pp. 217218)
ATCHISON created by Kansas Territory from non-county area; ATCHISON not fully organized. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1855, 1st leg., ch. 30, sec. 26/p. 209 and chs. 3536/p. 216)
BOURBON created by Kansas Territory from non-county area; BOURBON not fully organized. McGEE (now CHEROKEE) not fully organized, attached to BOURBON "for civil and military purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1855, 1st leg., ch. 30, secs. 4, 34/pp. 206, 210)
BRECKENRIDGE (now LYON) created by Kansas Territory from non-county area. BRECKENRIDGE not fully organized, attached to MADISON (Kansas Territory, extinct) "for all civil, criminal and military purposes." BUTLER not fully organized, attached to BRECKENRIDGE "for civil and military purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1855, 1st leg., ch. 30, secs. 17, 34/pp. 207, 210; ch. 34/p. 215)
BROWN created by Kansas Territory from non-county area; BROWN not fully organized, attached to DONIPHAN "for civil and military purposes." The county name was originally spelled "BROWNE," but the final "e" was dropped by 1859. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1855, 1st leg., ch. 30, secs. 28, 34/pp. 209210)
BUTLER created by Kansas Territory from non-county area; BUTLER not fully organized, attached to BRECKENRIDGE (now LYON) "for civil and military purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1855, 1st leg., ch. 30, secs. 23, 34/pp. 208, 210)
CALHOUN (now JACKSON) created by Kansas Territory from non-county area; CALHOUN not fully organized. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1855, 1st leg., ch. 30, sec. 31/p. 210)
COFFEY created by Kansas Territory from non-county area; COFFEY not fully organized, attached to ANDERSON "for civil and military purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1855, 1st leg., ch. 30, secs. 13, 34/pp. 207, 210)
DAVIS (now GEARY) created by Kansas Territory from non-county area; DAVIS not fully organized, attached to RILEY "for civil and military purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1855, 1st leg., ch. 30, secs. 21, 34/pp. 208, 210)
DONIPHAN created by Kansas Territory from non-county area; DONIPHAN not fully organized. Due to later changes in the course of the Missouri River, DONIPHAN included territory now in Missouri. BROWN not fully organized, attached to DONIPHAN "for civil and military purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1855, 1st leg., ch. 30, secs. 25, 34/pp. 208210)
DORN (now NEOSHO) created by Kansas Territory from non-county area; DORN not fully organized, attached to ALLEN "for civil and military purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1855, 1st leg., ch. 30, secs. 10, 34/pp. 206207, 210)
DOUGLAS created by Kansas Territory from non-county area; DOUGLAS not fully organized. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1855, 1st leg., ch. 30, sec. 6/p. 206)
FRANKLIN created by Kansas Territory from non-county area; FRANKLIN not fully organized. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1855, 1st leg., ch. 30, sec. 7/p. 206)
GODFREY (later SEWARD original, extinct) created by Kansas Territory from non-county area; GODFREY not fully organized, attached to ALLEN "for civil and military purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1855, 1st leg., ch. 30, secs. 20, 34/pp. 208, 210)
GREENWOOD created by Kansas Territory from non-county area; GREENWOOD not fully organized, attached to ALLEN "for civil and military purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1855, 1st leg., ch. 30, secs. 19, 34/pp. 208, 210)
HUNTER (extinct) created by Kansas Territory from non-county area; HUNTER not fully organized, attached to ALLEN "for civil and military purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1855, 1st leg., ch. 30, secs. 24, 34/pp. 208, 210)
JEFFERSON created by Kansas Territory from non-county area. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1855, 1st leg., ch. 30, sec. 29/pp. 209210)
JOHNSON created by Kansas Territory from non-county area. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1855, 1st leg., ch. 30, sec. 1/p. 205)
LEAVENWORTH created by Kansas Territory from non-county area. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1855, 1st leg., ch. 30, sec. 27/p. 209)
LINN created by Kansas Territory from non-county area. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1855, 1st leg., ch. 30, sec. 3/p. 206)
LYKINS (now MIAMI) created by Kansas Territory from non-county area. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1855, 1st leg., ch. 30, sec. 2/pp. 205206)
MADISON (Kansas Territory, extinct) created by Kansas Territory from non-county area. BRECKENRIDGE (now LYON) and WISE (now MORRIS) not fully organized, attached to MADISON "for all civil, criminal and military purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1855, 1st leg., ch. 30, secs. 18, 34/pp. 207208, 210 and ch. 34/p. 215)
MARION created by Kansas Territory from non-county area; MARION not fully organized, attached to ALLEN "for judicial and other purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1855, 1st leg., ch. 33, secs. 23/p. 215)
MARSHALL created by Kansas Territory from non-county area. Non-County Area 1, which included territory in present Kansas and Colorado, was attached to MARSHALL "for civil, criminal and military purposes." ARAPAHOE (Kansas Territory, extinct) was attached to MARSHALL "for all business purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1855, 1st leg., ch. 30, sec. 32/p. 210 and chs. 3738/pp. 217218)
McGEE (now CHEROKEE) created by Kansas Territory from non-county area; McGEE not fully organized, attached to BOURBON "for civil and military purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1855, 1st leg., ch. 30, secs. 5, 34/pp. 206, 210)
NEMAHA created by Kansas Territory from non-county area. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1855, 1st leg., ch. 30, sec. 30/p. 210)
RICHARDSON (now WABAUNSEE) created by Kansas Territory from non-county area; RICHARDSON not fully organized, attached to SHAWNEE "for civil and military purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1855, 1st leg., ch. 30, secs. 16, 34/pp. 207, 210)
RILEY created by Kansas Territory from non-county area. DAVIS (now GEARY) not fully organized, attached to RILEY "for civil and military purposes." Non-County Area 2, which included territory in present Kansas and Colorado, was attached to RILEY "for civil, criminal and military purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1855, 1st leg., ch. 30, secs. 3334/p. 210 and ch. 38, sec. 4/p. 219)
SHAWNEE created by Kansas Territory from non-county area. RICHARDSON (now WABAUNSEE) and WELLER (now OSAGE) not fully organized, attached to SHAWNEE "for civil and military purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1855, 1st leg., ch. 30, secs. 11, 34/pp. 207, 210)
WASHINGTON created by Kansas Territory from non-county area; included territory in present Kansas and Colorado. WASHINGTON not fully organized, attached to ALLEN "for judicial and other purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1855, 1st leg., ch. 33/pp. 214215)
WELLER (now OSAGE) created by Kansas Territory from non-county area; WELLER not fully organized, attached to SHAWNEE "for civil and military purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1855, 1st leg., ch. 30, secs. 12, 34/pp. 207, 210)
WILSON created by Kansas Territory from non-county area; WILSON not fully organized, attached to ALLEN "for civil and military purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1855, 1st leg., ch. 30, secs. 15, 34/pp. 207, 210)
WISE (now MORRIS) created by Kansas Territory from non-county area; WISE not fully organized, attached to MADISON (Kansas Territory, extinct) "for all civil, criminal and military purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1855, 1st leg., ch. 30, sec. 22/p. 208 and ch. 34/p. 215)
WOODSON created by Kansas Territory from non-county area; WOODSON not fully organized, attached to ALLEN "for civil and military purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1855, 1st leg., ch. 30, secs. 14, 34/pp. 207, 210)
12 September 1855
BOURBON fully organized. (Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)
17 September 1855
ATCHISON fully organized. (Andreas, 373; Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)
18 September 1855
DONIPHAN fully organized. (Andreas, 474; Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)
24 September 1855
CALHOUN (now JACKSON) fully organized. (Andreas, 1339; Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)
DOUGLAS fully organized. (Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)
7 January 1856
ANDERSON fully organized. (Andreas, 1323; Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)
7 May 1856
ALLEN fully organized. (Andreas, 670; Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)
14 February 1857
BROWN fully organized, detached from DONIPHAN. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., pp. 8990)
17 February 1857
BRECKENRIDGE (now LYON) fully organized, detached from MADISON (Kansas Territory, extinct). WISE (now MORRIS) detached from MADISON, attached to BRECKENRIDGE "for all civil and military purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., p. 90)
COFFEY fully organized, detached from ANDERSON. WOODSON detached from ALLEN, attached to COFFEY "for civil and military purposes." (Andreas, 647; Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., pp. 9395)
20 February 1857
ALLEN boundaries redefined to run on federal land survey lines [no change]. WASHINGTON re-created, ending its attachment to ALLEN. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., secs. 9, 33/pp. 3940, 45)
ANDERSON boundaries redefined to run on federal land survey lines [no change]. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 8/p. 39)
ATCHISON boundaries redefined to run on federal land survey lines [no change]. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 26/p. 43)
BOURBON boundaries redefined to run on federal land survey lines [no change]. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 4/p. 38)
BRECKENRIDGE (now LYON) boundaries redefined to run on federal land survey lines [no change]. BUTLER detached from BRECKENRIDGE, attached to MADISON (Kansas Territory, extinct) "for all civil, criminal and military purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 17/p. 41 and p. 89)
BROWN boundaries redefined to run on federal land survey lines [no change]. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 28/p. 44)
BUTLER boundaries redefined to run on federal land survey lines [no change]. BUTLER detached from BRECKENRIDGE (now LYON), attached to MADISON (Kansas Territory, extinct) "for all civil, criminal and military purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 23/pp. 4243 and p. 89)
CALHOUN (now JACKSON) gained from JEFFERSON, lost to creation of POTTAWATOMIE. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 31/pp. 4445)
CLAY created by Kansas Territory from part of Non-County Area 2 attached to RILEY; CLAY not fully organized. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 36/p. 46)
COFFEY boundaries redefined to run on federal land survey lines [no change]. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 13/p. 40)
DAVIS (now GEARY) boundaries redefined to run on federal land survey lines [no change]. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 21/p. 42)
DICKINSON created by Kansas Territory from part of Non-County Area 2 attached to RILEY. DICKINSON not fully organized. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 37/p. 46 and p. 91)
DONIPHAN boundaries redefined to run on federal land survey lines [no change]. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 25/p. 43)
DORN (now NEOSHO) boundaries redefined to run on federal land survey lines [no change]. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 10/p. 40)
DOUGLAS boundaries redefined to run on federal land survey lines [no change]. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 6/p. 39)
FRANKLIN boundaries redefined to run on federal land survey lines [no change]. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 7/p. 39)
GODFREY (later SEWARD original, extinct) boundaries redefined to run on federal land survey lines [no change]. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 20/p. 42)
GREENWOOD boundaries redefined to run on federal land survey lines [no change]. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 19/p. 42)
HUNTER (extinct) boundaries redefined to run on federal land survey lines [no change]. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 24/p. 43)
JOHNSON boundaries redefined to run on federal land survey lines [no change]. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 1/pp. 3738)
LEAVENWORTH boundaries redefined to run on federal land survey lines [no change]. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 27/pp. 4344 and p. 88)
LINN boundaries redefined to run on federal land survey lines [no change]. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 3/p. 38)
LYKINS (now MIAMI) boundaries redefined to run on federal land survey lines [no change]. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 2/p. 38)
MADISON (Kansas Territory, extinct) boundaries redefined to run on federal land survey lines [no change]. BUTLER detached from BRECKENRIDGE (now LYON), attached to MADISON "for all civil, criminal and military purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 18/p. 41 and p. 89)
MARSHALL boundaries redefined to run on federal land survey lines [no change]. MARSHALL lost part of attached Non-County Area 1 to re-creation of WASHINGTON. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 32/p. 45)
McGEE (now CHEROKEE) boundaries redefined to run on federal land survey lines [no change]. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 5/pp. 3839)
NEMAHA boundaries redefined to run on federal land survey lines [no change]. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 30/p. 44)
POTTAWATOMIE created by Kansas Territory from CALHOUN (now JACKSON) and RILEY. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 34/p. 45)
RICHARDSON (now WABAUNSEE) boundaries redefined to run on federal land survey lines [no change]. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 16/p. 41)
RILEY gained part of Non-County Area 2 attached to RILEY, lost to creation of POTTAWATOMIE. RILEY lost part of attached Non-County Area 2 to creation of CLAY and DICKINSON. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., secs. 3437/pp. 4546)
SHAWNEE boundaries redefined to run on federal land survey lines [no change]. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 11/p. 40)
WASHINGTON re-created from part of Non-County Area 1 attached to MARSHALL; all of WASHINGTON's original 1855 area reverted to Non-County Area 3. WASHINGTON's attachment to ALLEN ended. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 33/p. 45)
WELLER (now OSAGE) boundaries redefined to run on federal land survey lines [no change]. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 12/p. 40)
WILSON boundaries redefined to run on federal land survey lines [no change]. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 15/p. 41)
WISE (now MORRIS) boundaries redefined to run on federal land survey lines [no change]. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 22/p. 42)
WOODSON boundaries redefined to run on federal land survey lines [no change]. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 14/pp. 4041)
16 March 1857
DAVIS (now GEARY) fully organized, detached from RILEY. (Andreas, 1001; Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., pp. 9192)
15 March 1858
FRANKLIN fully organized. (Andreas, 606; HRS Kansas, Franklin, 4)
22 May 1858
WOODSON fully organized, detached from COFFEY. (Andreas, 1189; Duncan and Scott, 601; "First Proceedings," 3)
21 September 1858
ARAPAHOE (Kansas Territory, extinct) effectively detached from MARSHALL when Kansas Territorial Governor, James Denver, issued commissions for ARAPAHOE County officials. There is disagreement as to whether the county was ever officially organized. (Bancroft, 402; Fritz, 185186; "Governor Denver's Admin.," 5:512; Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 2 March 2005; Wynkoop, 13:7172)
29 January 1859
WYANDOTTE created by Kansas Territory from JOHNSON and LEAVENWORTH. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1859, 5th leg., ch. 47/pp. 362364)
7 February 1859
BRECKENRIDGE (now LYON) gained from MADISON (Kansas Territory, extinct). (Kans. Terr. Laws 1859, 5th leg., ch. 43/p. 357)
11 February 1859
CALHOUN renamed JACKSON. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1859, 5th leg., ch. 99/p. 572)
CHASE created by Kansas Territory from BUTLER and MORRIS; CHASE not fully organized, attached to BRECKENRIDGE (now LYON) "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1859, 5th leg., ch. 40, sec. 4/p. 330 and ch. 46/p. 361)
CLAY attached to RILEY; DORN (now NEOSHO) detached from ALLEN, attached to BOURBON; GODFREY (later SEWARD original, extinct) and GREENWOOD detached from ALLEN, attached to COFFEY; HUNTER (extinct) detached from ALLEN, attached to BRECKENRIDGE (now LYON); McGEE (now CHEROKEE) remained attached to BOURBON; WASHINGTON attached to MARSHALL; WILSON remained attached to ALLEN. With one small exception, all non-county area in Kansas Territory was attached to RILEY "for judicial purposes." Non-County Area 2 gained all of Non-County Area 1 attached to MARSHALL, and all of Non-County Area 3; Non-County Areas 1 and 3 eliminated. Non-County Area 4 was created from part of Non-County Area 2 attached to RILEY. Non-County Area 4 was attached to BRECKENRIDGE (now LYON). All attachments were "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1859, 5th leg., ch. 40, sec. 4/p. 330)
RICHARDSON renamed WABAUNSEE; WABAUNSEE fully organized, detached from SHAWNEE. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1859, 5th leg., ch. 59/pp. 376377)
WELLER renamed OSAGE; OSAGE fully organized, detached from SHAWNEE. (Andreas, 1532; HRS Kansas, Osage, 2526, 70; Kans. Terr. Laws 1859, 5th leg., ch. 100/p. 573)
WISE renamed MORRIS; MORRIS fully organized, detached from BRECKENRIDGE (now LYON). MORRIS gained from DAVIS (now GEARY), lost to creation of CHASE. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1859, 5th leg., chs. 46, 60/pp. 361, 377; HRS Kansas, Morris, 2128)
1 March 1859
BRODERICK (Kansas Territory, extinct), EL PASO (Kansas Territory, extinct), FREMONT (Kansas Territory, extinct), MONTANA (Kansas Territory, extinct), and ORO (Kansas Territory, extinct) were created by Kansas Territory from ARAPAHOE (Kansas Territory, extinct). The new counties were located entirely within present Colorado. Act passed 7 February 1859; took effect 1 March 1859. BRODERICK, EL PASO, FREMONT, MONTANA, and ORO not fully organized. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1859, 5th leg., ch. 44/pp. 357359; Bancroft, 402)
15 March 1859
CHASE fully organized, detached from BRECKENRIDGE (now LYON). (Andreas, 1356; Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)
30 April 1859
BUTLER fully organized, detached from MADISON (Kansas Territory, extinct). (Andreas, 1432; Mooney, 50; Kans. Terr. Laws 1859, 5th leg., ch. 51/pp. 367368)
15 February 1860
SALINE created by Kansas Territory from Non-County Area 2 attached to RILEY; SALINE not fully organized. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 44/pp. 8587)
17 February 1860
OTOE (extinct) created by Kansas Territory from MARION. OTOE not fully organized, attached to BUTLER "for judicial and county purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 40/p. 80)
MARION gained from CHASE and gained all of Non-County Area 4 attached to BRECKENRIDGE (now LYON), lost most of its area to Non-County Area 2 attached to RILEY; and lost to creation of OTOE (extinct). MARION detached from ALLEN, attached to CHASE "for judicial and county purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 40/p. 80)
WABAUNSEE gained from DAVIS (now GEARY). (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 47/p. 89)
18 February 1860
McGEE renamed CHEROKEE. The Legislature authorized the organization of CHEROKEE, but the provisions of the act were not carried out. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 30/pp. 6869; HRS Kansas, Cherokee, 5)
21 February 1860
PEKETON (extinct) created by Kansas Territory from Non-County Area 2 attached to RILEY; included territory in present Kansas and Colorado. PEKETON not fully organized. Non-County Area 5 was created from Non-County Area 2 when PEKETON (extinct) was created and divided Non-County Area 2. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 42/p. 83 and ch. 78, sec. 4/p. 133)
23 February 1860
SHAWNEE gained from JACKSON and a small area of POTTAWATOMIE, lost to OSAGE. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 46/p. 88)
24 February 1860
DAVIS (now GEARY) and DICKINSON gained from RILEY. The Legislature authorized DAVIS to gain from DICKINSON, dependent on local referendum; that change did not take effect. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 34/pp. 7274)
27 February 1860
IRVING (extinct) created by Kansas Territory from HUNTER (extinct) and Non-County Area 5; IRVING not fully organized. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 38/pp. 7778)
OTTAWA created by Kansas Territory from Non-County Area 2 attached to RILEY; OTTAWA not fully organized. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 43/pp. 8385)
REPUBLIC created by Kansas Territory from Non-County Area 2 attached to RILEY; REPUBLIC not fully organized. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 43/pp. 8385)
SHIRLEY (now CLOUD) created by Kansas Territory from Non-County Area 2 attached to RILEY; SHIRLEY not fully organized. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 43/pp. 8385)
BUTLER gained from GREENWOOD, HUNTER (extinct), and MADISON (Kansas Territory, extinct). OTOE (extinct) detached from BUTLER, attached to BRECKENRIDGE (now LYON) "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, chs. 29, 32/pp. 68, 7071 and ch. 78, sec. 4/p. 133)
CHASE gained from BRECKENRIDGE (now LYON) and MADISON (Kansas Territory, extinct). MARION detached from CHASE, attached to MORRIS "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 32/pp. 7071 and ch. 78, sec. 4/p. 133)
CHEROKEE lost to DORN (now NEOSHO). CHEROKEE remained attached to BOURBON "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 31/p. 70 and ch. 78, sec. 4/p. 133)
CLAY detached from RILEY, attached to DAVIS (now GEARY) "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 78, sec. 4/p. 133)
COFFEY gained from OSAGE. GODFREY (later SEWARD original, extinct) and GREENWOOD remained attached to COFFEY "for judicial purposes." WILSON detached from ALLEN, attached to COFFEY "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 41, sec. 10/p. 82 and ch. 78, sec. 4/p. 133)
DICKINSON fully organized. According to chapter 35, DICKINSON had been attached to DAVIS (now GEARY). According to an act of 11 February 1859, it had been attached to RILEY "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 35/p. 75 and ch. 78, sec. 4/p. 133; Kans. Terr. Laws 1859, 5th leg., ch. 40, sec. 4/p. 330)
DORN (now NEOSHO) gained from CHEROKEE, lost to WILSON. DORN detached from BOURBON, attached to ALLEN "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 31/p. 70 and ch. 78, sec. 4/p. 133)
GREENWOOD lost to BUTLER. The Legislature authorized the organization of GREENWOOD, but it was not carried out. GREENWOOD remained attached to COFFEY "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, chs. 32, 37/pp. 7071, 7677 and ch. 78, sec. 4/p. 133; HRS Kansas, Greenwood, 5)
HUNTER (extinct) lost to BUTLER, and lost to creation of IRVING (extinct). HUNTER remained attached to BRECKENRIDGE (now LYON) "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, chs. 29, 38/pp. 68, 7778 and ch. 78, sec. 4/p. 133)
PEKETON (extinct) and SALINE attached to MORRIS "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 78, sec. 4/p. 133)
WASHINGTON remained attached to MARSHALL "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 78, sec. 4/p. 133)
9 April 1860
WASHINGTON fully organized, detached from MARSHALL. (Andreas, 1056; Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 48/p. 90)
10 April 1860
Act authorized the organization of CLAY, but the organization did not take effect. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 33/pp. 7172)
26 April 1860
SALINE fully organized, detached from MORRIS. (Andreas, 698)
29 January 1861
Kansas admitted to the Union with present boundaries; Kansas Territory eliminated. That part of Kansas Territory west of the state of Kansas became part of Colorado Territory on 28 February 1861.
ALLEN, ANDERSON, ATCHISON, BOURBON, BRECKENRIDGE (now LYON), BROWN, BUTLER, CHASE, CHEROKEE, CLAY, COFFEY, DAVIS (now GEARY), DICKINSON, DONIPHAN, DORN (now NEOSHO), DOUGLAS, FRANKLIN, GODFREY (later SEWARD original, extinct), GREENWOOD, HUNTER (extinct), IRVING (extinct), JACKSON, JEFFERSON, JOHNSON, LEAVENWORTH, LINN, LYKINS (now MIAMI), MARION, MARSHALL, MORRIS, NEMAHA, OSAGE, OTOE (extinct), OTTAWA, POTTAWATOMIE, REPUBLIC, RILEY, SALINE, SHAWNEE, SHIRLEY (now CLOUD), WASHINGTON, WAUBAUNSEE, WILSON, WOODSON, and WYANDOTTE became counties in the state of Kansas. PEKETON (extinct) became a county in the state of Kansas; PEKETON lost to Colorado Territory. Non-County Area 2 attached to RILEY lost to Colorado Territory when Kansas was admitted to the Union with present boundaries.
ARAPAHOE (Kansas Territory), BRODERICK (Kansas Territory), EL PASO (Kansas Territory), FREMONT (Kansas Territory), MONTANA (Kansas Territory), and ORO (Kansas Territory) eliminated when the state of Kansas was admitted to the Union. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 20 [1861]/pp. 126128; Van Zandt, 138139)
30 January 1861
RILEY gained from DAVIS (now GEARY). (Kans. Terr. Laws 1861, ch. 12/p. 16)
31 January 1861
BRECKENRIDGE (now LYON) and GREENWOOD gained all of MADISON (Kansas Territory); MADISON eliminated. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1861, ch. 13/p. 17; "State of Kansas, ex rel. F. G. Hunt v. Calvin Meadows," in Kansas Rpts., 1:9198)
22 May 1861
CLAY remained attached to DAVIS (now GEARY) "for judicial purposes." OTTAWA attached to DAVIS "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1861, 1st leg., ch. 23, sec. 1/p. 123)
GODFREY (later SEWARD original, extinct), GREENWOOD, and WILSON detached from COFFEY, attached to WOODSON "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1861, 1st leg., ch. 23, sec. 1/p. 123)
IRVING (extinct) attached to BRECKENRIDGE (now LYON) "for judicial purposes." OTOE (extinct) remained attached to BRECKENRIDGE "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1861, 1st leg., ch. 23, sec. 1/p. 123)
MARION detached from MORRIS, attached to CHASE "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1861, 1st leg., ch. 23, sec. 1/p. 123)
PEKETON (extinct) remained attached to MORRIS "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1861, 1st leg., ch. 23, sec. 1/p. 123)
REPUBLIC and SHIRLEY (now CLOUD) attached to MARSHALL "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1861, 1st leg., ch. 23, sec. 1/p. 123)
3 June 1861
DORN renamed NEOSHO; GODFREY renamed SEWARD (original, extinct); LYKINS renamed MIAMI. (Kans. Laws 1861, 1st leg., ch. 18/p. 114)
WILSON gained from WOODSON. (Kans. Laws 1861, 1st leg., ch. 10/p. 107)
7 March 1862
BRECKENRIDGE renamed LYON. Act passed 5 February 1862; took effect 7 March 1862. (Kans. Laws 1862, 2d leg., ch. 61/pp. 444445)
14 March 1862
GREENWOOD fully organized, detached from WOODSON. (HRS Kansas, Greenwood, 5; Kans. Laws 1862, 2d leg., ch. 60/pp. 443444; "State of Kansas, ex rel. F. G. Hunt v. Calvin Meadows," in Kansas Rpts., 1:9198)
16 February 1864
DAVIS (now GEARY) gained from DICKINSON. (Kans. Laws 1864, 4th leg., chs. 2324/pp. 4849)
MORRIS gained from LYON and WABAUNSEE, lost to DICKINSON. (Kans. Laws 1864, 4th leg., chs. 2223/pp. 4849)
24 February 1864
BUTLER gained from GREENWOOD and SEWARD (original, extinct), lost to CHASE. BUTLER gained all of Non-County Area 5, and gained all of HUNTER, IRVING, and OTOE. HUNTER, IRVING, and OTOE eliminated, ending their attachment to LYON. (Kans. Laws 1864, 4th leg., ch. 25/p. 50)
24 September 1864
WILSON fully organized, detached from WOODSON. (Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)
20 November 1864
NEOSHO fully organized, detached from ALLEN. (Andreas, 825)
5 February 1865
OTTAWA detached from DAVIS (now GEARY), attached to SALINE "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1865, 5th leg., ch. 31/pp. 7677)
11 February 1865
DOUGLAS gained from JEFFERSON. (Kans. Laws 1865, 5th leg., ch. 14/p. 44)
GREENWOOD gained from BUTLER. (Kans. Laws 1865, 5th leg., ch. 15/p. 45)
13 February 1865
NEOSHO gained from ALLEN. (Kans. Laws 1865, 5th leg., ch. 17/p. 46)
WILSON gained from ALLEN. (Kans. Laws 1865, 5th leg., ch. 16/pp. 4546)
14 February 1865
REPUBLIC and SHIRLEY (now CLOUD) detached from MARSHALL, attached to WASHINGTON for judicial and administrative purposes. SHIRLEY was incorrectly named "SHELBY" in this act. (Kans. Laws 1865, 5th leg., ch. 18/pp. 4647)
22 February 1865
MARION gained all of PEKETON; PEKETON eliminated, ending its attachment to MORRIS. (Kans. Laws 1865, 5th leg., ch. 19/pp. 4748)
7 August 1865
MARION fully organized, detached from CHASE. (Andreas, 1256; Van Meter, 29)
20 March 1866
NEOSHO gained from WILSON, lost to CHEROKEE. (Kans. Laws 1866, 6th leg., ch. 27/p. 78)
July 1866
In July 1866, OTTAWA was fully organized, detached from SALINE. (Andreas, 1425)
3 August 1866
CHEROKEE fully organized, detached from BOURBON. (Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)
10 August 1866
CLAY fully organized; detached from DAVIS (now GEARY). (Andreas, 1313; Pioneers of the Bluestem Prairie, 10)
6 September 1866
SHIRLEY (now CLOUD) fully organized, detached from WASHINGTON. (Andreas, 1016; Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)
7 February 1867
LABETTE created from CHEROKEE and NEOSHO. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., chs. 2930/pp. 4849)
13 February 1867
CRAWFORD created from BOURBON and CHEROKEE; CRAWFORD not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 32/p. 50)
25 February 1867
DICKINSON gained small area from SALINE. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 31/p. 49)
26 February 1867
Kansas Legislature created thirty-four new counties:
BARBOUR (now BARBER) created from MARION; BARBOUR not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 33, sec. 25/p. 55)
BARTON created from MARION and Non-County Area 2 attached to RILEY; BARTON not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 33, sec. 22/p. 54)
CLARK created from MARION; CLARK not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 33, sec. 39/p. 57)
COMANCHE created from MARION; COMANCHE not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 33, sec. 32/p. 56)
COWLEY created from BUTLER; COWLEY not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 33, sec. 7/p. 52)
ELLIS created from Non-County Area 2 attached to RILEY; ELLIS not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 33, sec. 28/p. 55)
ELLSWORTH created from MARION and Non-County Area 2 attached to RILEY; ELLSWORTH not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 33, sec. 15/p. 53)
FORD created from MARION; FORD not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 33, sec. 38/p. 57)
GRAHAM created from Non-County Area 2 attached to RILEY; GRAHAM not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 33, sec. 34/p. 56)
HARPER created from MARION; HARPER not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 33, sec. 18/p. 54)
HODGEMAN created from MARION; HODGEMAN not fully organized. This law spelled the county name "HAGEMAN," but all later laws use the "HODGMAN/HODGEMAN" spelling. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 33, sec. 37/p. 57)
HOWARD (extinct) created from BUTLER and SEWARD (original, extinct); SEWARD (original) eliminated, ending its attachment to WOODSON. HOWARD not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 33, sec. 5/p. 51)
JEWELL created from Non-County Area 2 attached to RILEY; JEWELL not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 33, sec. 12/p. 53)
KIOWA created from MARION; KIOWA not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 33, sec. 31/p. 56)
LINCOLN created from Non-County Area 2 attached to RILEY; LINCOLN not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 33, sec. 14/p. 53)
McPHERSON created from MARION; McPHERSON not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 33, sec. 9/p. 52)
MITCHELL created from Non-County Area 2 attached to RILEY; MITCHELL not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 33, sec. 13/p. 53)
MONTGOMERY created from WILSON; MONTGOMERY not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 33, sec. 2/p. 51 and ch. 28/p. 47)
NESS created from MARION and Non-County Area 2 attached to RILEY; NESS not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 33, sec. 36/p. 56)
NORTON created from Non-County Area 2 attached to RILEY; NORTON not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 33, sec. 33/p. 56)
OSBORNE created from Non-County Area 2 attached to RILEY; OSBORNE not fully organized. The name was originally spelled "OSBORN," and the spelling was never officially changed. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 33, sec. 20/p. 54)
PAWNEE created from MARION; PAWNEE not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 33, sec. 30/p. 55)
PHILLIPS created from Non-County Area 2 attached to RILEY; PHILLIPS not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 33, sec. 26/p. 55)
PRATT created from MARION; PRATT not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 33, sec. 24/pp. 5455)
RENO created from MARION; RENO not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 33, sec. 17/p. 53)
RICE created from MARION; RICE not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 33, sec. 16/p. 53)
ROOKS created from Non-County Area 2 attached to RILEY; ROOKS not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 33, sec. 27/p. 55)
RUSH created from MARION and Non-County Area 2 attached to RILEY; RUSH not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 33, sec. 29/p. 55)
RUSSELL created from Non-County Area 2 attached to RILEY; RUSSELL not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 33, sec. 21/p. 54)
SEDGWICK created from BUTLER and MARION; SEDGWICK not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 33, sec. 10/p. 52)
SMITH created from Non-County Area 2 attached to RILEY; SMITH not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 33, sec. 19/p. 54)
STAFFORD created from MARION; STAFFORD not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 33, sec. 23/p. 54)
SUMNER created from BUTLER and MARION; SUMNER not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 33, sec. 11/p. 52)
TREGO created from Non-County Area 2 attached to RILEY; TREGO not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 33, sec. 35/p. 56)
GREENWOOD gained from BUTLER and gained part of SEWARD (original); SEWARD (original) eliminated, ending its attachment to WOODSON. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 33, sec. 4/p. 51)
MARION gained from BUTLER, lost to creation of BARBOUR (now BARBER), BARTON, CLARK, COMANCHE, ELLSWORTH, FORD, HARPER, HODGEMAN (called "HAGEMAN" in this act), KIOWA, McPHERSON, NESS, PAWNEE, PRATT, RENO, RICE, RUSH, SEDGWICK, STAFFORD, and SUMNER. The remaining part of MARION in western Kansas west of the line between ranges 25 and 26 west became Non-County Area 6. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 33, secs. 811, 1518, 2225, 2932, 3639/pp. 5257)
SHIRLEY renamed CLOUD. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 40/pp. 6869)
2 March 1867
COWLEY, HOWARD (extinct), RENO, SEDGWICK, and SUMNER attached to BUTLER "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 52, sec. 9/p. 87)
ELLSWORTH attached to SALINE "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 52, sec. 16/p. 89)
JEWELL attached to CLAY "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 52, sec. 16/p. 89)
LINCOLN and MITCHELL attached to OTTAWA "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 52, sec. 16/p. 89)
McPHERSON, PRATT, RICE, and STAFFORD attached to MARION "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 52, sec. 9/p. 87)
MONTGOMERY attached to WILSON "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 52, sec. 7/p. 87)
REPUBLIC detached from WASHINGTON, attached to MARSHALL "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 52, sec. 16/p. 89)
9 July 1867
ELLSWORTH fully organized, detached from SALINE. (Andreas, 1275)
28 October 1867
ELLIS fully organized. (Winter, 78)
1 January 1868
CRAWFORD fully organized. (Andreas, 1120; Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 54/p. 91; Kans. Laws 1868, 8th leg., spec., ch. 21/pp. 5657)
29 February 1868
BARTON and RUSSELL attached to ELLSWORTH "for judicial purposes." RICE detached from MARION, attached to ELLSWORTH "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1868, 8th leg., gen., ch. 28, sec. 2/p. 310 and sec. 5/p. 311)
GRAHAM, NESS, ROOKS, RUSH, and TREGO attached to ELLIS "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1868, 8th leg., gen., ch. 28/pp. 310311)
JEWELL remained attached to CLAY "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1868, 8th leg., gen., ch. 28, sec. 2/p. 310)
LINCOLN detached from OTTAWA, attached to SALINE; OSBORNE and SMITH attached to OTTAWA; MITCHELL remained attached to OTTAWA. All attachments were "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1868, 8th leg., gen., ch. 28, sec. 2/pp. 310311)
1 March 1868
JACKSON gained from BROWN, lost to SHAWNEE. (Kans. Laws 1868, 8th leg., spec., ch. 15/p. 50)
3 March 1868
CHASE gained from MARION. (Kans. Laws 1868, 8th leg., gen., ch. 24, secs. 10, 43/pp. 231, 240)
Legislature authorized CHEROKEE to exchange with LABETTE, dependent on local referendum; election was never held [no change]. (Kans. Laws 1868, 8th leg., gen., ch. 24, secs. 12, 38/pp. 231232, 238; HRS Kansas, Cherokee, 89)
HOWARD (extinct) gained from GREENWOOD. (Kans. Laws 1868, 8th leg., gen., ch. 24, secs. 29, 32/pp. 236237)
OSAGE boundaries redefined; mistake in description was not corrected until 8 April 1941 [no change]. (Kans. Laws 1868, 8th leg., gen., ch. 24, sec. 54/p. 242; HRS Kansas, Osage, 3)
WABAUNSEE gained from MORRIS. WABAUNSEE description would have authorized a gain from SHAWNEE, but no comparable change was noted in the SHAWNEE description; mistake corrected 24 March 1870 [not mapped]. (Kans. Laws 1868, 8th leg., gen., ch. 24, secs. 49, 75/pp. 241, 247)
WOODSON gained from WILSON. (Kans. Laws 1868, 8th leg., gen., ch. 24, secs. 7879/pp. 247248)
11 March 1868
GOVE and WALLACE created from Non-County Area 6; GOVE and WALLACE not fully organized, attached to ELLIS "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1868, 8th leg., spec., ch. 14/p. 49 and Kans. Laws 1868, 8th leg., gen., ch. 28/p. 311)
23 March 1868
REPUBLIC fully organized, detached from MARSHALL. (Andreas, 1033)
23 February 1869
MORRIS gained from WABAUNSEE. (Kans. Laws 1869, 9th leg., ch. 16/pp. 5758)
5 March 1869
COWLEY, RENO, SEDGWICK, and SUMNER remained attached to BUTLER "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1869, 9th leg., ch. 36, sec. 8/p. 121)
PRATT and STAFFORD detached from MARION, attached to ELLSWORTH "for judicial purposes." RICE remained attached to ELLSWORTH "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1869, 9th leg., ch. 36, sec. 8/p. 121)
HOWARD (extinct) detached from BUTLER, attached to GREENWOOD "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1869, 9th leg., ch. 36, sec. 8/p. 121)
McPHERSON detached from MARION, attached to SALINE "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1869, 9th leg., ch. 36, sec. 8/p. 121)
3 June 1869
MONTGOMERY fully organized, detached from WILSON. (HRS Kansas, Montgomery, 3)
28 February 1870
COWLEY fully organized, detached from BUTLER. (Andreas, 1588; Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)
1 March 1870
McPHERSON fully organized, detached from SALINE. (Andreas, 812; Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)
24 March 1870
ALLEN gained from NEOSHO. (Kans. Laws 1870, 10th leg., ch. 39/pp. 8889)
MONTGOMERY boundaries clarified [no change]. HOWARD (extinct) detached from GREENWOOD, attached to MONTGOMERY "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1870, 10th leg., chs. 38, 60/pp. 87, 135)
WABAUNSEE gained from MORRIS. Mistake of 3 March 1868, which would have added part of SHAWNEE to WABAUNSEE, was corrected [no change]. (Kans. Laws 1870, 10th leg., ch. 40/pp. 8990)
27 April 1870
SEDGWICK fully organized, detached from BUTLER. (Andreas, 1385; Bentley, 494495)
10 May 1870
HOWARD (extinct) fully organized, detached from MONTGOMERY. (Andreas, 1174)
14 July 1870
JEWELL fully organized, detached from CLAY. (Andreas, 968)
4 October 1870
MITCHELL fully organized, detached from OTTAWA. (Andreas, 1022)
6 October 1870
LINCOLN fully organized, detached from SALINE. (Andreas, 1421)
7 February 1871
SUMNER fully organized, detached from BUTLER. (Andreas, 1495; Caldwell Messenger, 257258)
9 March 1871
OSBORNE detached from OTTAWA, attached to MITCHELL "for judicial purposes." SMITH detached from OTTAWA, attached to JEWELL "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1871, 11th leg., ch. 67, secs. 12/p. 172)
10 March 1871
RILEY gained from WABAUNSEE. (Kans. Laws 1871, 11th leg., ch. 53/pp. 105106)
16 March 1871
HARPER attached to SEDGWICK "for judicial purposes." RENO detached from BUTLER, attached to SEDGWICK "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1871, 11th leg., ch. 69, sec. 1/pp. 176177)
18 August 1871
RICE fully organized, detached from ELLSWORTH. (Andreas, 753; Kans. Laws 1872, 12th leg., ch. 28/p. 32)
12 September 1871
OSBORNE fully organized, detached from MITCHELL. (Andreas, 934)
1 January 1872
RENO fully organized, detached from SEDGWICK. (Andreas, 1350, 1371; Kans. Laws 1872, 12th leg., ch. 119/p. 262)
6 March 1872
BARBOUR (now BARBER), CLARK, and COMANCHE attached to SUMNER "for judicial purposes." HARPER detached from SEDGWICK, attached to SUMNER "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1872, 12th leg., ch. 112, sec. 5/p. 251)
7 March 1872
HARVEY created from McPHERSON and SEDGWICK; HARVEY not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1872, 12th leg., ch. 97, sec. 5/p. 184; ch. 118, sec. 3/p. 260; and ch. 119, sec. 1/p. 262)
KINGMAN created from HARPER and RENO; KINGMAN not fully organized, attached to RENO "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1872, 12th leg., ch. 97, sec. 4/p. 184 and ch. 119, sec. 3/p. 262)
BARTON and RUSSELL remained attached to ELLSWORTH "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1872, 12th leg., ch. 113, sec. 2/p. 253)
PAWNEE attached to ELLIS "for judicial purposes." NESS, RUSH, TREGO, and WALLACE remained attached to ELLIS "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1872, 12th leg., ch. 113, sec. 2/p. 253)
RENO gained from McPHERSON, RICE, and SEDGWICK; lost to creation of KINGMAN. (Kans. Laws 1872, 12th leg., ch. 97/pp. 183185 and ch. 119, sec. 3/p. 262; Andreas, 755)
9 March 1872
SMITH fully organized, detached from JEWELL. (Andreas, 908909)
16 April 1872
HARVEY fully organized. (Andreas, 772, 1350)
16 May 1872
BARTON fully organized, detached from ELLSWORTH. (Andreas, 763; Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)
26 July 1872
PHILLIPS fully organized. (HRS Kansas, Phillips, 12)
18 August 1872
RUSSELL fully organized, detached from ELLSWORTH. (Andreas, 1284)
22 August 1872
NORTON fully organized. (Andreas, 1062; Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)
4 November 1872
PAWNEE fully organized, detached from ELLIS. (Andreas, 1350)
26 November 1872
ROOKS fully organized, detached from ELLIS. (Andreas, 1609)
25 February 1873
WABAUNSEE gained from RILEY. (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 56/pp. 110112)
6 March 1873
HARVEY gained from MARION. (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 59/pp. 115116)
BARBOUR (now BARBER), COMANCHE, and HARPER detached from SUMNER, attached to RENO; KINGMAN and KIOWA attached to RENO; PRATT detached from ELLSWORTH, attached to RENO; CLARK detached from SUMNER, attached to FORD; HODGEMAN attached to FORD; STAFFORD detached from ELLSWORTH, attached to BARTON. All attachments were "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 79, secs. 46/p. 166)
20 March 1873
Kansas Legislature created twenty-two new counties in western Kansas:
ARAPAHOE (extinct) created from Non-County Area 6; ARAPAHOE not fully organized, attached to FORD "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 72, sec. 17/p. 150 and ch. 79, sec. 6/p. 166)
BUFFALO (extinct) created from Non-County Area 6; BUFFALO not fully organized, attached to FORD "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 72, sec. 12/p. 149 and ch. 79, sec. 6/p. 166)
CHEYENNE created from Non-County Area 6; CHEYENNE not fully organized, attached to BILLINGS (now NORTON) "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 72, sec. 3/p. 146 and ch. 76, sec. 2/p. 160)
DECATUR created from Non-County Area 6; DECATUR not fully organized, attached to BILLINGS (now NORTON) "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 72, sec. 1/p. 146 and ch. 76, sec. 2/p. 160)
FOOTE (extinct) created from Non-County Area 6; FOOTE not fully organized, attached to FORD "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 72, sec. 13/p. 149 and ch. 79, sec. 6/p. 166)
GRANT created from Non-County Area 6; GRANT not fully organized, attached to FORD "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 72, sec. 21/p. 151 and ch. 79, sec. 6/p. 166)
GREELEY created from Non-County Area 6; GREELEY not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 72, sec. 23/pp. 151152)
HAMILTON created from Non-County Area 6; HAMILTON not fully organized, attached to FORD "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 72, sec. 24/p. 152 and ch. 79, sec. 6/p. 166)
KANSAS (extinct) created from Non-County Area 6; KANSAS not fully organized, attached to FORD "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 72, sec. 26/p. 152 and ch. 79, sec. 6/p. 166)
KEARNEY (now spelled KEARNY) created from Non-County Area 6; KEARNEY not fully organized, attached to FORD "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 72, sec. 20/p. 151 and ch. 79, sec. 6/p. 166)
LANE created from Non-County Area 6; LANE not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 72, sec. 11/pp. 148149)
MEADE created from Non-County Area 6; MEADE not fully organized, attached to FORD "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 72, sec. 14/p. 149 and ch. 79, sec. 6/p. 166)
RAWLINS created from Non-County Area 6; RAWLINS not fully organized, attached to BILLINGS (now NORTON) "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 72, sec. 2/p. 146 and ch. 76, sec. 2/p. 160)
SCOTT created from Non-County Area 6; SCOTT not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 72, sec. 15/pp. 149150)
SEQUOYAH (extinct) created from Non-County Area 6; SEQUOYAH not fully organized, attached to FORD "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 72, sec. 16/p. 150 and ch. 79, sec. 6/p. 166)
SEWARD created from Non-County Area 6; SEWARD not fully organized, attached to FORD "for judicial purposes." SEWARD was located in a different part of Kansas from the original SEWARD, which became extinct in 1867. (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 72, sec. 18/p. 150 and ch. 79, sec. 6/p. 166)
SHERIDAN created from Non-County Area 6; SHERIDAN not fully organized, attached to ROOKS "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 72, sec. 4/pp. 146147 and ch. 76, sec. 2/p. 160)
SHERMAN created from Non-County Area 6; SHERMAN not fully organized, attached to ROOKS "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 72, sec. 6/p. 147 and ch. 76, sec. 2/p. 160)
STANTON created from Non-County Area 6; STANTON not fully organized, attached to FORD "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 72, sec. 25/p. 152 and ch. 79, sec. 6/p. 166)
STEVENS created from Non-County Area 6; STEVENS not fully organized, attached to FORD "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 72, sec. 22/p. 151 and ch. 79, sec. 6/p. 166)
THOMAS created from Non-County Area 6; THOMAS not fully organized, attached to ROOKS "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 72, sec. 5/p. 147 and ch. 76, sec. 2/p. 160)
WICHITA created from Non-County Area 6; WICHITA not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 72, sec. 19/pp. 150151)
BARBOUR (now BARBER) gained from HARPER and PRATT. (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 57/pp. 112113)
CLARK gained from FORD and Non-County Area 6. (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 72, sec. 7/p. 147)
DAVIS (now GEARY) exchanged with RILEY. (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 58/pp. 113115)
FORD gained from HODGEMAN and Non-County Area 6, lost to CLARK. ARAPAHOE (extinct), BUFFALO (extinct), FOOTE (extinct), GRANT, HAMILTON, KANSAS (extinct), KEARNEY (now spelled KEARNY), MEADE, SEQUOYAH (extinct), SEWARD, STANTON, and STEVENS attached to FORD "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 72, secs. 78/pp. 147148 and ch. 79, sec. 6/p. 166)
GRAHAM detached from ELLIS, attached to ROOKS "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 76, sec. 2/p. 160)
HODGEMAN gained from Non-County Area 6, lost to FORD. (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 72, secs. 89/pp. 147148)
NESS gained from Non-County Area 6. (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 72, sec. 10/p. 148)
NORTON renamed BILLINGS. CHEYENNE, DECATUR, and RAWLINS attached to BILLINGS "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 72, sec. 35/p. 156 and ch. 76, sec. 2/p. 160)
PAWNEE gained from RUSH and STAFFORD, lost to Non-County Area (7). Conflicting laws placed township 21 north, ranges 1115 west in dispute among BARTON, PAWNEE, and STAFFORD. BARTON was authorized to gain all of the disputed area from STAFFORD by chapter 57; chapter 72 authorized PAWNEE to gain range 15 west from STAFFORD [see 18 March 1874]. (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 57/pp. 112113 and ch. 72, secs. 27, 29/pp. 152154)
Non-County Area (7) created from PAWNEE and STAFFORD. (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 57/pp. 112113 and ch. 72, secs. 27, 29/pp. 152154)
5 April 1873
FORD fully organized. (Rath, 48; Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)
7 July 1873
BARBOUR (now BARBER) fully organized, detached from RENO. (Andreas, 1522; Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)
23 October 1873
NESS fully organized, detached from ELLIS. (Andreas, 1524; Millbrook, Ness, 6670)
25 February 1874
BILLINGS renamed NORTON. (Kans. Laws 1874, 14th leg., ch. 55/p. 88)
27 February 1874
KINGMAN fully organized, detached from RENO. (Andreas, 1526)
11 March 1874
HODGEMAN detached from FORD, attached to PAWNEE "for judicial purposes;" STAFFORD detached from BARTON, attached to PAWNEE "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1874, 14th leg., ch. 67, sec. 2/p. 101)
18 March 1874
EDWARDS created from KIOWA and part of Non-County Area (7, former part of PAWNEE); EDWARDS not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1874, 14th leg., ch. 59, sec. 1/pp. 9192)
PAWNEE and STAFFORD gained from Non-County Area (7, former parts of PAWNEE and STAFFORD) and gained control over the area in dispute with BARTON since 20 March 1873 (township 21 north, ranges 1115 west); Non-County Area (7) eliminated. (Kans. Laws 1874, 14th leg., ch. 59, secs. 34/pp. 9293)
26 March 1874
CRAWFORD boundaries clarified [no change]. (Kans. Laws 1874, 14th leg., ch. 70/p. 104)
21 August 1874
EDWARDS fully organized. (Andreas, 1368; Malin, 274)
5 December 1874
RUSH fully organized, detached from ELLIS. (Andreas, 1585; Kans. Laws 1875, 15th leg., ch. 84, sec. 2/p. 121)
5 March 1875
BARTON and PRATT gained nearly of STAFFORD [see 25 April 1879]; PRATT detached from RENO, attached to PAWNEE "for judicial purposes." (Andreas, 12701271; Kans. Laws 1875, 15th leg., ch. 61/pp. 8889)
COMANCHE and EDWARDS gained all of KIOWA; KIOWA eliminated, ending its attachment to RENO. (Kans. Laws 1875, 15th leg., ch. 60/pp. 8788)
25 March 1875
DAVIS (now GEARY) gained from RILEY. (Kans. Laws 1875, 15th leg., ch. 62/pp. 8991)
1 June 1875
CHAUTAUQUA created from part of HOWARD; HOWARD eliminated. Act passed 3 March 1875; took effect 1 June 1875. (Kans. Laws 1875, 15th leg., ch. 106/pp. 148152; Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)
ELK created from part of HOWARD; HOWARD eliminated. Act passed 3 March 1875; took effect 1 June 1875. (Kans. Laws 1875, 15th leg., ch. 106/pp. 148152)
15 February 1876
COMANCHE detached from RENO, attached to PAWNEE "for judicial purposes." HARPER detached from RENO, attached to SUMNER "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1876, 16th leg., ch. 69, sec. 2/pp. 168169)
15 August 1878
HARPER fully organized, detached from SUMNER. (Andreas, 363364; Sanders, 4243)
18 March 1879
ARAPAHOE (extinct) boundaries redefined [no change]. (Kans. Laws 1879, 18th leg., ch. 72, sec. 13/p. 145)
BUFFALO (extinct) boundaries redefined [no change]. (Kans. Laws 1879, 18th leg., ch. 72, sec. 8/p. 144)
CHEYENNE boundaries redefined [no change]. (Kans. Laws 1879, 18th leg., ch. 72, sec. 23/pp. 147148)
DECATUR boundaries redefined [no change]. (Kans. Laws 1879, 18th leg., ch. 72, sec. 1/p. 143)
FOOTE (extinct) boundaries redefined [no change]. (Kans. Laws 1879, 18th leg., ch. 72, sec. 9/pp. 144145)
GOVE gained from SHERIDAN, lost to LANE and WALLACE. (Kans. Laws 1879, 18th leg., ch. 72, sec. 5/p. 144; HRS Kansas, Gove, 3)
GRANT boundaries redefined [no change]. (Kans. Laws 1879, 18th leg., ch. 72, sec. 17/p. 146)
GREELEY boundaries redefined [no change]. (Kans. Laws 1879, 18th leg., ch. 72, sec. 19/p. 147)
HAMILTON boundaries redefined [no change]. (Kans. Laws 1879, 18th leg., ch. 72, sec. 20/p. 147)
KANSAS (extinct) boundaries redefined [no change]. (Kans. Laws 1879, 18th leg., ch. 72, sec. 22/p. 147)
KEARNEY (now spelled KEARNY) boundaries redefined [no change]. (Kans. Laws 1879, 18th leg., ch. 72, sec. 16/p. 146)
MEADE boundaries redefined [no change]. (Kans. Laws 1879, 18th leg., ch. 72, sec. 10/p. 145)
RAWLINS boundaries redefined [no change]. (Kans. Laws 1879, 18th leg., ch. 72, sec. 2/p. 143)
SCOTT boundaries redefined [no change]. (Kans. Laws 1879, 18th leg., ch. 72, sec. 11/p. 145)
SEQUOYAH (extinct) boundaries redefined [no change]. (Kans. Laws 1879, 18th leg., ch. 72, sec. 12/p. 145)
SEWARD boundaries redefined [no change]. (Kans. Laws 1879, 18th leg., ch. 72, sec. 14/p. 146)
SHERMAN boundaries redefined [no change]. (Kans. Laws 1879, 18th leg., ch. 72, sec. 24/p. 148)
STANTON boundaries redefined [no change]. (Kans. Laws 1879, 18th leg., ch. 72, sec. 21/p. 147)
STEVENS boundaries redefined [no change]. (Kans. Laws 1879, 18th leg., ch. 72, sec. 18/pp. 146147)
WALLACE gained from GOVE, SHERIDAN, and THOMAS. (Kans. Laws 1879, 18th leg., ch. 72, sec. 6/p. 144)
WICHITA boundaries redefined [no change]. (Kans. Laws 1879, 18th leg., ch. 72, sec. 15/p. 146)
21 March 1879
HARPER boundaries redefined [no change]. (Kans. Laws 1879, 18th leg., ch. 73/pp. 148149)
29 March 1879
HODGEMAN fully organized, detached from PAWNEE. (Andreas, 1608)
25 April 1879
STAFFORD gained from BARTON and PRATT when Kansas Supreme Court ruled act of 5 March 1875 unconstitutional. (Andreas, 12701271; "State of Kansas v. St. John," in Kansas Rpts., 21:427434)
21 June 1879
TREGO fully organized, detached from ELLIS. (Andreas, 1297; Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)
2 July 1879
STAFFORD fully organized, detached from PAWNEE. (Andreas, 1271)
29 July 1879
PRATT fully organized, detached from PAWNEE. (Andreas, 1268)
15 December 1879
DECATUR fully organized, detached from NORTON. (Andreas, 1614; Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)
1 April 1880
GRAHAM fully organized; detached from ROOKS. (Andreas, 1060; HRS Kansas, Graham, 4)
2 June 1880
SHERIDAN fully organized, detached from ROOKS. (Andreas, 1520)
20 February 1881
ARAPAHOE (extinct), BUFFALO (extinct), CLARK, FOOTE (extinct), GRANT, HAMILTON, KANSAS (extinct), KEARNEY (now spelled KEARNY), MEADE, SEQUOYAH (extinct), SEWARD, STANTON, and STEVENS remained attached to FORD "for judicial purposes." GREELEY attached to FORD "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 99, sec. 3/p. 200)
COMANCHE detached from PAWNEE, attached to BARBOUR (now BARBER) "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 99, sec. 4/p. 200)
LANE attached to NESS "for judicial purposes." According to this act, SCOTT was also to be attached to NESS, but other acts suggest it was attached to FORD. (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 99, sec. 5/p. 200)
8 March 1881
CHEYENNE and RAWLINS detached from NORTON, attached to DECATUR "for judicial purposes." SHERMAN and THOMAS detached from ROOKS, attached to SHERIDAN "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 100, sec. 3/p. 202)
GOVE and WALLACE detached from ELLIS, attached to TREGO "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 98/pp. 198199 and ch. 100, sec. 3/p. 202)
9 March 1881
WICHITA attached to FORD "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 103/p. 205)
13 March 1881
GRAY created from part of BUFFALO and all of FOOTE; BUFFALO and FOOTE eliminated, ending their attachment to FORD. GRAY not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 48, sec. 7/p. 133)
ST. JOHN (now LOGAN) created from WALLACE; ST. JOHN not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 48, sec. 1/pp. 131132)
GOVE gained from LANE and WALLACE, lost to SHERIDAN. (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 48/pp. 131133; HRS Kansas, Gove, 3)
LANE gained part of BUFFALO, lost to GOVE; BUFFALO eliminated. (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 48, sec. 6/p. 133)
SHERIDAN gained from GOVE and WALLACE. (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 48, sec. 2/p. 132)
THOMAS gained from WALLACE. (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 48, sec. 3/p. 132)
25 May 1881
RAWLINS fully organized, detached from DECATUR. (Andreas, 1607)
22 February 1883
FINNEY created from all of ARAPAHOE and SEQUOYAH, and parts of GRANT, GRAY, KEARNEY (now spelled KEARNY), LANE and MEADE; ARAPAHOE, GRANT, GRAY, KEARNEY, MEADE, and SEQUOYAH eliminated. FINNEY not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1883, 20th leg., ch. 70, sec. 2/p. 114)
FORD gained all of CLARK and part of GRAY and MEADE; CLARK, GRAY, and MEADE eliminated. ARAPAHOE, CLARK, GRANT, KANSAS, KEARNEY (now spelled KEARNY), MEADE, SEQUOYAH, STANTON, and STEVENS eliminated, ending their attachment to FORD. (Kans. Laws 1883, 20th leg., ch. 70/pp. 113115)
HAMILTON gained part of GRANT and KEARNEY (now spelled KEARNY), and gained all of STANTON; GRANT, KEARNEY, and STANTON eliminated. (Kans. Laws 1883, 20th leg., ch. 70, sec. 1/pp. 113114)
HODGEMAN gained from LANE and gained part of GRAY; GRAY eliminated. (Kans. Laws 1883, 20th leg., ch. 70, sec. 4/p. 114)
SEWARD gained all of KANSAS and STEVENS, and part of MEADE; KANSAS, MEADE, and STEVENS eliminated. (Kans. Laws 1883, 20th leg., ch. 70, sec. 5/p. 114)
25 February 1883
CHEYENNE detached from DECATUR, attached to RAWLINS "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1883, 20th leg., ch. 103/pp. 157158)
1 March 1883
Spelling of BARBOUR changed to BARBER. (Kans. Laws 1883, 20th leg., ch. 50/p. 92)
23 March 1884
FINNEY attached to FORD "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1884, spec. sess., ch. 9/p. 21)
1 October 1884
FINNEY fully organized, detached from FORD. (Finney County Historical Society, 1:9)
22 February 1885
ST. JOHN (now LOGAN) attached to TREGO "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1885, 21st leg., ch. 107/p. 154)
27 February 1885
COMANCHE fully organized, detached from BARBER. (Blue Skyways, http://skyways.lib.ks.us/counties, 23 November 2004)
3 March 1885
HARPER boundaries clarified [no change]. (Kans. Laws 1885, 21st leg., ch. 69/p. 108)
13 March 1885
CLARK re-created from FORD with slightly different boundaries from CLARK that was abolished 22 February 1883. (Kans. Laws 1885, 21st leg., ch. 71, sec. 3/p. 110)
MEADE re-created from FINNEY, FORD, and SEWARD with slightly different boundaries from MEADE that was abolished 22 February 1883. (Kans. Laws 1885, 21st leg., ch. 71, sec. 2/p. 110)
17 March 1885
CLARK and MEADE attached to COMANCHE "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1885, 21st leg., ch. 119, sec. 2/pp. 165166)
GREELEY, HAMILTON, SEWARD, and WICHITA detached from FORD, attached to FINNEY "for judicial purposes." SCOTT attached to FINNEY "for judicial purposes." According to this act, SCOTT had been attached to FORD; an act of 20 February 1881 attached SCOTT to NESS. (Kans. Laws 1885, 21st leg., ch. 119/pp. 165166; Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 99, sec. 5/p. 200)
5 May 1885
CLARK fully organized, detached from COMANCHE. (Cauthers, 1: 56)
8 October 1885
THOMAS fully organized; detached from SHERIDAN. (Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)
3 November 1885
MEADE fully organized, detached from COMANCHE. (Blue Skyways, http://skyways.lib.ks.us/counties, 23 November 2004)
29 January 1886
HAMILTON fully organized, detached from FINNEY. (Blue Skyways, http://skyways.lib.ks.us/counties, 23 November 2004)
11 February 1886
KIOWA re-created from COMANCHE and EDWARDS with identical boundaries to KIOWA that was abolished 5 March 1875. KIOWA not fully organized, attached to COMANCHE "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1886, spec. sess., ch. 35/pp. 5455)
13 February 1886
SHERMAN detached from SHERIDAN, attached to THOMAS "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1886, spec. sess., chs. 7778/pp. 113114)
18 February 1886
LYON gained small area from COFFEY in section 14, township 20 south, range 13 east. This act gave LYON access to the Neosho River [see 12 March 1897; not mapped]. (Kans. Laws 1886, spec. sess., ch. 38/pp. 5859)
19 February 1886
SCOTT, SEWARD, and WICHITA remained attached to FINNEY "for judicial purposes." Chapter 81 stated that WICHITA was to be detached from NESS and attached to FINNEY. (Kans. Laws 1886, spec. sess., chs. 81, 87/pp. 116, 121)
20 February 1886
MORTON created from SEWARD; MORTON not fully organized. MORTON was located in the same area as KANSAS (extinct), but with slightly different boundaries. (Kans. Laws 1886, spec. sess., ch. 37/pp. 5758; Kans. Laws 1887, 22d leg., ch. 2/pp. 23)
STEVENS re-created from SEWARD with slightly different boundaries from STEVENS that was abolished 22 February 1883. (Kans. Laws 1886, spec. sess., ch. 37/pp. 5758; Kans. Laws 1887, 22d leg., ch. 2/pp. 23)
26 February 1886
GREELEY and MORTON attached to HAMILTON. Chapter 81 stated that GREELEY and WICHITA were attached to NESS prior to this date; other acts attached GREELEY and WICHITA to FINNEY. Chapter 87 stated that GREELEY was to remain attached to FINNEY, while chapter 81 stated that GREELEY was to be detached from NESS and attached to HAMILTON. SEWARD detached from FINNEY, attached to MEADE. STEVENS attached to FINNEY. All attachments were "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1886, spec. sess., chs. 81, 86, 87/pp. 116, 120121; Greeley County Historical Book Committee, 14)
RICE gained small area from RENO. (Kans. Laws 1886, spec. sess., ch. 36/p. 56)
25 March 1886
KIOWA fully organized, detached from COMANCHE. (Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)
1 April 1886
CHEYENNE fully organized, detached from RAWLINS. (Cheyenne County Historical Society, 11)
3 June 1886
LANE fully organized, detached from NESS. (Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)
17 June 1886
SEWARD fully organized, detached from MEADE. (HRS Kansas, Seward, 4)
5 July 1886
SCOTT fully organized, detached from FINNEY. (Scott County Centennial Comm., 16)
3 August 1886
STEVENS fully organized, detached from FINNEY. (Blue Skyways, http://skyways.lib.ks.us/counties, 23 November 2004)
2 September 1886
GOVE fully organized, detached from TREGO. (HRS Kansas, Gove, 15; Blue Skyways, http://skyways.lib.ks.us/counties, 23 November 2004)
20 September 1886
SHERMAN fully organized, detached from THOMAS. (Blue Skyways, http://skyways.lib.ks.us/counties, 23 November 2004; Kans. Laws 1887, 22d leg., ch. 122/p. 178)
18 November 1886
MORTON fully organized, detached from HAMILTON. (Blue Skyways, http://skyways.lib.ks.us/counties, 23 November 2004)
24 December 1886
WICHITA fully organized, detached from FINNEY. (Wichita County History Assn., 39)
25 February 1887
ST. JOHN renamed LOGAN. (Kans. Laws 1887, 22d leg., ch. 173/p. 255)
23 March 1887
GARFIELD (extinct) created from FINNEY and HODGEMAN; GARFIELD was in the same general area as BUFFALO (extinct). GARFIELD not fully organized, attached to HODGEMAN "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1887, 22d leg., ch. 81, sec. 6/p. 112 and ch. 132/p. 195)
GRANT re-created from FINNEY and HAMILTON with same boundaries as GRANT that was eliminated 22 February 1883. GRANT not fully organized, attached to STEVENS "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1887, 22d leg., ch. 81, sec. 2/pp. 111112 and ch. 132/p. 195)
GRAY re-created from FINNEY, FORD, and HODGEMAN with slightly different boundaries from GRAY that was eliminated 22 February 1883. GRAY not fully organized, attached to FORD "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1887, 22d leg., ch. 81, sec. 5/p. 112 and ch. 132/p. 195)
HASKELL created from FINNEY; HASKELL boundaries were identical to those of ARAPAHOE (extinct). HASKELL not fully organized, attached to FINNEY "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1887, 22d leg., ch. 81, sec. 1/p. 111 and ch. 132/p. 195)
KEARNEY (now spelled KEARNY) re-created from FINNEY and HAMILTON with same boundaries as the KEARNEY that was eliminated 22 February 1883. KEARNEY not fully organized, attached to HAMILTON "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1887, 22d leg., ch. 81, sec. 4/p. 112 and ch. 132/p. 195)
STANTON re-created from HAMILTON with same boundaries as the STANTON that was eliminated 22 February 1883. STANTON not fully organized, attached to HAMILTON "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1887, 22d leg., ch. 81, sec. 3/p. 112 and ch. 132/p. 195)
GRANT attached to STEVENS "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1887, 22d leg., ch. 81, sec. 2/pp. 111112 and ch. 132/p. 195)
17 June 1887
STANTON fully organized, detached from HAMILTON. (Blue Skyways, http://skyways.lib.ks.us/counties, 23 November 2004)
1 July 1887
HASKELL fully organized, detached from FINNEY. (Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)
20 July 1887
GRAY fully organized, detached from FORD. (Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)
July 1887
In July 1887, GARFIELD (extinct) was fully organized, detached from HODGEMAN. ("Charles Hall, Petitioner," in Kansas Rpts., 38:670673)
17 September 1887
LOGAN fully organized, detached from TREGO. (Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)
27 March 1888
KEARNEY (now spelled KEARNY) fully organized, detached from HAMILTON. (Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)
9 June 1888
GRANT fully organized, detached from STEVENS. (Blue Skyways, http://skyways.lib.ks.us/counties, 23 November 2004)
9 July 1888
GREELEY fully organized, detached from HAMILTON. (Greeley County Historical Book Committee, 1314; Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)
5 January 1889
WALLACE fully organized, detached from TREGO. (Blackmar, 2:868870; Wallace County History, 33; Kans. Laws 1889, 23d leg., ch. 114/pp. 154155)
7 March 1889
DAVIS renamed GEARY. (Kans. Laws 1889, 23d leg., ch. 132/pp. 182183)
23 March 1889
Spelling of "KEARNEY" changed to "KEARNY." (Kans. Laws 1889, 23d leg., ch. 167/pp. 242243)
16 March 1893
Legislature authorized GEARY to revert to its original name of "DAVIS," dependent on local referendum, which failed [no change]. (Kans. Laws 1893, 25th leg., ch. 61/pp. 8889; Kans. Stat. Anno.1995, 2: sec. 18-131c/p. 574)
18 March 1893
FINNEY gained all of GARFIELD; GARFIELD eliminated. The Kansas Supreme Court determined the creation of GARFIELD was unconstitutional because it contained less than 432 square miles. (Kans. Laws 1893, 25th leg., ch. 98/pp. 173174; "State of Kansas v. Commissioners of Garfield County," in Kansas Rpts., 54:372374)
12 April 1893
WASHINGTON gained small area in sections 6 and 7, township 4 south, range 6 east from MARSHALL. This law was enacted to allow WASHINGTON access to a proposed bridge across the Little Blue River [too small to map; see 20 February 1903]. (Kans. Laws 1893, 25th leg., ch. 54/pp. 8283)
12 March 1897
Boundary between COFFEY and LYON clarified [no change]. This act clarified the change of 18 February 1886. While this change is still part of the current official description of both counties boundaries, it does not appear to be in effect, and is not reflected on maps, including state highway maps and U.S.G.S. maps dated as early as 1906. (Kans. Laws 1897, 27th leg., ch. 100/pp. 195196; Kans. Stats. Anno. 1995, sec. 18-116/p. 570; U.S.G.S., "Burlington Sheet," ed. of Sept. 1894, repr. Dec. 1906)
22 March 1899
Boundary between JEFFERSON and SHAWNEE in sections 23 and 26, township 11 south, range 16 east was adjusted to run on the Kansas River [change too small to map]. (Kans. Laws 1899, 28th leg., ch. 56/p. 121)
20 February 1903
Act of 12 April 1893, defining the boundary between MARSHALL and WASHINGTON, was clarified. While this act is still included in the description of county boundaries in the 1995 "Kansas Statutes Annotated," it is no longer in force, and the pre-1893 boundary is observed [no change]. (Kans. Laws 1903, 30th leg., ch. 181/pp. 326327; Linda Fincham, Register of Deeds, Marshall Co., correspondence, 8 March 2005; Marilyn K. Kolle, Register of Deeds, Washington Co., correspondence, 21 March 2005)
8 April 1941
OSAGE boundaries redefined, correcting mistake of 3 March 1868 [no change]. (Kans. Laws 1941, 49th leg., ch. 187/p. 292; HRS Kansas, Osage, 3)
3 August 1950
ATCHISON exchanged small areas with DONIPHAN; ATCHISON gained from BUCHANAN (Mo.) and DONIPHAN lost to BUCHANAN (Mo.) to accommodate changes in the course of the Missouri River that occurred in 1944. Kansas act passed 5 April 1949, took effect 3 August 1950 after the United States Congress approved a joint resolution establishing the permanent boundary between Kansas and Missouri along the Missouri River from 40 degrees north latitude to the Kansas River. Minor shifts in the Missouri River boundaries of other Kansas and Missouri counties are not mapped. (Kans. Laws 1949, 53d leg., chs. 196, 510/pp. 293294, 837838; Mo. Laws 1949, S.B. 141, p. 311; U.S. Stat., vol. 64, ch. 519 [1950]/p. 397)
30 March 1951
Boundary between ATCHISON and DONIPHAN clarified to accommodate boundary agreement between Kansas and Missouri approved by the United States Congress on 3 August 1950 [not mapped]. (Kans. Laws 1951, 54th leg., ch. 218/p. 318; U.S. Stat., vol. 64, ch. 519 [1950]/p. 397)
1 January 1959
By 1959, ATCHISON gained small area from DONIPHAN when the boundary east of Independence Creek was moved to the south line of section 7, township 5 south, range 21 east. (U.S.G.S., Atchison East and Atchison Northeast Quadrangles, 19591960)
17 April 1978
GEARY gained small area from RILEY along the Fort Riley Military Reservation boundary. (Kans. Laws 1978, 67th leg., ch. 88/pp. 421422)