Kansas: Individual County Chronologies

Kansas Atlas of Historical County Boundaries

John H. Long, Editor; Peggy Tuck Sinko, 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


ALLEN

25 Aug 1855
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. 214–215)
07 May 1856
ALLEN fully organized. (Andreas, 670; Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)
17 Feb 1857
WOODSON detached from ALLEN, attached to COFFEY "for civil and military purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 9/pp. 94-95)
20 Feb 1857
ALLEN boundaries redefined to run on federal land survey lines [no change]. WASHINGTON re-created, ending it's attachment to ALLEN. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., secs. 9, 33/pp. 39–40, 45)
11 Feb 1859
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); WILSON remained attached to ALLEN. All attachments were "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1859, 5th leg., ch. 40, sec. 4/p. 330)
17 Feb 1860
MARION detached from ALLEN, attached to CHASE "for judicial and county purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 40/p. 80)
27 Feb 1860
DORN (now NEOSHO) detached from BOURBON, attached to ALLEN "for judicial purposes." WILSON detached from ALLEN, attached to COFFEY "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 78, sec. 4/p. 133; HRS Kansas, Bourbon, 10)
29 Jan 1861
ALLEN became a county in the state of Kansas. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 20 [1861]/pp. 126–128; Van Zandt, 138–139)
20 Nov 1864
NEOSHO fully organized, detached from ALLEN. (Andreas, 825)
13 Feb 1865
ALLEN lost to NEOSHO and WILSON. (Kans. Laws 1865, 5th leg., chs. 16–17/pp. 45–46)
24 Mar 1870
ALLEN gained from NEOSHO. (Kans. Laws 1870, 10th leg., ch. 39/pp. 88–89)

ANDERSON

25 Aug 1855
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)
07 Jan 1856
ANDERSON fully organized. (Andreas, 1323; Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)
17 Feb 1857
COFFEY fully organized, detached from ANDERSON. (Andreas, 647; Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., pp. 93–95)
20 Feb 1857
ANDERSON boundaries redefined to run on federal land survey lines [no change]. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 8/p. 39)
29 Jan 1861
ANDERSON became a county in the state of Kansas. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 20 [1861]/pp. 126–128; Van Zandt, 138–139)

ARAPAHOE (Kansas Territory, extinct)

25 Aug 1855
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. 37–38/pp. 217–218)
21 Sep 1858
Kansas Territorial Governor, James Denver, issued commissions for county officials for ARAPAHOE (Kansas Territory, extinct). There is disagreement as to whether the county was ever officially organized. (Bancroft, 402; Fritz, 185–186; "Governor Denver's Admin.," 5:512; Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 2 March 2005; Wynkoop, 13:71–72)
01 Mar 1859
ARAPAHOE (Kansas Territory, extinct) lost to creation of BRODERICK (Kansas Territory, extinct), EL PASO (Kansas Territory, extinct), FREMONT (Kansas Territory, extinct), MONTANA (Kansas Territory, extinct), and ORO (Kansas Territory, extinct). Act passed 7 February 1859; took effect 1 March 1859. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1859, 5th leg., ch. 44, secs. 1–5/pp. 357–358)
29 Jan 1861
ARAPAHOE (Kansas Territory) eliminated when the state of Kansas was admitted to the Union. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 20 [1861]/pp. 126–128; Van Zandt, 138–139)

ARAPAHOE (extinct)

20 Mar 1873
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)
18 Mar 1879
ARAPAHOE (extinct) boundaries redefined [no change]. (Kans. Laws 1879, 18th leg., ch. 72, sec. 13/p. 145)
20 Feb 1881
ARAPAHOE (extinct) remained attached to FORD "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 99, sec. 3/p. 200)
22 Feb 1883
ARAPAHOE lost all territory to the creation of FINNEY; ARAPAHOE eliminated. In 1887 HASKELL was created with the same boundaries as ARAPAHOE. (Kans. Laws 1883, 20th leg., ch. 70, sec. 2/p. 114)

ATCHISON

25 Aug 1855
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. 35–36/p. 216)
17 Sep 1855
ATCHISON fully organized. (Andreas, 373; Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)
20 Feb 1857
ATCHISON boundaries redefined to run on federal land survey lines [no change]. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 26/p. 43)
29 Jan 1861
ATCHISON became a county in the state of Kansas. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 20 [1861]/pp. 126–128; Van Zandt, 138–139)
03 Aug 1950
ATCHISON exchanged small areas with DONIPHAN, gained from 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 counties are not mapped. (Kans. Laws 1949, 53d leg., chs. 196, 510/pp. 293–294, 837–838; Mo. Laws 1949, S.B. 141, p. 311; U.S. Stat., vol. 64, ch. 519 [1950]/p. 397)
30 Mar 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)
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, 1959–1960)

BARBER

26 Feb 1867
BARBOUR (now BARBER) created from MARION; BARBOUR not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 33, sec. 25/p. 55)
06 Mar 1872
BARBOUR (now BARBER) attached to SUMNER "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1872, 12th leg., ch. 112, sec. 5/p. 251)
06 Mar 1873
BARBOUR (now BARBER) detached from SUMNER, attached to RENO "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 79, sec. 4/p. 166)
20 Mar 1873
BARBOUR (now BARBER) gained from HARPER and PRATT. (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 57/pp. 112–113)
07 Jul 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)
20 Feb 1881
COMANCHE detached from PAWNEE, attached to BARBOUR (now BARBER) "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 99, sec. 4/p. 200)
01 Mar 1883
Spelling of BARBOUR changed to BARBER. (Kans. Laws 1883, 20th leg., ch. 50/p. 92)
27 Feb 1885
COMANCHE fully organized, detached from BARBER. (Blue Skyways, http://skyways.lib.ks.us/counties, 23 November 2004)

BARBOUR (see BARBER)


BARTON

26 Feb 1867
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)
29 Feb 1868
BARTON attached to ELLSWORTH "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1868, 8th leg., gen., ch. 28, sec. 2/p. 310)
07 Mar 1872
BARTON remained attached to ELLSWORTH "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1872, 12th leg., ch. 113, sec. 2/p. 253)
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)
06 Mar 1873
STAFFORD detached from ELLSWORTH, attached to BARTON "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 79, sec. 5/p. 166)
20 Mar 1873
Conflicting laws placed township 21 north, ranges 11–15 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. 112–113 and ch. 72, sec. 29/pp. 153–154)
11 Mar 1874
STAFFORD detached from BARTON, attached to PAWNEE "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1874, 14th leg., ch. 67, sec. 2/p. 101)
18 Mar 1874
BARTON lost its claim to the area in dispute with PAWNEE and STAFFORD since 20 March 1873. (Kans. Laws 1874, 14th leg., ch. 59, secs. 3–4/pp. 92–93)
05 Mar 1875
BARTON gained part of STAFFORD [see 25 April 1879]. (Kans. Laws 1875, 15th leg., ch. 61/pp. 88–89)
25 Apr 1879
BARTON lost to STAFFORD when Kansas Supreme Court ruled act of 5 March 1875 unconstitutional. (Andreas, 1270–1271; "State of Kansas v. St. John," in Kansas Rpts., 21:427–434)

BEXAR (Texas)

19 Dec 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. (Texas Repub. Laws 1836, 1st cong./p. 133)
29 Dec 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 Mar 1848
BEXAR (Texas) lost to creation of SANTA FE (Texas, extinct); BEXAR eliminated from present Kansas. (Texas Laws 1847, 2d reg. sess., ch. 87/p. 95)

BILLINGS (see NORTON)


BOURBON

25 Aug 1855
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)
12 Sep 1855
BOURBON fully organized. (Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)
20 Feb 1857
BOURBON boundaries redefined to run on federal land survey lines [no change]. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 4/p. 38)
11 Feb 1859
DORN (now NEOSHO) detached from ALLEN, attached to BOURBON "for judicial purposes." McGEE (now CHEROKEE) remained attached to BOURBON "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1859, 5th leg., ch. 40, sec. 4/p. 330)
27 Feb 1860
CHEROKEE remained attached to BOURBON "for judicial purposes." DORN (now NEOSHO) detached from BOURBON, attached to ALLEN "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 78, sec. 4/p. 133; HRS Kansas, Bourbon, 10)
29 Jan 1861
BOURBON became a county in the state of Kansas. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 20 [1861]/pp. 126–128; Van Zandt, 138–139)
03 Aug 1866
CHEROKEE fully organized, detached from BOURBON. (Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)
13 Feb 1867
BOURBON lost to creation of CRAWFORD. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 32/p. 50)

BRECKENRIDGE (see LYON)


BRODERICK (Kansas Territory, extinct)

01 Mar 1859
BRODERICK (Kansas Territory, extinct) created by Kansas Territory from ARAPAHOE (Kansas Territory, extinct); BRODERICK was located entirely within present Colorado. Act passed 7 February 1859; took effect 1 March 1859. BRODERICK not fully organized. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1859, 5th leg., ch. 44, secs. 3, 8/pp. 358–359; Bancroft, 402)
29 Jan 1861
BRODERICK (Kansas Territory) eliminated when the state of Kansas was admitted to the Union. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 20 [1861]/pp. 126–128; Van Zandt, 138–139)

BROWN

25 Aug 1855
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. 209–210)
14 Feb 1857
BROWN fully organized, detached from DONIPHAN. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., pp. 89–90)
20 Feb 1857
BROWN boundaries redefined to run on federal land survey lines [no change]. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 28/p. 44)
29 Jan 1861
BROWN became a county in the state of Kansas. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 20 [1861]/pp. 126–128; Van Zandt, 138–139)
01 Mar 1868
BROWN lost to JACKSON. (Kans. Laws 1868, 8th leg., spec., ch. 15/p. 50)

BUCHANAN (Mo.)

31 Dec 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 1838–1839, pub., pp. 23–25)
03 Aug 1950
BUCHANAN (Mo.) exchanged with the state of Kansas to accommodate changes in the course of the Missouri River that occurred in 1944; BUCHANAN eliminated from present Kansas. The change 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 Missouri counties are not mapped. (Kans. Laws 1949, 53d leg., chs. 196, 510/pp. 293–294, 837–838; Mo. Laws 1949, S.B. 141, p. 311; U.S. Stat., vol. 64, ch. 519 [1950]/p. 397)

BUFFALO (extinct)

20 Mar 1873
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)
18 Mar 1879
BUFFALO (extinct) boundaries redefined [no change]. (Kans. Laws 1879, 18th leg., ch. 72, sec. 8/p. 144)
20 Feb 1881
BUFFALO (extinct) remained attached to FORD "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 99, sec. 3/p. 200)
13 Mar 1881
BUFFALO lost all territory to LANE and to the creation of GRAY; BUFFALO eliminated. In 1887 GARFIELD (extinct) was created in the same general area where BUFFALO had been located. (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 48, secs. 6–7/p. 133)

BUTLER

25 Aug 1855
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)
20 Feb 1857
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. 42–43 and p. 89)
11 Feb 1859
BUTLER lost to creation of CHASE. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1859, 5th leg., ch. 46/p. 361)
30 Apr 1859
BUTLER fully organized, detached from MADISON (Kansas Territory, extinct). (Andreas, 1432; Mooney, 50; Kans. Terr. Laws 1859, 5th leg., ch. 51/pp. 367–368)
17 Feb 1860
OTOE (extinct) not fully organized, attached to BUTLER "for judicial and county purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 40/p. 80)
27 Feb 1860
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, 70–71 and ch. 78, sec. 4/p. 133)
29 Jan 1861
BUTLER became a county in the state of Kansas. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 20 [1861]/pp. 126–128; Van Zandt, 138–139)
24 Feb 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. (Kans. Laws 1864, 4th leg., ch. 25/p. 50)
11 Feb 1865
BUTLER lost to GREENWOOD. (Kans. Laws 1865, 5th leg., ch. 15/p. 45)
26 Feb 1867
BUTLER lost to GREENWOOD and MARION, and lost to the creation of COWLEY, HOWARD (extinct), SEDGWICK, and SUMNER. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 33, secs. 4–8, 10–11/pp. 51–52)
02 Mar 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)
05 Mar 1869
COWLEY, RENO, SEDGWICK, and SUMNER remained attached to BUTLER "for judicial purposes." HOWARD (extinct) detached from BUTLER, attached to GREENWOOD "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1869, 9th leg., ch. 36, sec. 8/p. 121)
28 Feb 1870
COWLEY fully organized, detached from BUTLER. (Andreas, 1588; Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)
27 Apr 1870
SEDGWICK fully organized, detached from BUTLER. (Andreas, 1385; Bentley, 494–495)
07 Feb 1871
SUMNER fully organized, detached from BUTLER. (Andreas, 1495; Caldwell Messenger, 257–258)
16 Mar 1871
RENO detached from BUTLER, attached to SEDGWICK "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1871, 11th leg., ch. 69, sec. 1/pp. 176–177)

CALHOUN (see JACKSON)


CAPE GIRARDEAU (Mo.)

01 Oct 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. CAPE GIRARDEAU District (Mo.) created by the District of Louisiana from non-county area; included parts of present Kansas, Colorado, and Missouri. (Terr. Papers U.S., 13: 51–52; U.S. Stat., vol. 2, ch. 38 [1804]/pp. 283–289)
04 Jul 1805
CAPE GIRARDEAU (Mo.) became a district (county) in Louisiana Territory when the District of Louisiana was renamed Louisiana Territory. (U.S. Stat., vol. 2, ch. 31[1805]/pp. 331–332)
01 Jul 1806
CAPE GIRARDEAU District (Mo.) lost to NEW MADRID District (Mo.); area within present Kansas was unchanged. (Terr. Papers U.S., 13:541–542)
15 Aug 1806
CAPE GIRARDEAU District (Mo.) gained from NEW MADRID District (Mo.). (Ford, 5–6)
07 Dec 1812
CAPE GIRARDEAU District (Mo.) eliminated from present Kansas when its boundaries were changed. (Royce, 676–677, pls. 112, 144; Terr. Papers U.S., 14:599–601)

CHASE

11 Feb 1859
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)
15 Mar 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)
17 Feb 1860
CHASE lost to MARION. MARION detached from ALLEN, attached to CHASE "for judicial and county purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 40/p. 80)
27 Feb 1860
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. 70–71 and ch. 78, sec. 4/p. 133)
29 Jan 1861
CHASE became a county in the state of Kansas. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 20 [1861]/pp. 126–128; Van Zandt, 138–139)
22 May 1861
MARION detached from MORRIS, attached to CHASE "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1861, 1st leg., ch. 23, sec. 1/p. 123)
24 Feb 1864
CHASE gained from BUTLER. (Kans. Laws 1864, 4th leg., ch. 25/p. 50)
07 Aug 1865
MARION fully organized, detached from CHASE. (Andreas, 1256; Van Meter, 29)
03 Mar 1868
CHASE gained from MARION. (Kans. Laws 1868, 8th leg., gen., ch. 24, secs. 10, 43/pp. 231, 240)

CHAUTAUQUA

01 Jun 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. 148–152; Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)

CHEROKEE

25 Aug 1855
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)
20 Feb 1857
McGEE (now CHEROKEE) boundaries redefined to run on federal land survey lines [no change]. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 5/pp. 38–39)
11 Feb 1859
McGEE (now CHEROKEE) remained attached to BOURBON "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1859, 5th leg., ch. 40, sec. 4/p. 330)
18 Feb 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. 68–69; HRS Kansas, Cherokee, 5)
27 Feb 1860
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)
29 Jan 1861
CHEROKEE became a county in the state of Kansas. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 20 [1861]/pp. 126–128; Van Zandt, 138–139)
20 Mar 1866
CHEROKEE gained from NEOSHO. (Kans. Laws 1866, 6th leg., ch. 27/p. 78)
03 Aug 1866
CHEROKEE fully organized, detached from BOURBON. (Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)
07 Feb 1867
CHEROKEE lost to creation of LABETTE. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., chs. 29–30/pp. 48–49)
13 Feb 1867
CHEROKEE lost to creation of CRAWFORD. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 32/p. 50)
03 Mar 1868
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. 231–232, 238; HRS Kansas, Cherokee, 8–9)

CHEYENNE

20 Mar 1873
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)
18 Mar 1879
CHEYENNE boundaries redefined [no change]. (Kans. Laws 1879, 18th leg., ch. 72, sec. 23/pp. 147–148)
08 Mar 1881
CHEYENNE detached from NORTON, attached to DECATUR "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 100, sec. 3/p. 202)
25 Feb 1883
CHEYENNE detached from DECATUR, attached to RAWLINS "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1883, 20th leg., ch. 103/pp. 157–158)
01 Apr 1886
CHEYENNE fully organized, detached from RAWLINS. (Cheyenne County Historical Society, 11)

CLARK

26 Feb 1867
CLARK created from MARION; CLARK not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 33, sec. 39/p. 57)
06 Mar 1872
CLARK attached to SUMNER "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1872, 12th leg., ch. 112, sec. 5/p. 251)
06 Mar 1873
CLARK detached from SUMNER, attached to FORD "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 79, sec. 6/p. 166)
20 Mar 1873
CLARK gained from FORD and Non-County Area (6). (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 72, sec. 7/p. 147)
20 Feb 1881
CLARK remained attached to FORD "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 99, sec. 3/p. 200)
22 Feb 1883
CLARK lost all territory to FORD; CLARK eliminated. (Kans. Laws 1883, 20th leg., ch. 70, sec. 3/p. 114)
13 Mar 1885
CLARK re-created from FORD with slightly different boundaries from the CLARK that was abolished 22 February 1883. (Kans. Laws 1885, 21st leg., ch. 71, sec. 3/p. 110)
17 Mar 1885
CLARK attached to COMANCHE "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1885, 21st leg., ch. 119, sec. 2/pp. 165–166)
05 May 1885
CLARK fully organized, detached from COMANCHE. (Cauthers, 1: 56)

CLAY

20 Feb 1857
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)
11 Feb 1859
CLAY attached to RILEY "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1859, 5th leg., ch. 40, sec. 4/p. 330)
27 Feb 1860
CLAY detached from RILEY, attached to DAVIS (now GEARY) "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 78, sec. 4/p. 133)
10 Apr 1860
Act authorized the organization of CLAY, but the organization did not take effect. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 33/pp. 71–72)
29 Jan 1861
CLAY became a county in the state of Kansas. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 20 [1861]/pp. 126–128; Van Zandt, 138–139)
22 May 1861
CLAY remained attached to DAVIS (now GEARY) "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1861, 1st leg., ch. 23, sec. 1/p. 123)
10 Aug 1866
CLAY fully organized; detached from DAVIS (now GEARY). (Andreas, 1313; Pioneers of the Bluestem Prairie, 10)
02 Mar 1867
JEWELL attached to CLAY "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 52, sec. 16/p. 89)
29 Feb 1868
JEWELL remained attached to CLAY "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1868, 8th leg., gen., ch. 28, sec. 2/p. 310)
14 Jul 1870
JEWELL fully organized, detached from CLAY. (Andreas, 968)

CLOUD

27 Feb 1860
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. 83–85)
29 Jan 1861
SHIRLEY (now CLOUD) became a county in the state of Kansas. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 20 [1861]/pp. 126–128; Van Zandt, 138–139)
22 May 1861
SHIRLEY (now CLOUD) attached to MARSHALL "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1861, 1st leg., ch. 23, sec. 1/p. 123)
14 Feb 1865
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. 46–47)
06 Sep 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)
26 Feb 1867
SHIRLEY renamed CLOUD. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 40/pp. 68–69)

COFFEY

25 Aug 1855
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)
17 Feb 1857
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. 93–95)
20 Feb 1857
COFFEY boundaries redefined to run on federal land survey lines [no change]. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 13/p. 40)
22 May 1858
WOODSON fully organized, detached from COFFEY. (Andreas, 1189; Duncan and Scott, 601; "First Proceedings," 3)
11 Feb 1859
GODFREY (later SEWARD original, extinct) and GREENWOOD detached from ALLEN, attached to COFFEY "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1859, 5th leg., ch. 40, sec. 4/p. 330)
27 Feb 1860
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)
29 Jan 1861
COFFEY became a county in the state of Kansas. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 20 [1861]/pp. 126–128; Van Zandt, 138–139)
22 May 1861
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)
18 Feb 1886
COFFEY lost small area to LYON 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. 58–59)
12 Mar 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 COFFEY's 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. 195–196; Kans. Stats. Anno. 1995, sec. 18–116/p. 570; U.S.G.S., "Burlington Sheet," ed. of Sept. 1894, repr. Dec. 1906)

COMANCHE

26 Feb 1867
COMANCHE created from MARION; COMANCHE not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 33, sec. 32/p. 56)
06 Mar 1872
COMANCHE attached to SUMNER "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1872, 12th leg., ch. 112, sec. 5/p. 251)
06 Mar 1873
COMANCHE detached from SUMNER, attached to RENO "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 79, sec. 4/p. 166)
05 Mar 1875
COMANCHE gained part of KIOWA; KIOWA eliminated. (Kans. Laws 1875, 15th leg., ch. 60/pp. 87–88)
15 Feb 1876
COMANCHE detached from RENO, attached to PAWNEE "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1876, 16th leg., ch. 69, sec. 2/pp. 168–169)
20 Feb 1881
COMANCHE detached from PAWNEE, attached to BARBOUR (now BARBER) "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 99, sec. 4/p. 200)
27 Feb 1885
COMANCHE fully organized, detached from BARBER. (Blue Skyways, http://skyways.lib.ks.us/counties, 23 November 2004)
17 Mar 1885
CLARK and MEADE attached to COMANCHE "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1885, 21st leg., ch. 119, sec. 2/pp. 165–166)
05 May 1885
CLARK fully organized, detached from COMANCHE. (Cauthers, 1: 56)
03 Nov 1885
MEADE fully organized, detached from COMANCHE. (Blue Skyways, http://skyways.lib.ks.us/counties, 23 November 2004)
11 Feb 1886
COMANCHE lost to re-creation of KIOWA; KIOWA not fully organized, attached to COMANCHE "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1886, spec. sess., ch. 35/pp. 54–55)
25 Mar 1886
KIOWA fully organized, detached from COMANCHE. (Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)

COWLEY

26 Feb 1867
COWLEY created from BUTLER; COWLEY not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 33, sec. 7/p. 52)
02 Mar 1867
COWLEY attached to BUTLER "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 52, sec. 9/p. 87)
05 Mar 1869
COWLEY remained attached to BUTLER "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1869, 9th leg., ch. 36, sec. 8/p. 121)
28 Feb 1870
COWLEY fully organized, detached from BUTLER. (Andreas, 1588; Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)

CRAWFORD

13 Feb 1867
CRAWFORD created from BOURBON and CHEROKEE; CRAWFORD not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 32/p. 50)
01 Jan 1868
CRAWFORD fully organized. (Andreas, 1120; Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 54/p. 91; Kans. Laws 1868, 8th leg., spec., ch. 21/pp. 56–57)
26 Mar 1874
CRAWFORD boundaries clarified [no change]. (Kans. Laws 1874, 14th leg., ch. 70/p. 104)

DAVIS (see GEARY)


DECATUR

20 Mar 1873
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)
18 Mar 1879
DECATUR boundaries redefined [no change]. (Kans. Laws 1879, 18th leg., ch. 72, sec. 1/p. 143)
15 Dec 1879
DECATUR fully organized, detached from NORTON. (Andreas, 1614; Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)
08 Mar 1881
CHEYENNE and RAWLINS detached from NORTON, attached to DECATUR "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 100, sec. 3/p. 202)
25 May 1881
RAWLINS fully organized, detached from DECATUR. (Andreas, 1607)
25 Feb 1883
CHEYENNE detached from DECATUR, attached to RAWLINS "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1883, 20th leg., ch. 103/pp. 157–158)

DICKINSON

20 Feb 1857
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)
24 Feb 1860
Legislature authorized DICKINSON to lose to DAVIS (now GEARY), dependent on local referendum; change did not take effect, and DICKINSON gained from RILEY. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 34/pp. 72–74)
27 Feb 1860
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)
29 Jan 1861
DICKINSON became a county in the state of Kansas. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 20 [1861]/pp. 126–128; Van Zandt, 138–139)
16 Feb 1864
DICKINSON gained from MORRIS, lost to DAVIS (now GEARY). (Kans. Laws 1864, 4th leg., chs. 23–24/pp. 48–49)
25 Feb 1867
DICKINSON gained small area from SALINE. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 31/p. 49)

Disputed Area

20 Mar 1873
Conflicting laws placed township 21 north, ranges 11–15 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. 112–113 and ch. 72, secs. 27, 29/pp. 152–154)
18 Mar 1874
PAWNEE and STAFFORD gained control of the area disputed with BARTON since 20 March 1873. (Kans. Laws 1874, 14th leg., ch. 59, secs. 3–4/pp. 92–93)

DONIPHAN

25 Aug 1855
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. 208–210)
18 Sep 1855
DONIPHAN fully organized. (Andreas, 474; Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)
14 Feb 1857
BROWN fully organized, detached from DONIPHAN. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., pp. 89–90)
20 Feb 1857
DONIPHAN boundaries redefined to run on federal land survey lines [no change]. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 25/p. 43)
29 Jan 1861
DONIPHAN became a county in the state of Kansas. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 20 [1861]/pp. 126–128; Van Zandt, 138–139)
03 Aug 1950
DONIPHAN exchanged small areas with ATCHISON, 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 counties are not mapped. (Kans. Laws 1949, 53d leg., chs. 196, 510/pp. 293–294, 837–838; Mo. Laws 1949, S.B. 141, p. 311; U.S. Stat., vol. 64, ch. 519 [1950]/p. 397)
30 Mar 1951
Boundary between DONIPHAN and ATCHISON 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)
by 1959
DONIPHAN lost small area to ATCHISON 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, 1959–1960)

DORN (see NEOSHO)


DOUGLAS

25 Aug 1855
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)
24 Sep 1855
DOUGLAS fully organized. (Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)
20 Feb 1857
DOUGLAS boundaries redefined to run on federal land survey lines [no change]. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 6/p. 39)
29 Jan 1861
DOUGLAS became a county in the state of Kansas. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 20 [1861]/pp. 126–128; Van Zandt, 138–139)
11 Feb 1865
DOUGLAS gained from JEFFERSON. (Kans. Laws 1865, 5th leg., ch. 14/p. 44)

EDWARDS

18 Mar 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. 91–92)
21 Aug 1874
EDWARDS fully organized. (Andreas, 1368; Malin, 274)
05 Mar 1875
EDWARDS gained part of KIOWA; KIOWA eliminated. (Kans. Laws 1875, 15th leg., ch. 60/pp. 87–88)
11 Feb 1886
EDWARDS lost to re-creation of KIOWA. (Kans. Laws 1886, spec. sess., ch. 35/pp. 54–55)

ELK

01 Jun 1875
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. 148–152)

ELLIS

26 Feb 1867
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)
28 Oct 1867
ELLIS fully organized. (Winter, 78)
29 Feb 1868
GRAHAM, NESS, ROOKS, RUSH, and TREGO attached to ELLIS "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1868, 8th leg., gen., ch. 28/pp. 310–311)
11 Mar 1868
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)
07 Mar 1872
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)
04 Nov 1872
PAWNEE fully organized, detached from ELLIS. (Andreas, 1350)
26 Nov 1872
ROOKS fully organized, detached from ELLIS. (Andreas, 1609)
20 Mar 1873
GRAHAM detached from ELLIS, attached to ROOKS "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 76, sec. 2/p. 160)
23 Oct 1873
NESS fully organized, detached from ELLIS. (Andreas, 1524; Millbrook, Ness, 66–70)
05 Dec 1874
RUSH fully organized, detached from ELLIS. (Andreas, 1585; Kans. Laws 1875, 15th leg., ch. 84, sec. 2/p. 121)
21 Jun 1879
TREGO fully organized, detached from ELLIS. (Andreas, 1297; Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)
08 Mar 1881
GOVE and WALLACE detached from ELLIS, attached to TREGO "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 98/pp. 198–199 and ch. 100, sec. 3/p. 202)

ELLSWORTH

26 Feb 1867
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)
02 Mar 1867
ELLSWORTH attached to SALINE "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 52, sec. 16/p. 89)
09 Jul 1867
ELLSWORTH fully organized, detached from SALINE. (Andreas, 1275)
29 Feb 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)
05 Mar 1869
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)
18 Aug 1871
RICE fully organized, detached from ELLSWORTH. (Andreas, 753; Kans. Laws 1872, 12th leg., ch. 28/p. 32)
07 Mar 1872
BARTON and RUSSELL remained attached to ELLSWORTH "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1872, 12th leg., ch. 113, sec. 2/p. 253)
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)
18 Aug 1872
RUSSELL fully organized, detached from ELLSWORTH. (Andreas, 1284)
06 Mar 1873
PRATT detached from ELLSWORTH, attached to RENO "for judicial purposes." STAFFORD detached from ELLSWORTH, attached to BARTON "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 79, secs. 4–5/p. 166)

EL PASO (Kansas Territory, extinct)

01 Mar 1859
EL PASO (Kansas Territory, extinct) created by Kansas Territory from ARAPAHOE (Kansas Territory, extinct); EL PASO was located entirely within present Colorado. Act passed 7 February 1859; took effect 1 March 1859. EL PASO not fully organized. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1859, 5th leg., ch. 44, secs. 5–6/p. 358; Bancroft, 402)
29 Jan 1861
EL PASO (Kansas Territory) eliminated when the state of Kansas was admitted to the Union. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 20 [1861]/pp. 126–128; Van Zandt, 138–139)

FINNEY

22 Feb 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)
23 Mar 1884
FINNEY attached to FORD "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1884, spec. sess., ch. 9/p. 21)
01 Oct 1884
FINNEY fully organized, detached from FORD. (Finney County Historical Society, 1:9)
13 Mar 1885
FINNEY lost to re-creation of MEADE. (Kans. Laws 1885, 21st leg., ch. 71, secs. 2, 5/p. 110)
17 Mar 1885
GREELEY, HAMILTON, SEWARD, and WICHITA detached from FORD, attached to FINNEY "for judicial purposes." SCOTT attached to FINNEY "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1885, 21st leg., ch. 119/pp. 165–166)
29 Jan 1886
HAMILTON fully organized, detached from FINNEY. (Blue Skyways, http://skyways.lib.ks.us/counties, 23 November 2004)
19 Feb 1886
SCOTT, SEWARD, and WICHITA remained attached to FINNEY "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1886, spec. sess., ch. 87/p. 121)
26 Feb 1886
GREELEY detached from FINNEY, attached to HAMILTON. 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, 120–121)
05 Jul 1886
SCOTT fully organized, detached from FINNEY. (Scott County Centennial Comm., 16)
03 Aug 1886
STEVENS fully organized, detached from FINNEY. (Blue Skyways, http://skyways.lib.ks.us/counties, 23 November 2004)
24 Dec 1886
WICHITA fully organized, detached from FINNEY. (Wichita County History Assn., 39)
23 Mar 1887
FINNEY lost to creation of GARFIELD (extinct) and HASKELL, and lost to the re-creation of GRANT, GRAY, and KEARNEY (now spelled KEARNY). HASKELL not fully organized, attached to FINNEY "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1887, 22d leg., ch. 81, secs. 1–2, 4–6, 8/pp. 111–113 and ch. 132/p. 195)
01 Jul 1887
HASKELL fully organized, detached from FINNEY. (Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)
18 Mar 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. 173–174; "State of Kansas v. Commissioners of Garfield County," in Kansas Rpts., 54:372–374)

FOOTE (extinct)

20 Mar 1873
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)
18 Mar 1879
FOOTE (extinct) boundaries redefined [no change]. (Kans. Laws 1879, 18th leg., ch. 72, sec. 9/pp. 144–145)
20 Feb 1881
FOOTE (extinct) remained attached to FORD "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 99, sec. 3/p. 200)
13 Mar 1881
FOOTE lost all territory to the creation of GRAY; FOOTE eliminated. (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 48, sec. 7/p. 133)

FORD

26 Feb 1867
FORD created from MARION; FORD not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 33, sec. 38/p. 57)
06 Mar 1873
CLARK detached from SUMNER, attached to FORD "for judicial purposes;" HODGEMAN attached to FORD "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 79, sec. 6/p. 166)
20 Mar 1873
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. 7–8/pp. 147–148 and ch. 79, sec. 6/p. 166)
05 Apr 1873
FORD fully organized. (Rath, 48; Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)
11 Mar 1874
HODGEMAN detached from FORD, attached to PAWNEE "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1874, 14th leg., ch. 67, sec. 2/p. 101)
20 Feb 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)
09 Mar 1881
WICHITA attached to FORD "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 103/p. 205)
13 Mar 1881
BUFFALO and FOOTE eliminated, ending their attachment to FORD. (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 48, secs. 6–7/p. 133)
22 Feb 1883
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. 113–115)
23 Mar 1884
FINNEY attached to FORD "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1884, spec. sess., ch. 9/p. 21)
01 Oct 1884
FINNEY fully organized, detached from FORD. (Finney County Historical Society, 1:9)
13 Mar 1885
FORD lost to re-creation of CLARK and MEADE. (Kans. Laws 1885, 21st leg., ch. 71, secs. 2–3, 6/pp. 110–111)
17 Mar 1885
GREELEY, HAMILTON, SEWARD, and WICHITA detached from FORD, attached to FINNEY "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1885, 21st leg., ch. 119/pp. 165–166)
23 Mar 1887
FORD lost to re-creation of GRAY. GRAY not fully organized, attached to FORD "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1887, 22d leg., ch. 81, secs. 5, 10/pp. 112–113 and ch. 132/p. 195)
20 Jul 1887
GRAY fully organized, detached from FORD. (Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)

FRANKLIN

25 Aug 1855
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)
20 Feb 1857
FRANKLIN boundaries redefined to run on federal land survey lines [no change]. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 7/p. 39)
15 Mar 1858
FRANKLIN fully organized. (Andreas, 606; HRS Kansas, Franklin, 4)
29 Jan 1861
FRANKLIN became a county in the state of Kansas. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 20 [1861]/pp. 126–128; Van Zandt, 138–139)

FREMONT (Kansas Territory, extinct)

01 Mar 1859
FREMONT (Kansas Territory, extinct) created by Kansas Territory from ARAPAHOE (Kansas Territory, extinct); FREMONT was located entirely within present Colorado. Act passed 7 February 1859; took effect 1 March 1859. FREMONT not fully organized. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1859, 5th leg., ch. 44, secs. 4, 9/pp. 358–359; Bancroft, 402)
29 Jan 1861
FREMONT (Kansas Territory) eliminated when the state of Kansas was admitted to the Union. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 20 [1861]/pp. 126–128; Van Zandt, 138–139)

GARFIELD (extinct)

23 Mar 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)
Jul 1887
GARFIELD (extinct) was fully organized, detached from HODGEMAN. ("Charles Hall, Petitioner," in Kansas Rpts., 38:670–673)
18 Mar 1893
GARFIELD lost all territory to FINNEY; 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. 173–174; "State of Kansas v. Commissioners of Garfield County," in Kansas Rpts., 54:372–374)

GEARY

25 Aug 1855
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)
20 Feb 1857
DAVIS (now GEARY) boundaries redefined to run on federal land survey lines [no change]. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 21/p. 42)
16 Mar 1857
DAVIS (now GEARY) fully organized, detached from RILEY. (Andreas, 1001; Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., pp. 91–92)
11 Feb 1859
DAVIS (now GEARY) lost to MORRIS. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1859, 5th leg., ch. 46/p. 361)
17 Feb 1860
DAVIS (now GEARY) lost to WABAUNSEE. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 47/p. 89)
24 Feb 1860
DAVIS (now GEARY) 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. 72–74)
27 Feb 1860
CLAY detached from RILEY, attached to DAVIS (now GEARY) "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 78, sec. 4/p. 133)
29 Jan 1861
DAVIS (now GEARY) became a county in the state of Kansas. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 20 [1861]/pp. 126–128; Van Zandt, 138–139)
30 Jan 1861
DAVIS (now GEARY) lost to RILEY. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1861, ch. 12/p. 16)
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)
16 Feb 1864
DAVIS (now GEARY) gained from DICKINSON. (Kans. Laws 1864, 4th leg., chs. 23–24/pp. 48–49)
05 Feb 1865
OTTAWA detached from DAVIS (now GEARY), attached to SALINE "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1865, 5th leg., ch. 31/pp. 76–77)
10 Aug 1866
CLAY fully organized; detached from DAVIS (now GEARY). (Andreas, 1313; Pioneers of the Bluestem Prairie, 10)
20 Mar 1873
DAVIS (now GEARY) exchanged with RILEY. (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 58/pp. 113–115)
25 Mar 1875
DAVIS (now GEARY) gained from RILEY. (Kans. Laws 1875, 15th leg., ch. 62/pp. 89–91)
07 Mar 1889
DAVIS renamed GEARY. (Kans. Laws 1889, 23d leg., ch. 132/pp. 182–183)
16 Mar 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. 88–89; Kans. Stat. Anno.1995, 2: sec. 18–131c/p. 574)
17 Apr 1978
GEARY gained small area from RILEY along the Fort Riley Military Reservation boundary. (Kans. Laws 1978, 67th leg., ch. 88/pp. 421–422)

GODFREY (see SEWARD (original, extinct)


GOVE

11 Mar 1868
GOVE created from Non-County Area (6); GOVE 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)
18 Mar 1879
GOVE gained from SHERIDAN, lost to LANE and WALLACE. (Kans. Laws 1879, 18th leg., ch. 72, sec. 5/p. 144; HRS Kansas, Gove, 3)
08 Mar 1881
GOVE detached from ELLIS, attached to TREGO "for judicial purposes." (Andreas, 1615; Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 98/pp. 198–199 and ch. 100, sec. 3/p. 202)
13 Mar 1881
GOVE gained from LANE and WALLACE, lost to SHERIDAN. (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 48/pp. 131–133; HRS Kansas, Gove, 3)
02 Sep 1886
GOVE fully organized, detached from TREGO. (HRS Kansas, Gove, 15; Blue Skyways, http://skyways.lib.ks.us/counties, 23 November 2004)

GRAHAM

26 Feb 1867
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)
29 Feb 1868
GRAHAM attached to ELLIS "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1868, 8th leg., gen., ch. 28, sec. 2/p. 310)
20 Mar 1873
GRAHAM detached from ELLIS, attached to ROOKS "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 76, sec. 2/p. 160)
01 Apr 1880
GRAHAM fully organized; detached from ROOKS. (Andreas, 1060; HRS Kansas, Graham, 4)

GRANT

20 Mar 1873
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)
18 Mar 1879
GRANT boundaries redefined [no change]. (Kans. Laws 1879, 18th leg., ch. 72, sec. 17/p. 146)
20 Feb 1881
GRANT remained attached to FORD "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 99, sec. 3/p. 200)
22 Feb 1883
GRANT lost all territory to HAMILTON and to the creation of FINNEY; GRANT eliminated. (Kans. Laws 1883, 20th leg., ch. 70, secs. 1–2/pp. 113–114)
23 Mar 1887
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. 111–112 and ch. 132/p. 195)
09 Jun 1888
GRANT fully organized, detached from STEVENS. (Blue Skyways, http://skyways.lib.ks.us/counties, 23 November 2004)

GRAY

13 Mar 1881
GRAY created from part of BUFFALO and all of FOOTE; BUFFALO and FOOTE eliminated. GRAY not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 48, sec. 7/p. 133)
22 Feb 1883
GRAY lost all territory to FORD and HODGEMAN, and to the creation of FINNEY; GRAY eliminated. (Kans. Laws 1883, 20th leg., ch. 70, secs. 2–4/p. 114)
23 Mar 1887
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)
20 Jul 1887
GRAY fully organized, detached from FORD. (Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)

GREELEY

20 Mar 1873
GREELEY created from Non-County Area (6); GREELEY not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 72, sec. 23/pp. 151–152)
18 Mar 1879
GREELEY boundaries redefined [no change]. (Kans. Laws 1879, 18th leg., ch. 72, sec. 19/p. 147)
20 Feb 1881
GREELEY attached to FORD "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 99, sec. 3/p. 200)
17 Mar 1885
GREELEY detached from FORD, attached to FINNEY "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1885, 21st leg., ch. 119/pp. 165–166)
26 Feb 1886
GREELEY attached to HAMILTON "for judicial purposes." 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. (Kans. Laws 1886, spec. sess., ch. 81/p. 116 and ch. 87/p. 121; Greeley County Historical Book Committee, 14)
09 Jul 1888
GREELEY fully organized, detached from HAMILTON. (Greeley County Historical Book Committee, 13–14; Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)

GREENWOOD

25 Aug 1855
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)
20 Feb 1857
GREENWOOD boundaries redefined to run on federal land survey lines [no change]. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 19/p. 42)
11 Feb 1859
GREENWOOD detached from ALLEN, attached to COFFEY "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1859, 5th leg., ch. 40, sec. 4/p. 330)
27 Feb 1860
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. 70–71, 76–77 and ch. 78, sec. 4/p. 133; HRS Kansas, Greenwood, 5)
29 Jan 1861
GREENWOOD became a county in the state of Kansas. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 20 [1861]/pp. 126–128; Van Zandt, 138–139)
31 Jan 1861
GREENWOOD gained part 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., 1:91–98)
22 May 1861
GREENWOOD detached from COFFEY, attached to WOODSON "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1861, 1st leg., ch. 23, sec. 1/p. 123)
14 Mar 1862
GREENWOOD fully organized, detached from WOODSON. (HRS Kansas, Greenwood, 5; Kans. Laws 1862, 2d leg., ch. 60/pp. 443–444; "State of Kansas, ex rel. F. G. Hunt v. Calvin Meadows," in Kansas Rpts., 1:91–98)
24 Feb 1864
GREENWOOD lost to BUTLER. (Kans. Laws 1864, 4th leg., ch. 25/p. 50)
11 Feb 1865
GREENWOOD gained from BUTLER. (Kans. Laws 1865, 5th leg., ch. 15/p. 45)
26 Feb 1867
GREENWOOD gained from BUTLER and gained part of SEWARD (original); SEWARD (original) eliminated. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 33, sec. 4/p. 51)
03 Mar 1868
GREENWOOD lost to HOWARD (extinct). (Kans. Laws 1868, 8th leg., gen., ch. 24, secs. 29, 32/pp. 236–237)
05 Mar 1869
HOWARD (extinct) detached from BUTLER, attached to GREENWOOD "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1869, 9th leg., ch. 36, sec. 8/p. 121)
24 Mar 1870
HOWARD (extinct) detached from GREENWOOD, attached to MONTGOMERY "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1870, 10th leg., ch. 60, sec. 2/p. 135)

HAGEMAN (see HODGEMAN)


HAMILTON

20 Mar 1873
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)
18 Mar 1879
HAMILTON boundaries redefined [no change]. (Kans. Laws 1879, 18th leg., ch. 72, sec. 20/p. 147)
20 Feb 1881
HAMILTON remained attached to FORD "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 99, sec. 3/p. 200)
22 Feb 1883
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. 113–114)
17 Mar 1885
HAMILTON detached from FORD, attached to FINNEY "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1885, 21st leg., ch. 119/pp. 165–166)
29 Jan 1886
HAMILTON fully organized, detached from FINNEY. (Blue Skyways, http://skyways.lib.ks.us/counties, 23 November 2004)
26 Feb 1886
GREELEY and MORTON attached to HAMILTON "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1886, spec. sess., chs. 81, 86, 87/pp. 116, 120–121)
18 Nov 1886
MORTON fully organized, detached from HAMILTON. (Blue Skyways, http://skyways.lib.ks.us/counties, 23 November 2004)
23 Mar 1887
HAMILTON lost to re-creation of GRANT, KEARNEY (now spelled KEARNY), and STANTON. KEARNEY and STANTON not fully organized, attached to HAMILTON "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1887, 22d leg., ch. 81, secs. 2–4, 7/pp. 111–113 and ch. 132/p. 195)
17 Jun 1887
STANTON fully organized, detached from HAMILTON. (Blue Skyways, http://skyways.lib.ks.us/counties, 23 November 2004)
27 Mar 1888
KEARNEY (now spelled KEARNY) fully organized, detached from HAMILTON. (Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)
09 Jul 1888
GREELEY fully organized, detached from HAMILTON. (Greeley County Historical Book Committee, 13–14; Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)

HARPER

26 Feb 1867
HARPER created from MARION; HARPER not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 33, sec. 18/p. 54)
16 Mar 1871
HARPER attached to SEDGWICK "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1871, 11th leg., ch. 69, sec. 1/pp. 176–177)
06 Mar 1872
HARPER detached from SEDGWICK, attached to SUMNER "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1872, 12th leg., ch. 112, sec. 5/p. 251)
07 Mar 1872
HARPER lost to creation of KINGMAN. (Kans. Laws 1872, 12th leg., ch. 97, sec. 4/p. 184)
06 Mar 1873
HARPER detached from SUMNER, attached to RENO "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 79, sec. 4/p. 166)
20 Mar 1873
HARPER lost to BARBOUR (now BARBER). (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 57/pp. 112–113)
15 Feb 1876
HARPER detached from RENO, attached to SUMNER "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1876, 16th leg., ch. 69, sec. 2/pp. 168–169)
15 Aug 1878
HARPER fully organized, detached from SUMNER. (Andreas, 363–364; Sanders, 42–43)
21 Mar 1879
HARPER boundaries redefined [no change]. (Kans. Laws 1879, 18th leg., ch. 73/pp. 148–149)
03 Mar 1885
HARPER boundaries clarified [no change]. (Kans. Laws 1885, 21st leg., ch. 69/p. 108)

HARVEY

07 Mar 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)
16 Apr 1872
HARVEY fully organized. (Andreas, 772, 1350)
06 Mar 1873
HARVEY gained from MARION. (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 59/pp. 115–116)

HASKELL

23 Mar 1887
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)
01 Jul 1887
HASKELL fully organized, detached from FINNEY. (Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)

HODGEMAN

26 Feb 1867
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)
06 Mar 1873
HODGEMAN attached to FORD "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 79, sec. 6/p. 166)
20 Mar 1873
HODGEMAN gained from Non-County Area (6), lost to FORD. (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 72, secs. 8–9/pp. 147–148)
11 Mar 1874
HODGEMAN detached from FORD, attached to PAWNEE "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1874, 14th leg., ch. 67, sec. 2/p. 101)
29 Mar 1879
HODGEMAN fully organized, detached from PAWNEE. (Andreas, 1608)
22 Feb 1883
HODGEMAN gained from LANE and gained part of GRAY; GRAY eliminated. (Kans. Laws 1883, 20th leg., ch. 70, sec. 4/p. 114)
23 Mar 1887
HODGEMAN lost to creation of GARFIELD (extinct) and to the re-creation of GRAY. GARFIELD not fully organized, attached to HODGEMAN "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1887, 22d leg., ch. 81, secs. 5–6, 9/pp. 112–113 and ch. 132/p. 195)
Jul 1887
GARFIELD (extinct) was fully organized, detached from HODGEMAN. ("Charles Hall, Petitioner," in Kansas Rpts., 38:670–673)

HOWARD (extinct)

26 Feb 1867
HOWARD (extinct) created from BUTLER and SEWARD (original, extinct); SEWARD (original) eliminated. HOWARD not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 33, sec. 5/p. 51)
02 Mar 1867
HOWARD (extinct) attached to BUTLER "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 52, sec. 9/p. 87)
03 Mar 1868
HOWARD (extinct) gained from GREENWOOD. (Kans. Laws 1868, 8th leg., gen., ch. 24, secs. 29, 32/pp. 236–237)
05 Mar 1869
HOWARD (extinct) detached from BUTLER, attached to GREENWOOD "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1869, 9th leg., ch. 36, sec. 8/p. 121)
24 Mar 1870
HOWARD (extinct) detached from GREENWOOD, attached to MONTGOMERY "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1870, 10th leg., ch. 60, sec. 2/p. 135)
10 May 1870
HOWARD (extinct) fully organized, detached from MONTGOMERY. (Andreas, 1174)
01 Jun 1875
HOWARD lost all territory to creation of CHAUTAUQUA and ELK; HOWARD eliminated. (Kans. Laws 1875, 15th leg., ch. 106/pp. 148–152)

HUNTER (extinct)

25 Aug 1855
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)
20 Feb 1857
HUNTER (extinct) boundaries redefined to run on federal land survey lines [no change]. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 24/p. 43)
11 Feb 1859
HUNTER (extinct) detached from ALLEN, attached to BRECKENRIDGE (now LYON) "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1859, 5th leg., ch. 40, sec. 4/p. 330)
27 Feb 1860
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, 77–78 and ch. 78, sec. 4/p. 133)
29 Jan 1861
HUNTER (extinct) became a county in the state of Kansas. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 20 [1861]/pp. 126–128; Van Zandt, 138–139)
24 Feb 1864
HUNTER lost all territory to BUTLER; HUNTER eliminated. (Kans. Laws 1864, 4th leg., ch. 25/p. 50)

IRVING (extinct)

27 Feb 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. 77–78)
29 Jan 1861
IRVING (extinct) became a county in the state of Kansas. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 20 [1861]/pp. 126–128; Van Zandt, 138–139)
22 May 1861
IRVING (extinct) attached to BRECKENRIDGE (now LYON) "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1861, 1st leg., ch. 23, sec. 1/p. 123)
24 Feb 1864
IRVING lost all territory to BUTLER; IRVING eliminated. (Kans. Laws 1864, 4th leg., ch. 25/p. 50)

JACKSON

25 Aug 1855
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)
24 Sep 1855
CALHOUN (now JACKSON) fully organized. (Andreas, 1339; Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)
20 Feb 1857
CALHOUN (now JACKSON) gained from JEFFERSON, lost to creation of POTTAWATOMIE. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 31/pp. 44–45)
11 Feb 1859
CALHOUN renamed JACKSON. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1859, 5th leg., ch. 99/p. 572)
23 Feb 1860
JACKSON lost to SHAWNEE. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 46/p. 88)
29 Jan 1861
JACKSON became a county in the state of Kansas. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 20 [1861]/pp. 126–128; Van Zandt, 138–139)
01 Mar 1868
JACKSON gained from BROWN, lost to SHAWNEE. (Kans. Laws 1868, 8th leg., spec., ch. 15/p. 50)

JEFFERSON

25 Aug 1855
JEFFERSON created by Kansas Territory from non-county area. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1855, 1st leg., ch. 30, sec. 29/pp. 209–210)
20 Feb 1857
JEFFERSON lost to CALHOUN (now JACKSON). (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 29/p. 44)
29 Jan 1861
JEFFERSON became a county in the state of Kansas. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 20 [1861]/pp. 126–128; Van Zandt, 138–139)
11 Feb 1865
JEFFERSON lost to DOUGLAS. (Kans. Laws 1865, 5th leg., ch. 14/p. 44)
22 Mar 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)

JEWELL

26 Feb 1867
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)
02 Mar 1867
JEWELL attached to CLAY "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 52, sec. 16/p. 89)
29 Feb 1868
JEWELL remained attached to CLAY "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1868, 8th leg., gen., ch. 28, sec. 2/p. 310)
14 Jul 1870
JEWELL fully organized, detached from CLAY. (Andreas, 968)
09 Mar 1871
SMITH detached from OTTAWA, attached to JEWELL "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1871, 11th leg., ch. 67, secs. 1–2/p. 172)
09 Mar 1872
SMITH fully organized, detached from JEWELL. (Andreas, 908–909)

JOHNSON

25 Aug 1855
JOHNSON created by Kansas Territory from non-county area. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1855, 1st leg., ch. 30, sec. 1/p. 205)
20 Feb 1857
JOHNSON boundaries redefined to run on federal land survey lines [no change]. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 1/pp. 37–38)
29 Jan 1859
JOHNSON lost to creation of WYANDOTTE. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1859, 5th leg., ch. 47/pp. 362–364)
29 Jan 1861
JOHNSON became a county in the state of Kansas. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 20 [1861]/pp. 126–128; Van Zandt, 138–139)

KANSAS (extinct)

20 Mar 1873
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)
18 Mar 1879
KANSAS (extinct) boundaries redefined [no change]. (Kans. Laws 1879, 18th leg., ch. 72, sec. 22/p. 147)
20 Feb 1881
KANSAS (extinct) remained attached to FORD "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 99, sec. 3/p. 200)
22 Feb 1883
KANSAS lost all territory to SEWARD; KANSAS eliminated. In 1886 MORTON was created in the same general area where KANSAS had been located. (Kans. Laws 1883, 20th leg., ch. 70, sec. 5/p. 114)

Kansas Territory

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, 138–139)
25 Aug 1855
Kansas Territory lost to creation of 36 new counties; remaining territory became non-county area in Kansas Territory. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1855, 1st leg., chs. 30, 33, 37/pp. 205–211, 214–215, 217–218)

KEARNEY (see KEARNY)


KEARNY

20 Mar 1873
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)
18 Mar 1879
KEARNEY (now spelled KEARNY) boundaries redefined [no change]. (Kans. Laws 1879, 18th leg., ch. 72, sec. 16/p. 146)
20 Feb 1881
KEARNEY (now spelled KEARNY) remained attached to FORD "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 99, sec. 3/p. 200)
22 Feb 1883
KEARNEY (now spelled KEARNY) lost all territory to HAMILTON and to the creation of FINNEY; KEARNEY eliminated. (Kans. Laws 1883, 20th leg., ch. 70, secs. 1–2/pp. 113–114)
23 Mar 1887
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)
27 Mar 1888
KEARNEY (now spelled KEARNY) fully organized, detached from HAMILTON. (Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)
23 Mar 1889
Spelling of "KEARNEY" changed to "KEARNY." (Kans. Laws 1889, 23d leg., ch. 167/pp. 242–243)

KINGMAN

07 Mar 1872
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)
06 Mar 1873
KINGMAN remained attached to RENO "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 79, sec. 4/p. 166)
27 Feb 1874
KINGMAN fully organized, detached from RENO. (Andreas, 1526)
21 Mar 1879
KINGMAN boundaries redefined [no change]. (Kans. Laws 1879, 18th leg., ch. 73/pp. 148–149)

KIOWA

26 Feb 1867
KIOWA created from MARION; KIOWA not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 33, sec. 31/p. 56)
06 Mar 1873
KIOWA attached to RENO "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 79, sec. 4/p. 166)
18 Mar 1874
KIOWA lost to creation of EDWARDS. (Kans. Laws 1874, 14th leg., ch. 59, secs. 1–2/pp. 91–92)
05 Mar 1875
KIOWA lost all territory to COMANCHE and EDWARDS; KIOWA eliminated, ending its attachment to RENO. (Kans. Laws 1875, 15th leg., ch. 60/pp. 87–88)
11 Feb 1886
KIOWA re-created from COMANCHE and EDWARDS with identical boundaries to the 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. 54–55)
25 Mar 1886
KIOWA fully organized, detached from COMANCHE. (Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)

LABETTE

07 Feb 1867
LABETTE created from CHEROKEE and NEOSHO. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., chs. 29–30/pp. 48–49)
03 Mar 1868
Legislature authorized LABETTE to exchange with CHEROKEE, dependent on local referendum; election was never held [no change]. (Kans. Laws 1868, 8th leg., gen., ch. 24, secs. 12, 38/pp. 231–232, 238; HRS Kansas, Cherokee, 8–9)

LANE

20 Mar 1873
LANE created from Non-County Area (6); LANE not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 72, sec. 11/pp. 148–149)
18 Mar 1879
LANE gained from GOVE. (Kans. Laws 1879, 18th leg., ch. 72, sec. 7/p. 144)
20 Feb 1881
LANE attached to NESS "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 99, sec. 5/p. 200)
13 Mar 1881
LANE gained part of BUFFALO, lost to GOVE; BUFFALO eliminated. (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 48, sec. 6/p. 133)
22 Feb 1883
LANE lost to HODGEMAN, and lost to creation of FINNEY. (Kans. Laws 1883, 20th leg., ch. 70, secs. 2, 4, 6/pp. 114–115)
03 Jun 1886
LANE fully organized, detached from NESS. (Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)

LEAVENWORTH

25 Aug 1855
LEAVENWORTH created by Kansas Territory from non-county area. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1855, 1st leg., ch. 30, sec. 27/p. 209)
20 Feb 1857
LEAVENWORTH boundaries redefined to run on federal land survey lines [no change]. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 27/pp. 43–44 and p. 88)
29 Jan 1859
LEAVENWORTH lost to creation of WYANDOTTE. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1859, 5th leg., ch. 47/pp. 362–364)
29 Jan 1861
LEAVENWORTH became a county in the state of Kansas. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 20 [1861]/pp. 126–128; Van Zandt, 138–139)

LINCOLN

26 Feb 1867
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)
02 Mar 1867
LINCOLN attached to OTTAWA "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 52, sec. 16/p. 89)
29 Feb 1868
LINCOLN detached from OTTAWA, attached to SALINE "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1868, 8th leg., gen., ch. 28, sec. 2/p. 310)
06 Oct 1870
LINCOLN fully organized, detached from SALINE. (Andreas, 1421)

LINN

25 Aug 1855
LINN created by Kansas Territory from non-county area. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1855, 1st leg., ch. 30, sec. 3/p. 206)
20 Feb 1857
LINN boundaries redefined to run on federal land survey lines [no change]. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 3/p. 38)
29 Jan 1861
LINN became a county in the state of Kansas. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 20 [1861]/pp. 126–128; Van Zandt, 138–139)

LOGAN

13 Mar 1881
ST. JOHN (now LOGAN) created from WALLACE; ST. JOHN not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 48, sec. 1/pp. 131–132)
22 Feb 1885
ST. JOHN (now LOGAN) attached to TREGO "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1885, 21st leg., ch. 107/p. 154)
25 Feb 1887
ST. JOHN renamed LOGAN. (Kans. Laws 1887, 22d leg., ch. 173/p. 255)
17 Sep 1887
LOGAN fully organized, detached from TREGO. (Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)

LYKINS (see MIAMI)


LYON

25 Aug 1855
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 and ch. 34/p. 215)
17 Feb 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)
20 Feb 1857
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)
07 Feb 1859
BRECKENRIDGE (now LYON) gained from MADISON (Kansas Territory, extinct). (Kans. Terr. Laws 1859, 5th leg., ch. 43/p. 357)
11 Feb 1859
CHASE attached to BRECKENRIDGE (now LYON); HUNTER (extinct) detached from ALLEN, attached to BRECKENRIDGE; Part of Non-County Area (2) was detached from RILEY and became Non-County Area (4) attached to BRECKENRIDGE. All attachments were "for judicial purposes." MORRIS fully organized, detached from BRECKENRIDGE. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1859, 5th leg., ch. 40, sec. 4/p. 330 and chs. 46, 60/pp. 361, 377; HRS Kansas, Morris, 21–28)
15 Mar 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)
17 Feb 1860
Non-County Area (4) attached to BRECKENRIDGE (now LYON) became part of MARION; Non-County Area (4) eliminated. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 40/p. 80)
27 Feb 1860
BRECKENRIDGE (now LYON) lost to CHASE. HUNTER (extinct) remained attached to BRECKENRIDGE "for judicial purposes." OTOE (extinct) detached from BUTLER, attached to BRECKENRIDGE "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 32/pp. 70–71 and ch. 78, sec. 4/p. 133)
29 Jan 1861
BRECKENRIDGE (now LYON) became a county in the state of Kansas. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 20 [1861]/pp. 126–128; Van Zandt, 138–139)
31 Jan 1861
BRECKENRIDGE (now LYON) gained part 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., 1:91–98)
22 May 1861
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)
07 Mar 1862
BRECKENRIDGE renamed LYON. Act passed 5 February 1862; took effect 7 March 1862. (Kans. Laws 1862, 2d leg., ch. 61/pp. 444–445)
16 Feb 1864
LYON lost to MORRIS. (Kans. Laws 1864, 4th leg., ch. 22/p. 48)
24 Feb 1864
HUNTER, IRVING, and OTOE eliminated, ending their attachment to LYON. (Kans. Laws 1864, 4th leg., ch. 25/p. 50)
18 Feb 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. 58–59)
12 Mar 1897
Boundary between LYON and COFFEY clarified [no change]. This act clarified the change of 18 February 1886. While this change is still part of the current official description of LYON's 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. 195–196; Kans. Stats. Anno. 1995, sec. 18–156/p. 579; U.S.G.S., "Burlington Sheet," ed. of Sept. 1894, repr. Dec. 1906)

McGEE (see CHEROKEE)


McPHERSON

26 Feb 1867
McPHERSON created from MARION; McPHERSON not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 33, sec. 9/p. 52)
02 Mar 1867
McPHERSON attached to MARION "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 52, sec. 9/p. 87)
05 Mar 1869
McPHERSON detached from MARION, attached to SALINE "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1869, 9th leg., ch. 36, sec. 8/p. 121)
01 Mar 1870
McPHERSON fully organized, detached from SALINE. (Andreas, 812; Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)
07 Mar 1872
McPHERSON lost to creation of HARVEY, and lost to RENO. (Kans. Laws 1872, 12th leg., ch. 97/pp. 183–185)

MADISON (Kansas Territory, extinct)

25 Aug 1855
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. 207–208, 210 and ch. 34/p. 215)
17 Feb 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)
20 Feb 1857
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)
07 Feb 1859
MADISON (Kansas Territory, extinct) lost to BRECKENRIDGE (now LYON). (Kans. Terr. Laws 1859, 5th leg., ch. 43/p. 357)
30 Apr 1859
BUTLER fully organized, detached from MADISON (Kansas Territory, extinct). (Andreas, 1432; Mooney, 50; Kans. Terr. Laws 1859, 5th leg., ch. 51/pp. 367–368)
27 Feb 1860
MADISON (Kansas Territory, extinct) lost to BUTLER and CHASE. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 32/pp. 70–71)
31 Jan 1861
MADISON (Kansas Territory) lost all territory to BRECKENRIDGE (now LYON) and GREENWOOD; MADISON eliminated. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1861, ch. 13/p. 17; "State of Kansas, ex rel. F. G. Hunt v. Calvin Meadows," in Kansas Rpts., 1:91–98)

MARION

25 Aug 1855
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. 2–3/p. 215)
17 Feb 1860
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)
27 Feb 1860
MARION detached from CHASE, attached to MORRIS "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 78, sec. 4/p. 133)
29 Jan 1861
MARION became a county in the state of Kansas. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 20 [1861]/pp. 126–128; Van Zandt, 138–139)
22 May 1861
MARION detached from MORRIS, attached to CHASE "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1861, 1st leg., ch. 23, sec. 1/p. 123)
22 Feb 1865
MARION gained all of PEKETON; PEKETON eliminated. (Kans. Laws 1865, 5th leg., ch. 19/pp. 47–48)
07 Aug 1865
MARION fully organized, detached from CHASE. (Andreas, 1256; Van Meter, 29)
26 Feb 1867
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 became Non-County Area (6). (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 33, secs. 8–11, 15–18, 22–25, 29–32, 36–39/pp. 52–57)
02 Mar 1867
McPHERSON, PRATT, RICE, and STAFFORD attached to MARION "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 52, sec. 9/p. 87)
29 Feb 1868
RICE detached from MARION, attached to ELLSWORTH "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1868, 8th leg., gen., ch. 28, sec. 2/p. 310)
03 Mar 1868
MARION lost to CHASE. (Kans. Laws 1868, 8th leg., gen., ch. 24, secs. 10, 43/pp. 231, 240)
05 Mar 1869
McPHERSON detached from MARION, attached to SALINE; PRATT and STAFFORD detached from MARION, attached to ELLSWORTH. All attachments were "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1869, 9th leg., ch. 36, sec. 8/p. 121)
06 Mar 1873
MARION lost to HARVEY. (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 59/pp. 115–116)

MARSHALL

25 Aug 1855
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. 37–38/pp. 217–218)
20 Feb 1857
MARSHALL boundaries redefined to run on federal land survey lines [no change]. MARSHALL lost part of non-county attachment (1) to re-creation of WASHINGTON. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 32/p. 45)
21 Sep 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, 185–186; "Governor Denver's Admin.," 5:512; Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 2 March 2005; Wynkoop, 13:71–72)
11 Feb 1859
WASHINGTON attached to MARSHALL "for judicial purposes." Non-County Area (1) detached from MARSHALL; it became part of Non-County Area (2) attached to RILEY "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1859, 5th leg., ch. 40, sec. 4/p. 330)
27 Feb 1860
WASHINGTON remained attached to MARSHALL "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 78, sec. 4/p. 133)
09 Apr 1860
WASHINGTON fully organized, detached from MARSHALL. (Andreas, 1056; Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 48/p. 90)
29 Jan 1861
MARSHALL became a county in the state of Kansas. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 20 [1861]/pp. 126–128; Van Zandt, 138–139)
22 May 1861
REPUBLIC and SHIRLEY (now CLOUD) attached to MARSHALL "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1861, 1st leg., ch. 23, sec. 1/p. 123)
14 Feb 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. 46–47)
02 Mar 1867
REPUBLIC detached from WASHINGTON, attached to MARSHALL "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 52, sec. 16/p. 89)
23 Mar 1868
REPUBLIC fully organized, detached from MARSHALL. (Andreas, 1033)
12 Apr 1893
MARSHALL lost small area in sections 6 and 7, township 4 south, range 6 east to WASHINGTON. 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. 82–83)
20 Feb 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. 326–327; Linda Fincham, Register of Deeds, Marshall Co., correspondence, 8 March 2005; Marilyn K. Kolle, Register of Deeds, Washington Co., correspondence, 21 March 2005)

MEADE

20 Mar 1873
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)
18 Mar 1879
MEADE boundaries redefined [no change]. (Kans. Laws 1879, 18th leg., ch. 72, sec. 10/p. 145)
20 Feb 1881
MEADE remained attached to FORD "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 99, sec. 3/p. 200)
22 Feb 1883
MEADE lost all territory to FORD and SEWARD, and to the creation of FINNEY; MEADE eliminated. (Kans. Laws 1883, 20th leg., ch. 70, secs. 2–3, 5/p. 114)
13 Mar 1885
MEADE re-created from FINNEY, FORD, and SEWARD with slightly different boundaries from the MEADE that was abolished 22 February 1883. (Kans. Laws 1885, 21st leg., ch. 71, sec. 2/p. 110)
17 Mar 1885
MEADE attached to COMANCHE "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1885, 21st leg., ch. 119, sec. 2`/pp. 165–166)
03 Nov 1885
MEADE fully organized, detached from COMANCHE. (Blue Skyways, http://skyways.lib.ks.us/counties, 23 November 2004)
26 Feb 1886
SEWARD detached from FINNEY, attached to MEADE "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1886, spec. sess., ch. 86/pp. 120–121)
17 Jun 1886
SEWARD fully organized, detached from MEADE. (HRS Kansas, Seward, 4)

MIAMI

25 Aug 1855
LYKINS (now MIAMI) created by Kansas Territory from non-county area. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1855, 1st leg., ch. 30, sec. 2/pp. 205–206)
20 Feb 1857
LYKINS (now MIAMI) boundaries redefined to run on federal land survey lines [no change]. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 2/p. 38)
29 Jan 1861
LYKINS (now MIAMI) became a county in the state of Kansas. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 20 [1861]/pp. 126–128; Van Zandt, 138–139)
03 Jun 1861
LYKINS renamed MIAMI. (Kans. Laws 1861, 1st leg., ch. 18/p. 114)

Missouri Territory

07 Dec 1812
All of present Kansas became a non-county area in Missouri Territory when Louisiana Territory was renamed Missouri Territory, and CAPE GIRARDEAU (Mo.), ST. LOUIS (Mo.), and STE. GENEVIEVE (Mo.) were eliminated from present Kansas. (Royce, 676–677, pls. 112, 144; Terr. Papers U.S., 14:599–601)
22 Feb 1819
The boundary of Missouri Territory was altered 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, 70:1–30; Van Zandt, 26–27)
10 Aug 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. 545–548 and res. 1[1821]/p. 645; Van Zandt, 117)

MITCHELL

26 Feb 1867
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)
02 Mar 1867
MITCHELL attached to OTTAWA "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 52, sec. 16/p. 89)
29 Feb 1868
MITCHELL remained attached to OTTAWA "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1868, 8th leg., gen., ch. 28, sec. 2/pp. 310–311)
04 Oct 1870
MITCHELL fully organized, detached from OTTAWA. (Andreas, 1022)
09 Mar 1871
OSBORNE detached from OTTAWA, attached to MITCHELL "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1871, 11th leg., ch. 67, secs. 1–2/p. 172)
12 Sep 1871
OSBORNE fully organized, detached from MITCHELL. (Andreas, 934)

MONTANA (Kansas Territory, extinct)

01 Mar 1859
MONTANA (Kansas Territory, extinct) created by Kansas Territory from ARAPAHOE (Kansas Territory, extinct); MONTANA was located entirely within present Colorado. Act passed 7 February 1859; took effect 1 March 1859. MONTANA not fully organized. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1859, 5th leg., ch. 44, secs. 1, 7/pp. 357–359; Bancroft, 402)
29 Jan 1861
MONTANA (Kansas Territory) eliminated when the state of Kansas was admitted to the Union. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 20 [1861]/pp. 126–128; Van Zandt, 138–139)

MONTGOMERY

26 Feb 1867
MONTGOMERY created from WILSON; MONTGOMERY not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 33, sec. 2/p. 51 and ch. 28/p. 47)
02 Mar 1867
MONTGOMERY attached to WILSON "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 52, sec. 7/p. 87)
03 Jun 1869
MONTGOMERY fully organized, detached from WILSON. (HRS Kansas, Montgomery, 3)
24 Mar 1870
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)
10 May 1870
HOWARD (extinct) fully organized, detached from MONTGOMERY. (Andreas, 1174)

MORRIS

25 Aug 1855
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)
17 Feb 1857
WISE (now MORRIS) detached from MADISON (Kansas Territory, extinct), attached to BRECKENRIDGE (now LYON) "for all civil and military purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., p. 90)
20 Feb 1857
WISE (now MORRIS) boundaries redefined to run on federal land survey lines [no change]. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 22/p. 42)
11 Feb 1859
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, 21–28)
27 Feb 1860
MARION detached from CHASE, attached to MORRIS "for judicial purposes." PEKETON (extinct) and SALINE attached to MORRIS "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 78, sec. 4/p. 133)
26 Apr 1860
SALINE fully organized, detached from MORRIS. (Andreas, 698)
29 Jan 1861
MORRIS became a county in the state of Kansas. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 20 [1861]/pp. 126–128; Van Zandt, 138–139)
22 May 1861
MARION detached from MORRIS, attached to CHASE "for judicial purposes." PEKETON (extinct) remained attached to MORRIS "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1861, 1st leg., ch. 23, sec. 1/p. 123)
16 Feb 1864
MORRIS gained from LYON and WABAUNSEE, lost to DICKINSON. (Kans. Laws 1864, 4th leg., chs. 22–23/pp. 48–49)
22 Feb 1865
PEKETON eliminated, ending its attachment to MORRIS. (Kans. Laws 1865, 5th leg., ch. 19/pp. 47–48)
03 Mar 1868
MORRIS lost to WABAUNSEE. (Kans. Laws 1868, 8th leg., gen., ch. 24, secs. 49, 75/pp. 241, 247)
23 Feb 1869
MORRIS gained from WABAUNSEE. (Kans. Laws 1869, 9th leg., ch. 16/pp. 57–58)
24 Mar 1870
MORRIS lost to WABAUNSEE. (Kans. Laws 1870, 10th leg., ch. 40/pp. 89–90)

MORTON

20 Feb 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. 57–58; Kans. Laws 1887, 22d leg., ch. 2/pp. 2–3)
26 Feb 1886
MORTON attached to HAMILTON "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1886, spec. sess., ch. 86/pp. 120–121)
18 Nov 1886
MORTON fully organized, detached from HAMILTON. (Blue Skyways, http://skyways.lib.ks.us/counties, 23 November 2004)

NEMAHA

25 Aug 1855
NEMAHA created by Kansas Territory from non-county area. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1855, 1st leg., ch. 30, sec. 30/p. 210)
20 Feb 1857
NEMAHA boundaries redefined to run on federal land survey lines [no change]. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 30/p. 44)
29 Jan 1861
NEMAHA became a county in the state of Kansas. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 20 [1861]/pp. 126–128; Van Zandt, 138–139)

NEOSHO

25 Aug 1855
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. 206–207, 210)
20 Feb 1857
DORN (now NEOSHO) boundaries redefined to run on federal land survey lines [no change]. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 10/p. 40)
11 Feb 1859
DORN (now NEOSHO) detached from ALLEN, attached to BOURBON "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1859, 5th leg., ch. 40, sec. 4/p. 330)
27 Feb 1860
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)
29 Jan 1861
DORN (now NEOSHO) became a county in the state of Kansas. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 20 [1861]/pp. 126–128; Van Zandt, 138–139)
03 Jun 1861
DORN renamed NEOSHO. (Kans. Laws 1861, 1st leg., ch. 18/p. 114)
20 Nov 1864
NEOSHO fully organized, detached from ALLEN. (Andreas, 825)
13 Feb 1865
NEOSHO gained from ALLEN. (Kans. Laws 1865, 5th leg., ch. 17/p. 46)
20 Mar 1866
NEOSHO gained from WILSON, lost to CHEROKEE. (Kans. Laws 1866, 6th leg., ch. 27/p. 78)
07 Feb 1867
NEOSHO lost to creation of LABETTE. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., chs. 29–30/pp. 48–49)
24 Mar 1870
NEOSHO lost to ALLEN. (Kans. Laws 1870, 10th leg., ch. 39/pp. 88–89)

NESS

26 Feb 1867
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)
29 Feb 1868
NESS attached to ELLIS "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1868, 8th leg., gen., ch. 28, sec. 2/p. 310; Millbrook, Ness, 64)
07 Mar 1872
NESS remained attached to ELLIS "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1872, 12th leg., ch. 113, sec. 2/p. 253)
20 Mar 1873
NESS gained from Non-County Area (6). (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 72, sec. 10/p. 148)
23 Oct 1873
NESS fully organized, detached from ELLIS. (Andreas, 1524; Millbrook, Ness, 66–70)
20 Feb 1881
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)
26 Feb 1886
Chapter 81 stated that GREELEY and WICHITA were attached to NESS prior to this date; other acts attached GREELEY and WICHITA to FINNEY. (Kans. Laws 1886, spec. sess., ch. 81/p. 116)
03 Jun 1886
LANE fully organized, detached from NESS. (Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)

NEW MADRID (Mo.)

01 Oct 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. NEW MADRID District (Mo.) created by the District of Louisiana from non-county area; included all or part of seven present states, including part of Kansas. (Terr. Papers U.S., 13: 51–52; U.S. Stat., vol. 2, ch. 38 [1804]/pp. 283–289)
04 Jul 1805
NEW MADRID (Mo.) became a district (county) in Louisiana Territory when the District of Louisiana was renamed Louisiana Territory. (U.S. Stat., vol. 2, ch. 31[1805]/pp. 331–332)
01 Jul 1806
NEW MADRID District (Mo.) gained from CAPE GIRARDEAU District (Mo.); area within present Kansas was unchanged. (Terr. Papers U.S., 13:541–542)
15 Aug 1806
NEW MADRID District (Mo.) lost to CAPE GIRARDEAU District (Mo.); NEW MADRID eliminated from present Kansas. (Ford, 5–6)

Non-County Area 1

25 Aug 1855
Non-County Area (1), which included territory in present Kansas and Colorado, was attached to MARSHALL "for civil, criminal and military purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1855, 1st leg., ch. 38, sec. 3/p. 218)
20 Feb 1857
Non-County Area (1) attached to MARSHALL lost to re-creation of WASHINGTON. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 33/p. 45)
11 Feb 1859
Non-County Area (1) detached from MARSHALL; it became part of Non-County Area (2) attached to RILEY "for judicial purposes." Non-County Area (1) eliminated. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1859, 5th leg., ch. 40, sec. 4/p. 330)

Non-County Area 2

25 Aug 1855
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. 38, sec. 4/p. 219)
20 Feb 1857
Non-County Area (2) attached to RILEY, lost to creation of CLAY and DICKINSON, and lost to RILEY. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., secs. 35–37/pp. 45–46)
11 Feb 1859
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 Areas (1) and (3). Non-County Area (2) lost a small area to the creation of Non-County Area (4), which was attached to BRECKENRIDGE (now LYON) "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1859, 5th leg., ch. 40, sec. 4/p. 330)
15 Feb 1860
Non-County Area (2) attached to RILEY lost to creation of SALINE. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 44/pp. 85–87)
17 Feb 1860
Non-County Area (2) attached to RILEY gained from MARION. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 40/p. 80)
21 Feb 1860
Non-County Area (2) attached to RILEY lost to creation of PEKETON (extinct). Non-County Area (2) also lost to creation of Non-County Area (5), which was separated from Non-County Area (2) by the creation of PEKETON. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 42/p. 83)
27 Feb 1860
Non-County Area (2) attached to RILEY, lost to creation of OTTAWA, REPUBLIC, and SHIRLEY (now CLOUD). (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 43/pp. 83–85)
29 Jan 1861
Non-County Area (2) attached to RILEY lost to Colorado Territory when Kansas was admitted to the Union with present boundaries. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 20 [1861]/pp. 126–128; Van Zandt, 138–139)
26 Feb 1867
Non-County Area (2) attached to RILEY was eliminated due to creation of new counties in western Kansas. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 33/pp. 51–57)

Non-County Area 3

20 Feb 1857
All the original area of WASHINGTON became Non-County Area (3). (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 33/p. 45)
11 Feb 1859
Non-County Area (3) became part of Non-County Area (2) attached to RILEY "for judicial purposes." Non-County Area (3) eliminated. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1859, 5th leg., ch. 40, sec. 4/p. 330)

Non-County Area 4

11 Feb 1859
Non-County Area (4) created from part of Non-County Area (2) attached to RILEY. Non-County Area (4) was attached to BRECKENRIDGE (now LYON) "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1859, 5th leg., ch. 40, sec. 4/p. 330)
17 Feb 1860
Non-County Area (4) attached to BRECKENRIDGE (now LYON) became part of MARION; Non-County Area (4) eliminated. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 40/p. 80)

Non-County Area 5

21 Feb 1860
Non-County Area (5) was created when PEKETON (extinct) was created and divided Non-County Area (2). (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 42/p. 83)
27 Feb 1860
Non-County Area (5) lost to creation of IRVING (extinct). (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 38/pp. 77–78)
24 Feb 1864
BUTLER gained all of Non-County Area (5); Non-County Area (5) eliminated. (Kans. Laws 1864, 4th leg., ch. 25/p. 50)

Non-County Area 6

26 Feb 1867
All of Kansas west of the line between ranges 25 and 26 west became Non-County Area (6). (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 33/pp. 51–57)
11 Mar 1868
Non-County Area (6) lost to creation of GOVE and WALLACE. Non-County Area (6) was divided into two parts by these creations. (Kans. Laws 1868, 8th leg., spec., ch. 14/p. 49)
20 Mar 1873
Non-County Area (6) eliminated when twenty-two new counties were created in western Kansas. (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 72/pp. 146–156)

Non-County Area 7

20 Mar 1873
Non-County Area (7) created from PAWNEE and STAFFORD. (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 57/pp. 112–113 and ch. 72, secs. 27, 29/pp. 152–154)
18 Mar 1874
Non-County Area (7) lost all territory to PAWNEE and STAFFORD, and to the creation of EDWARDS. (Kans. Laws 1874, 14th leg., ch. 59, secs. 1, 3/pp. 91–92)

NORTON

26 Feb 1867
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)
22 Aug 1872
NORTON fully organized. (Andreas, 1062; Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)
20 Mar 1873
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)
25 Feb 1874
BILLINGS renamed NORTON. (Kans. Laws 1874, 14th leg., ch. 55/p. 88)
15 Dec 1879
DECATUR fully organized, detached from NORTON. (Andreas, 1614; Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)
08 Mar 1881
CHEYENNE and RAWLINS detached from NORTON, attached to DECATUR "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 100, sec. 3/p. 202)

ORO (Kansas Territory, extinct)

01 Mar 1859
ORO (Kansas Territory, extinct) created by Kansas Territory from ARAPAHOE (Kansas Territory, extinct); ORO was located entirely within present Colorado. Act passed 7 February 1859; took effect 1 March 1859. ORO not fully organized. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1859, 5th leg., ch. 44, secs. 2, 10/pp. 357–359; Bancroft, 402)
29 Jan 1861
ORO (Kansas Territory) eliminated when the state of Kansas was admitted to the Union. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 20 [1861]/pp. 126–128; Van Zandt, 138–139)

OSAGE

25 Aug 1855
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)
20 Feb 1857
WELLER (now OSAGE) boundaries redefined to run on federal land survey lines [no change]. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 12/p. 40)
11 Feb 1859
WELLER renamed OSAGE. OSAGE fully organized, detached from SHAWNEE. (Andreas, 1532; HRS Kansas, Osage, 25–26, 70; Kans. Terr. Laws 1859, 5th leg., ch. 100/p. 573)
23 Feb 1860
OSAGE gained from SHAWNEE. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 46/p. 88)
27 Feb 1860
OSAGE lost to COFFEY. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 41, sec. 10/p. 82)
29 Jan 1861
OSAGE became a county in the state of Kansas. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 20 [1861]/pp. 126–128; Van Zandt, 138–139)
03 Mar 1868
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)
08 Apr 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)

OSBORNE

26 Feb 1867
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)
29 Feb 1868
OSBORNE attached to OTTAWA "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1868, 8th leg., gen., ch. 28, sec. 2/pp. 310–311)
09 Mar 1871
OSBORNE detached from OTTAWA, attached to MITCHELL "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1871, 11th leg., ch. 67, secs. 1–2/p. 172)
12 Sep 1871
OSBORNE fully organized, detached from MITCHELL. (Andreas, 934)

OTOE (extinct)

17 Feb 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)
27 Feb 1860
OTOE (extinct) detached from BUTLER, attached to BRECKENRIDGE (now LYON) "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 78, sec. 4/p. 133)
29 Jan 1861
OTOE (extinct) became a county in the state of Kansas. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 20 [1861]/pp. 126–128; Van Zandt, 138–139)
22 May 1861
OTOE (extinct) remained attached to BRECKENRIDGE (now LYON) "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1861, 1st leg., ch. 23, sec. 1/p. 123)
24 Feb 1864
OTOE lost all territory to BUTLER; OTOE eliminated. (Kans. Laws 1864, 4th leg., ch. 25/p. 50)

OTTAWA

27 Feb 1860
OTTAWA created by Kansas Territory from Non-County Area (2) attached to RILEY; OTTAWA not fully organized. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 43/pp. 83–85)
29 Jan 1861
OTTAWA became a county in the state of Kansas. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 20 [1861]/pp. 126–128; Van Zandt, 138–139)
22 May 1861
OTTAWA attached to DAVIS (now GEARY) "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1861, 1st leg., ch. 23, sec. 1/p. 123)
05 Feb 1865
OTTAWA detached from DAVIS (now GEARY), attached to SALINE "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1865, 5th leg., ch. 31/pp. 76–77)
Jul 1866
OTTAWA fully organized, detached from SALINE. (Andreas, 1425)
02 Mar 1867
LINCOLN and MITCHELL attached to OTTAWA "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 52, sec. 16/p. 89)
29 Feb 1868
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. 310–311)
04 Oct 1870
MITCHELL fully organized, detached from OTTAWA. (Andreas, 1022)
09 Mar 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. 1–2/p. 172)

PAWNEE

26 Feb 1867
PAWNEE created from MARION; PAWNEE not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 33, sec. 30/p. 55)
07 Mar 1872
PAWNEE attached to ELLIS "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1872, 12th leg., ch. 113, sec. 2/p. 253)
04 Nov 1872
PAWNEE fully organized, detached from ELLIS. (Andreas, 1350)
20 Mar 1873
PAWNEE gained from RUSH and STAFFORD; PAWNEE lost to Non-County Area (7). Conflicting laws placed township 21 north, range 15 west in dispute among PAWNEE, BARTON, and STAFFORD. BARTON was authorized to gain this disputed area from STAFFORD by chapter 57; chapter 72 authorized PAWNEE to gain it from STAFFORD [see 18 March 1874]. (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 72, sec. 27/pp. 152–153 and ch. 57, sec. 2/pp. 112–113)
11 Mar 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 Mar 1874
PAWNEE gained part of Non-County Area (7, former part of PAWNEE) and gained control of township 21 north, range 15 west, which had also been claimed by BARTON since 20 March 1873. (Kans. Laws 1874, 14th leg., ch. 59, secs. 1, 4/pp. 91–93)
05 Mar 1875
PRATT detached from RENO, attached to PAWNEE "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1875, 15th leg., ch. 61/pp. 88–89)
15 Feb 1876
COMANCHE detached from RENO, attached to PAWNEE "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1876, 16th leg., ch. 69, sec. 2/pp. 168–169)
29 Mar 1879
HODGEMAN fully organized, detached from PAWNEE. (Andreas, 1608)
02 Jul 1879
STAFFORD fully organized, detached from PAWNEE. (Andreas, 1271)
29 Jul 1879
PRATT fully organized, detached from PAWNEE. (Andreas, 1268)
20 Feb 1881
COMANCHE detached from PAWNEE, attached to BARBOUR (now BARBER) "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 99, sec. 4/p. 200)

PEKETON (extinct)

21 Feb 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. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 42/p. 83 and ch. 78, sec. 4/p. 133)
27 Feb 1860
PEKETON (extinct) attached to MORRIS "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 78, sec. 4/p. 133)
29 Jan 1861
PEKETON (extinct) became a county in the state of Kansas; PEKETON lost to Colorado Territory. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 20 [1861]/pp. 126–128; Van Zandt, 138–139)
22 May 1861
PEKETON (extinct) remained attached to MORRIS "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1861, 1st leg., ch. 23, sec. 1/p. 123)
22 Feb 1865
PEKETON lost all territory to MARION; PEKETON eliminated. (Kans. Laws 1865, 5th leg., ch. 19/pp. 47–48)

PHILLIPS

26 Feb 1867
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)
26 Jul 1872
PHILLIPS fully organized. (HRS Kansas, Phillips, 12)

POTTAWATOMIE

20 Feb 1857
POTTAWATOMIE created by Kansas Territory from CALHOUN (now JACKSON) and RILEY. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 34/p. 45)
23 Feb 1860
POTTAWATOMIE lost small area to SHAWNEE. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 46/p. 88)
29 Jan 1861
POTTAWATOMIE became a county in the state of Kansas. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 20 [1861]/pp. 126–128; Van Zandt, 138–139)

PRATT

26 Feb 1867
PRATT created from MARION; PRATT not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 33, sec. 24/pp. 54–55)
02 Mar 1867
PRATT attached to MARION "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 52, sec. 9/p. 87)
05 Mar 1869
PRATT detached from MARION, attached to ELLSWORTH "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1869, 9th leg., ch. 36, sec. 8/p. 121)
06 Mar 1873
PRATT detached from ELLSWORTH, attached to RENO "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 79, sec. 4/p. 166)
20 Mar 1873
PRATT lost to BARBOUR (now BARBER). (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 57/pp. 112–113)
05 Mar 1875
PRATT gained part of STAFFORD [see 25 April 1879]; PRATT detached from RENO, attached to PAWNEE "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1875, 15th leg., ch. 61/pp. 88–89)
25 Apr 1879
PRATT lost to STAFFORD when Kansas Supreme Court ruled act of 5 March 1875 unconstitutional. (Andreas, 1270–1271; "State of Kansas v. St. John," in Kansas Rpts., 21:427–434)
29 Jul 1879
PRATT fully organized, detached from PAWNEE. (Andreas, 1268)

RAWLINS

20 Mar 1873
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)
18 Mar 1879
RAWLINS boundaries redefined [no change]. (Kans. Laws 1879, 18th leg., ch. 72, sec. 2/p. 143)
08 Mar 1881
RAWLINS detached from NORTON, attached to DECATUR "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 100, sec. 3/p. 202)
25 May 1881
RAWLINS fully organized, detached from DECATUR. (Andreas, 1607)
25 Feb 1883
CHEYENNE detached from DECATUR, attached to RAWLINS "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1883, 20th leg., ch. 103/pp. 157–158)
01 Apr 1886
CHEYENNE fully organized, detached from RAWLINS. (Cheyenne County Historical Society, 11)

RENO

26 Feb 1867
RENO created from MARION; RENO not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 33, sec. 17/p. 53)
02 Mar 1867
RENO attached to BUTLER "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 52, sec. 9/p. 87)
05 Mar 1869
RENO remained attached to BUTLER "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1869, 9th leg., ch. 36, sec. 8/p. 121)
16 Mar 1871
RENO detached from BUTLER, attached to SEDGWICK "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1871, 11th leg., ch. 69, sec. 1/pp. 176–177)
01 Jan 1872
RENO fully organized, detached from SEDGWICK. (Andreas, 1350, 1371; Kans. Laws 1872, 12th leg., ch. 119/p. 262)
07 Mar 1872
RENO gained from McPHERSON, RICE, and SEDGWICK; lost to creation of KINGMAN. KINGMAN not fully organized, attached to RENO "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1872, 12th leg., ch. 97/pp. 183–185 and ch. 119, sec. 3/p. 262; Andreas, 755)
06 Mar 1873
KINGMAN and KIOWA attached to RENO; BARBOUR (now BARBER), COMANCHE, and HARPER detached from SUMNER, attached to RENO; PRATT detached from ELLSWORTH, attached to RENO. All attachments were "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 79, sec. 4/p. 166)
07 Jul 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)
27 Feb 1874
KINGMAN fully organized, detached from RENO. (Andreas, 1526)
05 Mar 1875
KIOWA eliminated, ending its attachment to RENO. PRATT detached from RENO, attached to PAWNEE "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1875, 15th leg., chs. 60–61/pp. 87–89)
15 Feb 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. 168–169)
26 Feb 1886
RENO lost small area to RICE. (Kans. Laws 1886, spec. sess., ch. 36/p. 56)

REPUBLIC

27 Feb 1860
REPUBLIC created by Kansas Territory from Non-County Area (2) attached to RILEY; REPUBLIC not fully organized. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 43/pp. 83–85)
29 Jan 1861
REPUBLIC became a county in the state of Kansas. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 20 [1861]/pp. 126–128; Van Zandt, 138–139)
22 May 1861
REPUBLIC attached to MARSHALL "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1861, 1st leg., ch. 23, sec. 1/p. 123)
14 Feb 1865
REPUBLIC detached from MARSHALL, attached to WASHINGTON for judicial and administrative purposes. (Kans. Laws 1865, 5th leg., ch. 18/pp. 46–47)
02 Mar 1867
REPUBLIC detached from WASHINGTON, attached to MARSHALL "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 52, sec. 16/p. 89)
23 Mar 1868
REPUBLIC fully organized, detached from MARSHALL. (Andreas, 1033)

RICE

26 Feb 1867
RICE created from MARION; RICE not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 33, sec. 16/p. 53)
02 Mar 1867
RICE attached to MARION "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 52, sec. 9/p. 87)
29 Feb 1868
RICE detached from MARION, attached to ELLSWORTH "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1868, 8th leg., gen., ch. 28, sec. 2/p. 310)
05 Mar 1869
RICE remained attached to ELLSWORTH "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1869, 9th leg., ch. 36, sec. 8/p. 121)
18 Aug 1871
RICE fully organized, detached from ELLSWORTH. (Andreas, 753; Kans. Laws 1872, 12th leg., ch. 28/p. 32)
07 Mar 1872
RICE lost to RENO. (Kans. Laws 1872, 12th leg., ch. 97, sec. 1/p. 183; Andreas, 755)
26 Feb 1886
RICE gained small area from RENO. (Kans. Laws 1886, spec. sess., ch. 36/p. 56)

RICHARDSON (see WABAUNSEE)


RILEY

25 Aug 1855
RILEY created by Kansas Territory from non-county area. DAVIS (now GEARY) not fully organized, attached to RILEY "for civil and military purposes." A 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. 33–34/p. 210 and ch. 38, sec. 4/p. 219)
20 Feb 1857
RILEY gained part of Non-County Area (2) attached to RILEY, lost to creation of POTTAWATOMIE. RILEY lost part of Non-County Area (2), which was attached to RILEY, to creation of CLAY and DICKINSON. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., secs. 34–37/pp. 45–46)
16 Mar 1857
DAVIS (now GEARY) fully organized, detached from RILEY. (Andreas, 1001; Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., pp. 91–92)
11 Feb 1859
CLAY attached to RILEY "for judicial purposes." Non-County Area (2) attached to RILEY gained all of Non-County Areas (1) and (3). Non-County Area (2) lost a small area to the creation of Non-County Area (4), which was attached to BRECKENRIDGE (now LYON) "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1859, 5th leg., ch. 40, sec. 4/p. 330)
15 Feb 1860
RILEY lost part of Non-County Area (2), which was attached to RILEY, to creation of SALINE. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 44/pp. 85–87)
17 Feb 1860
Non-County Area (2) attached to RILEY gained from MARION. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 40/p. 80)
21 Feb 1860
Non-County Area (2) attached to RILEY lost to creation of PEKETON (extinct). Non-County Area (2) also lost to creation of Non-County Area (5), which was separated from Non-County Area (2) by the creation of PEKETON. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 42/p. 83)
24 Feb 1860
RILEY lost to DAVIS (now GEARY) and DICKINSON. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 34/pp. 72–74)
27 Feb 1860
CLAY detached from RILEY, attached to DAVIS (now GEARY) "for judicial purposes." Non-County Area (2) attached to RILEY lost to creation of OTTAWA, REPUBLIC, and SHIRLEY (now CLOUD). (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 43/pp. 83–85 and ch. 78, sec. 4/p. 133)
29 Jan 1861
RILEY became a county in the state of Kansas. Non-County Area (2) attached to RILEY lost to Colorado Territory when Kansas was admitted to the Union with present boundaries. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 20 [1861]/pp. 126–128; Van Zandt, 138–139)
30 Jan 1861
RILEY gained from DAVIS (now GEARY). (Kans. Terr. Laws 1861, ch. 12/p. 16)
26 Feb 1867
Non-County Area (2) attached to RILEY was eliminated due to creation of new counties in western Kansas. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 33/pp. 51–57)
10 Mar 1871
RILEY gained from WABAUNSEE. (Kans. Laws 1871, 11th leg., ch. 53/pp. 105–106)
25 Feb 1873
RILEY lost to WABAUNSEE. (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 56/pp. 110–112)
20 Mar 1873
RILEY exchanged with DAVIS (now GEARY). (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 58/pp. 113–115)
25 Mar 1875
RILEY lost to DAVIS (now GEARY). (Kans. Laws 1875, 15th leg., ch. 62/pp. 89–91)
17 Apr 1978
RILEY lost small area to GEARY along the Fort Riley Military Reservation boundary. (Kans. Laws 1978, 67th leg., ch. 88/pp. 421–422)

ROOKS

26 Feb 1867
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)
29 Feb 1868
ROOKS attached to ELLIS "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1868, 8th leg., gen., ch. 28, sec. 2/p. 310)
26 Nov 1872
ROOKS fully organized, detached from ELLIS. (Andreas, 1609)
20 Mar 1873
GRAHAM detached from ELLIS, attached to ROOKS "for judicial purposes." SHERIDAN, SHERMAN, and THOMAS attached to ROOKS "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 76, sec. 2/p. 160)
01 Apr 1880
GRAHAM fully organized, detached from ROOKS. (Andreas, 1060; HRS Kansas, Graham, 4)
02 Jun 1880
SHERIDAN fully organized, detached from ROOKS. (Andreas, 1520)
08 Mar 1881
SHERMAN and THOMAS detached from ROOKS, attached to SHERIDAN "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 100, sec. 3/p. 202)

RUSH

26 Feb 1867
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)
29 Feb 1868
RUSH attached to ELLIS "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1868, 8th leg., gen., ch. 28, sec. 2/p. 310)
07 Mar 1872
RUSH remained attached to ELLIS "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1872, 12th leg., ch. 113, sec. 2/p. 253)
20 Mar 1873
RUSH lost to PAWNEE. (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 72, secs. 27–28/pp. 152–153)
05 Dec 1874
RUSH fully organized, detached from ELLIS. (Andreas, 1585; Kans. Laws 1875, 15th leg., ch. 84, sec. 2/p. 121)

RUSSELL

26 Feb 1867
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)
29 Feb 1868
RUSSELL attached to ELLSWORTH "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1868, 8th leg., gen., ch. 28, sec. 2/p. 310 and sec. 5/p. 311)
07 Mar 1872
RUSSELL remained attached to ELLSWORTH "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1872, 12th leg., ch. 113, sec. 2/p. 253)
18 Aug 1872
RUSSELL fully organized, detached from ELLSWORTH. (Andreas, 1284)

STE. GENEVIEVE (Mo.)

01 Oct 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. STE. GENEVIEVE District (Mo.) created by the District of Louisiana from non-county area; included parts of present Kansas, Colorado, and Missouri. (Terr. Papers U.S., 13: 51–52; U.S. Stat., vol. 2, ch. 38 [1804]/pp. 283–289)
04 Jul 1805
STE. GENEVIEVE (Mo.) became a district (county) in Louisiana Territory when the District of Louisiana was renamed Louisiana Territory. (U.S. Stat., vol. 2, ch. 31[1805]/pp. 331–332)
07 Dec 1812
STE. GENEVIEVE District (Mo.) eliminated from present Kansas when its boundaries were changed. (Royce, 676–677, pls. 112, 144; Terr. Papers U.S., 14:599–601)

ST. JOHN (see LOGAN)


ST. LOUIS (Mo.)

01 Oct 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. ST. LOUIS District (Mo.) created by the District of Louisiana from non-county area; included all or part of eight present states, including all of northern Kansas. (Terr. Papers U.S., 13: 51–52; U.S. Stat., vol. 2, ch. 38 [1804]/pp. 283–289)
04 Jul 1805
ST. LOUIS (Mo.) became a district (county) in Louisiana Territory when the District of Louisiana was renamed Louisiana Territory. (U.S. Stat., vol. 2, ch. 31[1805]/pp. 331–332)
07 Dec 1812
ST. LOUIS District (Mo.) eliminated from present Kansas when its boundaries were changed. (Royce, 676–677, pls. 112, 144; Terr. Papers U.S., 14:599–601)

SALINE

15 Feb 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. 85–87)
27 Feb 1860
SALINE attached to MORRIS "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 78, sec. 4/p. 133)
26 Apr 1860
SALINE fully organized, detached from MORRIS. (Andreas, 698)
29 Jan 1861
SALINE became a county in the state of Kansas. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 20 [1861]/pp. 126–128; Van Zandt, 138–139)
05 Feb 1865
OTTAWA detached from DAVIS (now GEARY), attached to SALINE "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1865, 5th leg., ch. 31/pp. 76–77)
Jul 1866
OTTAWA fully organized, detached from SALINE. (Andreas, 1425)
25 Feb 1867
SALINE lost small area to DICKINSON. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 31/p. 49)
02 Mar 1867
ELLSWORTH attached to SALINE "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 52, sec. 16/p. 89)
09 Jul 1867
ELLSWORTH fully organized, detached from SALINE. (Andreas, 1275)
29 Feb 1868
LINCOLN detached from OTTAWA, attached to SALINE "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1868, 8th leg., gen., ch. 28, sec. 2/p. 310)
05 Mar 1869
McPHERSON detached from MARION, attached to SALINE "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1869, 9th leg., ch. 36, sec. 8/p. 121)
01 Mar 1870
McPHERSON fully organized, detached from SALINE. (Andreas, 812; Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)
06 Oct 1870
LINCOLN fully organized, detached from SALINE. (Andreas, 1421)

SANTA FE (Texas, extinct)

15 Mar 1848
SANTA FE (Texas, extinct) created by the state of Texas from BEXAR (Texas). 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 Dec 1850
SANTA FE (Texas, extinct) was eliminated from present Kansas when the United States purchased the area from the state of Texas. (U.S. Stat., vol. 9, ch. 49[1850]/pp. 446–452 and ch. 51[1850]/pp. 453–458; Van Zandt, 159)

SCOTT

20 Mar 1873
SCOTT created from Non-County Area (6); SCOTT not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 72, sec. 15/pp. 149–150)
18 Mar 1879
SCOTT boundaries redefined [no change]. (Kans. Laws 1879, 18th leg., ch. 72, sec. 11/p. 145)
20 Feb 1881
SCOTT was to be attached to NESS according to this act, but other acts suggest it was attached to FORD [see 17 March 1885]. (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 99, sec. 5/p. 200)
17 Mar 1885
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. 165–166; Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 99, sec. 5/p. 200)
19 Feb 1886
SCOTT remained attached to FINNEY "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1886, spec. sess., ch. 87/p. 121)
05 Jul 1886
SCOTT fully organized, detached from FINNEY. (Scott County Centennial Comm., 16)

SEDGWICK

26 Feb 1867
SEDGWICK created from BUTLER and MARION; SEDGWICK not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 33, sec. 10/p. 52)
02 Mar 1867
SEDGWICK attached to BUTLER "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 52, sec. 9/p. 87)
05 Mar 1869
SEDGWICK remained attached to BUTLER "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1869, 9th leg., ch. 36, sec. 8/p. 121)
27 Apr 1870
SEDGWICK fully organized, detached from BUTLER. (Andreas, 1385; Bentley, 494–495)
16 Mar 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. 176–177)
01 Jan 1872
RENO fully organized, detached from SEDGWICK. (Andreas, 1350, 1371; Kans. Laws 1872, 12th leg., ch. 119/p. 262)
06 Mar 1872
HARPER detached from SEDGWICK, attached to SUMNER "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1872, 12th leg., ch. 112, sec. 5/p. 251)
07 Mar 1872
SEDGWICK lost to creation of HARVEY, and lost to RENO. (Kans. Laws 1872, 12th leg., ch. 97/pp. 183–185)

SEQUOYAH (extinct)

20 Mar 1873
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)
18 Mar 1879
SEQUOYAH (extinct) boundaries redefined [no change]. (Kans. Laws 1879, 18th leg., ch. 72, sec. 12/p. 145)
20 Feb 1881
SEQUOYAH (extinct) remained attached to FORD "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 99, sec. 3/p. 200)
22 Feb 1883
SEQUOYAH lost all territory to the creation of FINNEY; SEQUOYAH eliminated. (Kans. Laws 1883, 20th leg., ch. 70, sec. 2/p. 114)

SEWARD (original, extinct)

25 Aug 1855
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)
20 Feb 1857
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)
11 Feb 1859
GODFREY (later SEWARD original, extinct) detached from ALLEN, attached to COFFEY "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1859, 5th leg., ch. 40, sec. 4/p. 330)
27 Feb 1860
GODFREY (later SEWARD original, extinct) remained attached to COFFEY "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 78, sec. 4/p. 133)
29 Jan 1861
GODFREY (later SEWARD original, extinct) became a county in the state of Kansas. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 20 [1861]/pp. 126–128; Van Zandt, 138–139)
22 May 1861
GODFREY (later SEWARD original, extinct) detached from COFFEY, attached to WOODSON "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1861, 1st leg., ch. 23, sec. 1/p. 123)
03 Jun 1861
GODFREY renamed SEWARD (original, extinct). (Kans. Laws 1861, 1st leg., ch. 18/p. 114)
24 Feb 1864
SEWARD (original, extinct) lost to BUTLER. (Kans. Laws 1864, 4th leg., ch. 25/p. 50)
26 Feb 1867
SEWARD (original) lost all territory to GREENWOOD and to the creation of HOWARD (extinct); SEWARD (original) eliminated. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 33, secs. 4–5/p. 51)

SEWARD

20 Mar 1873
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)
18 Mar 1879
SEWARD boundaries redefined [no change]. (Kans. Laws 1879, 18th leg., ch. 72, sec. 14/p. 146)
20 Feb 1881
SEWARD remained attached to FORD "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 99, sec. 3/p. 200)
22 Feb 1883
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)
13 Mar 1885
SEWARD lost to re-creation of MEADE. (Kans. Laws 1885, 21st leg., ch. 71, secs. 2, 4/p. 110)
17 Mar 1885
SEWARD detached from FORD, attached to FINNEY "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1885, 21st leg., ch. 119/pp. 165–166)
19 Feb 1886
SEWARD remained attached to FINNEY "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1886, spec. sess., ch. 87/p. 121)
20 Feb 1886
SEWARD lost to creation of MORTON and to the re-creation of STEVENS. (Kans. Laws 1886, spec. sess., ch. 37/pp. 57–58; Kans. Laws 1887, 22d leg., ch. 2/pp. 2–3)
26 Feb 1886
SEWARD detached from FINNEY, attached to MEADE "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1886, spec. sess., ch. 86/pp. 120–121)
17 Jun 1886
SEWARD fully organized, detached from MEADE. (HRS Kansas, Seward, 4)

SHAWNEE

25 Aug 1855
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)
20 Feb 1857
SHAWNEE boundaries redefined to run on federal land survey lines [no change]. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 11/p. 40)
11 Feb 1859
OSAGE and WABAUNSEE fully organized, detached from SHAWNEE. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1859, 5th leg., chs. 59, 100/pp. 376–377, 573)
23 Feb 1860
SHAWNEE gained from JACKSON and a small area of POTTAWATOMIE, lost to OSAGE. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 46/p. 88)
29 Jan 1861
SHAWNEE became a county in the state of Kansas. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 20 [1861]/pp. 126–128; Van Zandt, 138–139)
01 Mar 1868
SHAWNEE gained from JACKSON. (Kans. Laws 1868, 8th leg., spec., ch. 15/p. 50)
03 Mar 1868
SHAWNEE was authorized to lose to WABAUNSEE, according to the WABAUNSEE boundary description, but no comparable change was noted in the SHAWNEE description; mistake corrected 24 March 1870 when WABAUNSEE boundaries were changed [not mapped]. (Kans. Laws 1868, 8th leg., gen., ch. 24, secs. 70, 75/pp. 245–247)
24 Mar 1870
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. 89–90)
22 Mar 1899
Boundary between SHAWNEE and JEFFERSON 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)

SHERIDAN

20 Mar 1873
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. 146–147 and ch. 76, sec. 2/p. 160)
18 Mar 1879
SHERIDAN lost to GOVE and WALLACE. (Kans. Laws 1879, 18th leg., ch. 72, sec. 3/p. 143)
02 Jun 1880
SHERIDAN fully organized, detached from ROOKS. (Andreas, 1520)
08 Mar 1881
SHERMAN and THOMAS detached from ROOKS, attached to SHERIDAN "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 100, sec. 3/p. 202)
13 Mar 1881
SHERIDAN gained from GOVE and WALLACE. (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 48, sec. 2/p. 132)
08 Oct 1885
THOMAS fully organized; detached from SHERIDAN. (Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)
13 Feb 1886
SHERMAN detached from SHERIDAN, attached to THOMAS "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1886, spec. sess., chs. 77–78/pp. 113–114)

SHERMAN

20 Mar 1873
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)
18 Mar 1879
SHERMAN boundaries redefined [no change]. (Kans. Laws 1879, 18th leg., ch. 72, sec. 24/p. 148)
08 Mar 1881
SHERMAN detached from ROOKS, attached to SHERIDAN "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 100, sec. 3/p. 202)
13 Feb 1886
SHERMAN detached from SHERIDAN, attached to THOMAS "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1886, spec. sess., chs. 77–78/pp. 113–114)
20 Sep 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)

SHIRLEY (see CLOUD)


SMITH

26 Feb 1867
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)
29 Feb 1868
SMITH attached to OTTAWA "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1868, 8th leg., gen., ch. 28, sec. 2/pp. 310–311)
09 Mar 1871
SMITH detached from OTTAWA, attached to JEWELL "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1871, 11th leg., ch. 67, secs. 1–2/p. 172)
09 Mar 1872
SMITH fully organized, detached from JEWELL. (Andreas, 908–909)

STAFFORD

26 Feb 1867
STAFFORD created from MARION; STAFFORD not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 33, sec. 23/p. 54)
02 Mar 1867
STAFFORD attached to MARION "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 52, sec. 9/p. 87)
05 Mar 1869
STAFFORD detached from MARION, attached to ELLSWORTH "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1869, 9th leg., ch. 36, sec. 8/p. 121)
06 Mar 1873
STAFFORD detached from ELLSWORTH, attached to BARTON "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 79, sec. 5/p. 166)
20 Mar 1873
STAFFORD lost to PAWNEE and to Non-County Area (7). Conflicting laws placed township 21 north, ranges 11–15 west in dispute among BARTON, PAWNEE, and STAFFORD. BARTON was authorized to gain all of the disputed area from STAFFORD by chapter 57, but chapter 72 continued STAFFORD's control over ranges 11–14 west in township 21 north [see 18 March 1874]. (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 57/pp. 112–113 and ch. 72, secs. 27, 29/pp. 152–154)
11 Mar 1874
STAFFORD detached from BARTON, attached to PAWNEE "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1874, 14th leg., ch. 67, sec. 2/p. 101)
18 Mar 1874
STAFFORD gained part of Non-County Area (7, former part of STAFFORD) and re-gained control over the area in dispute with BARTON since 20 March 1873 (township 21 north, ranges 11–14 west). (Kans. Laws 1874, 14th leg., ch. 59, sec. 3/p. 92)
05 Mar 1875
STAFFORD lost nearly all its territory to BARTON and PRATT [see 25 April 1879]. (Andreas, 1270–1271; Kans. Laws 1875, 15th leg., ch. 61/pp. 88–89)
25 Apr 1879
STAFFORD gained from BARTON and PRATT when Kansas Supreme Court ruled act of 5 March 1875 unconstitutional. (Andreas, 1270–1271; "State of Kansas v. St. John," in Kansas Rpts., 21:427–434)
02 Jul 1879
STAFFORD fully organized, detached from PAWNEE. (Andreas, 1271)

STANTON

20 Mar 1873
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)
18 Mar 1879
STANTON boundaries redefined [no change]. (Kans. Laws 1879, 18th leg., ch. 72, sec. 21/p. 147)
20 Feb 1881
STANTON remained attached to FORD "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 99, sec. 3/p. 200)
22 Feb 1883
STANTON lost all territory to HAMILTON; STANTON eliminated. (Kans. Laws 1883, 20th leg., ch. 70, sec. 1/pp. 113–114)
23 Mar 1887
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)
17 Jun 1887
STANTON fully organized, detached from HAMILTON. (Blue Skyways, http://skyways.lib.ks.us/counties, 23 November 2004)

STEVENS

20 Mar 1873
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)
18 Mar 1879
STEVENS boundaries redefined [no change]. (Kans. Laws 1879, 18th leg., ch. 72, sec. 18/pp. 146–147)
20 Feb 1881
STEVENS remained attached to FORD "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 99, sec. 3/p. 200)
22 Feb 1883
STEVENS lost all territory to SEWARD; STEVENS eliminated. (Kans. Laws 1883, 20th leg., ch. 70, sec. 5/p. 114)
20 Feb 1886
STEVENS re-created from SEWARD with slightly different boundaries from the STEVENS that was abolished 22 February 1883. (Kans. Laws 1886, spec. sess., ch. 37/pp. 57–58; Kans. Laws 1887, 22d leg., ch. 2/pp. 2–3)
26 Feb 1886
STEVENS attached to FINNEY "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1886, spec. sess., ch. 86/pp. 120–121)
03 Aug 1886
STEVENS fully organized, detached from FINNEY. (Blue Skyways, http://skyways.lib.ks.us/counties, 23 November 2004)
23 Mar 1887
GRANT attached to STEVENS "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1887, 22d leg., ch. 81, sec. 2/pp. 111–112 and ch. 132/p. 195)
09 Jun 1888
GRANT fully organized, detached from STEVENS. (Blue Skyways, http://skyways.lib.ks.us/counties, 23 November 2004)

SUMNER

26 Feb 1867
SUMNER created from BUTLER and MARION; SUMNER not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 33, sec. 11/p. 52)
02 Mar 1867
SUMNER attached to BUTLER "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 52, sec. 9/p. 87)
05 Mar 1869
SUMNER remained attached to BUTLER "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1869, 9th leg., ch. 36, sec. 8/p. 121)
07 Feb 1871
SUMNER fully organized, detached from BUTLER. (Andreas, 1495; Caldwell Messenger, 257–258)
06 Mar 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)
06 Mar 1873
BARBOUR (now BARBER), COMANCHE, and HARPER detached from SUMNER, attached to RENO "for judicial purposes." CLARK detached from SUMNER, attached to FORD "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 79, secs. 4, 6/p. 166)
15 Feb 1876
HARPER detached from RENO, attached to SUMNER "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1876, 16th leg., ch. 69, sec. 2/pp. 168–169)
15 Aug 1878
HARPER fully organized, detached from SUMNER. (Andreas, 363–364; Sanders, 42–43)

THOMAS

20 Mar 1873
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)
18 Mar 1879
THOMAS lost to WALLACE. (Kans. Laws 1879, 18th leg., ch. 72, sec. 4/p. 143)
08 Mar 1881
THOMAS detached from ROOKS, attached to SHERIDAN "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 100, sec. 3/p. 202)
13 Mar 1881
THOMAS gained from WALLACE. (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 48, sec. 3/p. 132)
08 Oct 1885
THOMAS fully organized, detached from SHERIDAN. (Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)
13 Feb 1886
SHERMAN detached from SHERIDAN, attached to THOMAS "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1886, spec. sess., chs. 77–78/pp. 113–114)
20 Sep 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)

TREGO

26 Feb 1867
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)
29 Feb 1868
TREGO attached to ELLIS "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1868, 8th leg., gen., ch. 28/pp. 310–311)
07 Mar 1872
TREGO remained attached to ELLIS "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1872, 12th leg., ch. 113, sec. 2/p. 253)
21 Jun 1879
TREGO fully organized, detached from ELLIS. (Andreas, 1297; Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)
08 Mar 1881
GOVE and WALLACE detached from ELLIS, attached to TREGO "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 98/pp. 198–199 and ch. 100, sec. 3/p. 202)
22 Feb 1885
ST. JOHN (now LOGAN) attached to TREGO "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1885, 21st leg., ch. 107/p. 154)
02 Sep 1886
GOVE fully organized, detached from TREGO. (HRS Kansas, Gove, 15; Blue Skyways, http://skyways.lib.ks.us/counties, 23 November 2004)
17 Sep 1887
LOGAN fully organized, detached from TREGO. (Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)
05 Jan 1889
WALLACE fully organized, detached from TREGO. (Blackmar, 2:868–870; Wallace County History, 33; Kans. Laws 1889, 23d leg., ch. 114/pp. 154–155)

Unorganized Federal Territory

10 Aug 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. 545–548 and res. 1[1821]/p. 645; Van Zandt, 117)
13 Dec 1850
The state of Texas sold land in present Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Wyoming to the United States; former area of SANTA FE (Texas, extinct) became unorganized federal territory in present Kansas. (U.S. Stat., vol. 9, ch. 49[1850]/pp. 446–452 and ch. 51[1850]/pp. 453–458; 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. Unorganized federal territory eliminated from Kansas. (Van Zandt, 138–139)

WABAUNSEE

25 Aug 1855
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)
20 Feb 1857
RICHARDSON (now WABAUNSEE) boundaries redefined to run on federal land survey lines [no change]. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 16/p. 41)
11 Feb 1859
RICHARDSON renamed WABAUNSEE; WABAUNSEE fully organized, detached from SHAWNEE. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1859, 5th leg., ch. 59/pp. 376–377)
17 Feb 1860
WABAUNSEE gained from DAVIS (now GEARY). (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 47/p. 89)
29 Jan 1861
WABAUNSEE became a county in the state of Kansas. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 20 [1861]/pp. 126–128; Van Zandt, 138–139)
16 Feb 1864
WABAUNSEE lost to MORRIS. (Kans. Laws 1864, 4th leg., ch. 22/p. 48)
03 Mar 1868
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)
23 Feb 1869
WABAUNSEE lost to MORRIS. (Kans. Laws 1869, 9th leg., ch. 16/pp. 57–58)
24 Mar 1870
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. 89–90)
10 Mar 1871
WABAUNSEE lost to RILEY. (Kans. Laws 1871, 11th leg., ch. 53/pp. 105–106)
25 Feb 1873
WABAUNSEE gained from RILEY. (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 56/pp. 110–112)

WALLACE

11 Mar 1868
WALLACE created from Non-County Area (6); 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)
07 Mar 1872
WALLACE remained attached to ELLIS "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1872, 12th leg., ch. 113, sec. 2/p. 253)
18 Mar 1879
WALLACE gained from GOVE, SHERIDAN, and THOMAS. (Kans. Laws 1879, 18th leg., ch. 72, sec. 6/p. 144)
08 Mar 1881
WALLACE detached from ELLIS, attached to TREGO "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 98/pp. 198–199 and ch. 100, sec. 3/p. 202)
13 Mar 1881
WALLACE lost to GOVE, SHERIDAN, and THOMAS, and lost to creation of ST. JOHN (now LOGAN). (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 48/pp. 131–133)
05 Jan 1889
WALLACE fully organized, detached from TREGO. (Blackmar, 2:868–870; Wallace County History, 33; Kans. Laws 1889, 23d leg., ch. 114/pp. 154–155)

WASHINGTON

25 Aug 1855
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. 214–215)
20 Feb 1857
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)
11 Feb 1859
WASHINGTON attached to MARSHALL "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1859, 5th leg., ch. 40, sec. 4/p. 330)
27 Feb 1860
WASHINGTON remained attached to MARSHALL "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 78, sec. 4/p. 133)
09 Apr 1860
WASHINGTON fully organized, detached from MARSHALL. (Andreas, 1056; Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 48/p. 90)
29 Jan 1861
WASHINGTON became a county in the state of Kansas. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 20 [1861]/pp. 126–128; Van Zandt, 138–139)
14 Feb 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. 46–47)
06 Sep 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)
02 Mar 1867
REPUBLIC detached from WASHINGTON, attached to MARSHALL "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 52, sec. 16/p. 89)
12 Apr 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. 82–83)
20 Feb 1903
Act of 12 April 1893, defining the boundary between WASHINGTON and MARSHALL, 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. 326–327; Linda Fincham, Register of Deeds, Marshall Co., correspondence, 8 March 2005; Marilyn K. Kolle, Register of Deeds, Washington Co., correspondence, 21 March 2005)

WELLER (see OSAGE)


WICHITA

20 Mar 1873
WICHITA created from Non-County Area (6); WICHITA not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 72, sec. 19/pp. 150–151)
18 Mar 1879
WICHITA boundaries redefined [no change]. (Kans. Laws 1879, 18th leg., ch. 72, sec. 15/p. 146)
09 Mar 1881
WICHITA attached to FORD "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 103/p. 205)
17 Mar 1885
WICHITA detached from FORD, attached to FINNEY "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1885, 21st leg., ch. 119/pp. 165–166)
19 Feb 1886
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)
24 Dec 1886
WICHITA fully organized, detached from FINNEY. (Wichita County History Assn., 39)

WILSON

25 Aug 1855
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)
20 Feb 1857
WILSON boundaries redefined to run on federal land survey lines [no change]. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 15/p. 41)
11 Feb 1859
WILSON remained attached to ALLEN "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1859, 5th leg., ch. 40, sec. 4/p. 330)
27 Feb 1860
WILSON gained from DORN (now NEOSHO). WILSON detached from ALLEN, attached to COFFEY "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 31/p. 70 and ch. 78, sec. 4/p. 133)
29 Jan 1861
WILSON became a county in the state of Kansas. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 20 [1861]/pp. 126–128; Van Zandt, 138–139)
22 May 1861
WILSON detached from COFFEY, attached to WOODSON "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1861, 1st leg., ch. 23, sec. 1/p. 123)
03 Jun 1861
WILSON gained from WOODSON. (Kans. Laws 1861, 1st leg., ch. 10/p. 107)
24 Sep 1864
WILSON fully organized, detached from WOODSON. (Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)
13 Feb 1865
WILSON gained from ALLEN. (Kans. Laws 1865, 5th leg., ch. 16/pp. 45–46)
20 Mar 1866
WILSON lost to NEOSHO. (Kans. Laws 1866, 6th leg., ch. 27/p. 78)
26 Feb 1867
WILSON lost to creation of MONTGOMERY. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 33, sec. 2/p. 51 and ch. 28/p. 47)
02 Mar 1867
MONTGOMERY attached to WILSON "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 52, sec. 7/p. 87)
03 Mar 1868
WILSON lost to WOODSON. (Kans. Laws 1868, 8th leg., gen., ch. 24, secs. 78–79/pp. 247–248)
03 Jun 1869
MONTGOMERY fully organized, detached from WILSON. (HRS Kansas, Montgomery, 3)

WISE (see MORRIS)


WOODSON

25 Aug 1855
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)
17 Feb 1857
WOODSON detached from ALLEN, attached to COFFEY "for civil and military purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 9/pp. 94–95)
20 Feb 1857
WOODSON boundaries redefined to run on federal land survey lines [no change]. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 14/pp. 40–41)
22 May 1858
WOODSON fully organized, detached from COFFEY. (Andreas, 1189; Duncan and Scott, 601; "First Proceedings," 3)
29 Jan 1861
WOODSON became a county in the state of Kansas. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 20 [1861]/pp. 126–128; Van Zandt, 138–139)
22 May 1861
GODFREY (later SEWARD original, extinct), GREENWOOD, and WILSON detached from COFFEY, attached to WOODSON "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1861, 1st leg., ch. 23, secs. 1–2/p. 123)
03 Jun 1861
WOODSON lost to WILSON. (Kans. Laws 1861, 1st leg., ch. 10/p. 107)
14 Mar 1862
GREENWOOD fully organized, detached from WOODSON. (HRS Kansas, Greenwood, 5; Kans. Laws 1862, 2d leg., ch. 60/pp. 443–444; "State of Kansas, ex rel. F. G. Hunt v. Calvin Meadows," in Kansas Rpts., 1:91–98)
24 Sep 1864
WILSON fully organized, detached from WOODSON. (Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)
26 Feb 1867
SEWARD (original) eliminated, ending its attachment to WOODSON. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 33, secs. 4–5/p. 51)
03 Mar 1868
WOODSON gained from WILSON. (Kans. Laws 1868, 8th leg., gen., ch. 24, secs. 78–79/pp. 247–248)

WYANDOTTE

29 Jan 1859
WYANDOTTE created by Kansas Territory from JOHNSON and LEAVENWORTH. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1859, 5th leg., ch. 47/pp. 362–364)
29 Jan 1861
WYANDOTTE became a county in the state of Kansas. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 20 [1861]/pp. 126–128; Van Zandt, 138–139)