KS: Individual County Chronologies

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

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)

ALLEN fully organized. (Andreas, 670; Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)

WOODSON detached from ALLEN, attached to COFFEY "for civil and military purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 9/pp. 94-95)

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)

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)

MARION detached from ALLEN, attached to CHASE "for judicial and county purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 40/p. 80)

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)

ALLEN became a county in the state of Kansas. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 20 [1861]/pp. 126–128; Van Zandt, 138–139)

NEOSHO fully organized, detached from ALLEN. (Andreas, 825)

ALLEN lost to NEOSHO and WILSON. (Kans. Laws 1865, 5th leg., chs. 16–17/pp. 45–46)

ALLEN gained from NEOSHO. (Kans. Laws 1870, 10th leg., ch. 39/pp. 88–89)

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)

ANDERSON fully organized. (Andreas, 1323; Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)

COFFEY fully organized, detached from ANDERSON. (Andreas, 647; Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., pp. 93–95)

ANDERSON boundaries redefined to run on federal land survey lines [no change]. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 8/p. 39)

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) 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)

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)

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)

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) 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)

ARAPAHOE (extinct) boundaries redefined [no change]. (Kans. Laws 1879, 18th leg., ch. 72, sec. 13/p. 145)

ARAPAHOE (extinct) remained attached to FORD "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 99, sec. 3/p. 200)

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 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)

ATCHISON fully organized. (Andreas, 373; Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)

ATCHISON boundaries redefined to run on federal land survey lines [no change]. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 26/p. 43)

ATCHISON became a county in the state of Kansas. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 20 [1861]/pp. 126–128; Van Zandt, 138–139)

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)

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)

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)

BARBOUR (now BARBER) created from MARION; BARBOUR not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 33, sec. 25/p. 55)

BARBOUR (now BARBER) attached to SUMNER "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1872, 12th leg., ch. 112, sec. 5/p. 251)

BARBOUR (now BARBER) detached from SUMNER, attached to RENO "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 79, sec. 4/p. 166)

BARBOUR (now BARBER) gained from HARPER and PRATT. (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 57/pp. 112–113)

BARBOUR (now BARBER) fully organized, detached from RENO. (Andreas, 1522; Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)

COMANCHE detached from PAWNEE, attached to BARBOUR (now BARBER) "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 99, sec. 4/p. 200)

Spelling of BARBOUR changed to BARBER. (Kans. Laws 1883, 20th leg., ch. 50/p. 92)

COMANCHE fully organized, detached from BARBER. (Blue Skyways, http://skyways.lib.ks.us/counties, 23 November 2004)

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)

BARTON attached to ELLSWORTH "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1868, 8th leg., gen., ch. 28, sec. 2/p. 310)

BARTON remained attached to ELLSWORTH "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1872, 12th leg., ch. 113, sec. 2/p. 253)

BARTON fully organized, detached from ELLSWORTH. (Andreas, 763; Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)

STAFFORD detached from ELLSWORTH, attached to BARTON "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 79, sec. 5/p. 166)

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)

STAFFORD detached from BARTON, attached to PAWNEE "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1874, 14th leg., ch. 67, sec. 2/p. 101)

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)

BARTON gained part of STAFFORD [see 25 April 1879]. (Kans. Laws 1875, 15th leg., ch. 61/pp. 88–89)

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) 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)

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)

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)

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)

BOURBON fully organized. (Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)

BOURBON boundaries redefined to run on federal land survey lines [no change]. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 4/p. 38)

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)

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)

BOURBON became a county in the state of Kansas. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 20 [1861]/pp. 126–128; Van Zandt, 138–139)

CHEROKEE fully organized, detached from BOURBON. (Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)

BOURBON lost to creation of CRAWFORD. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 32/p. 50)

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)

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 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)

BROWN fully organized, detached from DONIPHAN. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., pp. 89–90)

BROWN boundaries redefined to run on federal land survey lines [no change]. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 28/p. 44)

BROWN became a county in the state of Kansas. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 20 [1861]/pp. 126–128; Van Zandt, 138–139)

BROWN lost to JACKSON. (Kans. Laws 1868, 8th leg., spec., ch. 15/p. 50)

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)

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) 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)

BUFFALO (extinct) boundaries redefined [no change]. (Kans. Laws 1879, 18th leg., ch. 72, sec. 8/p. 144)

BUFFALO (extinct) remained attached to FORD "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 99, sec. 3/p. 200)

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 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)

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)

BUTLER lost to creation of CHASE. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1859, 5th leg., ch. 46/p. 361)

BUTLER fully organized, detached from MADISON (Kansas Territory, extinct). (Andreas, 1432; Mooney, 50; Kans. Terr. Laws 1859, 5th leg., ch. 51/pp. 367–368)

OTOE (extinct) not fully organized, attached to BUTLER "for judicial and county purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 40/p. 80)

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)

BUTLER became a county in the state of Kansas. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 20 [1861]/pp. 126–128; Van Zandt, 138–139)

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)

BUTLER lost to GREENWOOD. (Kans. Laws 1865, 5th leg., ch. 15/p. 45)

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)

COWLEY, HOWARD (extinct), RENO, SEDGWICK, and SUMNER attached to BUTLER "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 52, sec. 9/p. 87)

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)

COWLEY fully organized, detached from BUTLER. (Andreas, 1588; Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)

SEDGWICK fully organized, detached from BUTLER. (Andreas, 1385; Bentley, 494–495)

SUMNER fully organized, detached from BUTLER. (Andreas, 1495; Caldwell Messenger, 257–258)

RENO detached from BUTLER, attached to SEDGWICK "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1871, 11th leg., ch. 69, sec. 1/pp. 176–177)

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)

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)

CAPE GIRARDEAU District (Mo.) lost to NEW MADRID District (Mo.); area within present Kansas was unchanged. (Terr. Papers U.S., 13:541–542)

CAPE GIRARDEAU District (Mo.) gained from NEW MADRID District (Mo.). (Ford, 5–6)

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 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)

CHASE fully organized, detached from BRECKENRIDGE (now LYON). (Andreas, 1356; Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)

CHASE lost to MARION. MARION detached from ALLEN, attached to CHASE "for judicial and county purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 40/p. 80)

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)

CHASE became a county in the state of Kansas. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 20 [1861]/pp. 126–128; Van Zandt, 138–139)

MARION detached from MORRIS, attached to CHASE "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1861, 1st leg., ch. 23, sec. 1/p. 123)

CHASE gained from BUTLER. (Kans. Laws 1864, 4th leg., ch. 25/p. 50)

MARION fully organized, detached from CHASE. (Andreas, 1256; Van Meter, 29)

CHASE gained from MARION. (Kans. Laws 1868, 8th leg., gen., ch. 24, secs. 10, 43/pp. 231, 240)

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)

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)

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)

McGEE (now CHEROKEE) remained attached to BOURBON "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1859, 5th leg., ch. 40, sec. 4/p. 330)

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)

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)

CHEROKEE became a county in the state of Kansas. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 20 [1861]/pp. 126–128; Van Zandt, 138–139)

CHEROKEE gained from NEOSHO. (Kans. Laws 1866, 6th leg., ch. 27/p. 78)

CHEROKEE fully organized, detached from BOURBON. (Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)

CHEROKEE lost to creation of LABETTE. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., chs. 29–30/pp. 48–49)

CHEROKEE lost to creation of CRAWFORD. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 32/p. 50)

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 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)

CHEYENNE boundaries redefined [no change]. (Kans. Laws 1879, 18th leg., ch. 72, sec. 23/pp. 147–148)

CHEYENNE detached from NORTON, attached to DECATUR "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 100, sec. 3/p. 202)

CHEYENNE detached from DECATUR, attached to RAWLINS "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1883, 20th leg., ch. 103/pp. 157–158)

CHEYENNE fully organized, detached from RAWLINS. (Cheyenne County Historical Society, 11)

CLARK created from MARION; CLARK not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 33, sec. 39/p. 57)

CLARK attached to SUMNER "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1872, 12th leg., ch. 112, sec. 5/p. 251)

CLARK detached from SUMNER, attached to FORD "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 79, sec. 6/p. 166)

CLARK gained from FORD and Non-County Area (6). (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 72, sec. 7/p. 147)

CLARK remained attached to FORD "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 99, sec. 3/p. 200)

CLARK lost all territory to FORD; CLARK eliminated. (Kans. Laws 1883, 20th leg., ch. 70, sec. 3/p. 114)

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)

CLARK attached to COMANCHE "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1885, 21st leg., ch. 119, sec. 2/pp. 165–166)

CLARK fully organized, detached from COMANCHE. (Cauthers, 1: 56)

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)

CLAY attached to RILEY "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1859, 5th leg., ch. 40, sec. 4/p. 330)

CLAY detached from RILEY, attached to DAVIS (now GEARY) "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 78, sec. 4/p. 133)

Act authorized the organization of CLAY, but the organization did not take effect. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 33/pp. 71–72)

CLAY became a county in the state of Kansas. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 20 [1861]/pp. 126–128; Van Zandt, 138–139)

CLAY remained attached to DAVIS (now GEARY) "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1861, 1st leg., ch. 23, sec. 1/p. 123)

CLAY fully organized; detached from DAVIS (now GEARY). (Andreas, 1313; Pioneers of the Bluestem Prairie, 10)

JEWELL attached to CLAY "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 52, sec. 16/p. 89)

JEWELL remained attached to CLAY "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1868, 8th leg., gen., ch. 28, sec. 2/p. 310)

JEWELL fully organized, detached from CLAY. (Andreas, 968)

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)

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)

SHIRLEY (now CLOUD) attached to MARSHALL "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1861, 1st leg., ch. 23, sec. 1/p. 123)

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)

SHIRLEY (now CLOUD) fully organized, detached from WASHINGTON. (Andreas, 1016; Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)

SHIRLEY renamed CLOUD. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 40/pp. 68–69)

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)

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)

COFFEY boundaries redefined to run on federal land survey lines [no change]. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 13/p. 40)

WOODSON fully organized, detached from COFFEY. (Andreas, 1189; Duncan and Scott, 601; "First Proceedings," 3)

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)

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)

COFFEY became a county in the state of Kansas. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 20 [1861]/pp. 126–128; Van Zandt, 138–139)

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)

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)

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 created from MARION; COMANCHE not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 33, sec. 32/p. 56)

COMANCHE attached to SUMNER "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1872, 12th leg., ch. 112, sec. 5/p. 251)

COMANCHE detached from SUMNER, attached to RENO "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 79, sec. 4/p. 166)

COMANCHE gained part of KIOWA; KIOWA eliminated. (Kans. Laws 1875, 15th leg., ch. 60/pp. 87–88)

COMANCHE detached from RENO, attached to PAWNEE "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1876, 16th leg., ch. 69, sec. 2/pp. 168–169)

COMANCHE detached from PAWNEE, attached to BARBOUR (now BARBER) "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 99, sec. 4/p. 200)

COMANCHE fully organized, detached from BARBER. (Blue Skyways, http://skyways.lib.ks.us/counties, 23 November 2004)

CLARK and MEADE attached to COMANCHE "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1885, 21st leg., ch. 119, sec. 2/pp. 165–166)

CLARK fully organized, detached from COMANCHE. (Cauthers, 1: 56)

MEADE fully organized, detached from COMANCHE. (Blue Skyways, http://skyways.lib.ks.us/counties, 23 November 2004)

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)

KIOWA fully organized, detached from COMANCHE. (Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)

COWLEY created from BUTLER; COWLEY not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 33, sec. 7/p. 52)

COWLEY attached to BUTLER "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 52, sec. 9/p. 87)

COWLEY remained attached to BUTLER "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1869, 9th leg., ch. 36, sec. 8/p. 121)

COWLEY fully organized, detached from BUTLER. (Andreas, 1588; Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)

CRAWFORD created from BOURBON and CHEROKEE; CRAWFORD not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 32/p. 50)

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)

CRAWFORD boundaries clarified [no change]. (Kans. Laws 1874, 14th leg., ch. 70/p. 104)

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)

DECATUR boundaries redefined [no change]. (Kans. Laws 1879, 18th leg., ch. 72, sec. 1/p. 143)

DECATUR fully organized, detached from NORTON. (Andreas, 1614; Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)

CHEYENNE and RAWLINS detached from NORTON, attached to DECATUR "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 100, sec. 3/p. 202)

RAWLINS fully organized, detached from DECATUR. (Andreas, 1607)

CHEYENNE detached from DECATUR, attached to RAWLINS "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1883, 20th leg., ch. 103/pp. 157–158)

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)

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)

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)

DICKINSON became a county in the state of Kansas. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 20 [1861]/pp. 126–128; Van Zandt, 138–139)

DICKINSON gained from MORRIS, lost to DAVIS (now GEARY). (Kans. Laws 1864, 4th leg., chs. 23–24/pp. 48–49)

DICKINSON gained small area from SALINE. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 31/p. 49)

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 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)

DONIPHAN fully organized. (Andreas, 474; Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)

BROWN fully organized, detached from DONIPHAN. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., pp. 89–90)

DONIPHAN boundaries redefined to run on federal land survey lines [no change]. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 25/p. 43)

DONIPHAN became a county in the state of Kansas. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 20 [1861]/pp. 126–128; Van Zandt, 138–139)

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)

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)

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)

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)

DOUGLAS fully organized. (Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)

DOUGLAS boundaries redefined to run on federal land survey lines [no change]. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 6/p. 39)

DOUGLAS became a county in the state of Kansas. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 20 [1861]/pp. 126–128; Van Zandt, 138–139)

DOUGLAS gained from JEFFERSON. (Kans. Laws 1865, 5th leg., ch. 14/p. 44)

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)

EDWARDS fully organized. (Andreas, 1368; Malin, 274)

EDWARDS gained part of KIOWA; KIOWA eliminated. (Kans. Laws 1875, 15th leg., ch. 60/pp. 87–88)

EDWARDS lost to re-creation of KIOWA. (Kans. Laws 1886, spec. sess., ch. 35/pp. 54–55)

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 created from Non-County Area (2) attached to RILEY; ELLIS not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 33, sec. 28/p. 55)

ELLIS fully organized. (Winter, 78)

GRAHAM, NESS, ROOKS, RUSH, and TREGO attached to ELLIS "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1868, 8th leg., gen., ch. 28/pp. 310–311)

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)

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)

PAWNEE fully organized, detached from ELLIS. (Andreas, 1350)

ROOKS fully organized, detached from ELLIS. (Andreas, 1609)

GRAHAM detached from ELLIS, attached to ROOKS "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 76, sec. 2/p. 160)

NESS fully organized, detached from ELLIS. (Andreas, 1524; Millbrook, Ness, 66–70)

RUSH fully organized, detached from ELLIS. (Andreas, 1585; Kans. Laws 1875, 15th leg., ch. 84, sec. 2/p. 121)

TREGO fully organized, detached from ELLIS. (Andreas, 1297; Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)

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 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)

ELLSWORTH attached to SALINE "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 52, sec. 16/p. 89)

ELLSWORTH fully organized, detached from SALINE. (Andreas, 1275)

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)

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)

RICE fully organized, detached from ELLSWORTH. (Andreas, 753; Kans. Laws 1872, 12th leg., ch. 28/p. 32)

BARTON and RUSSELL remained attached to ELLSWORTH "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1872, 12th leg., ch. 113, sec. 2/p. 253)

BARTON fully organized, detached from ELLSWORTH. (Andreas, 763; Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)

RUSSELL fully organized, detached from ELLSWORTH. (Andreas, 1284)

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) 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)

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 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)

FINNEY attached to FORD "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1884, spec. sess., ch. 9/p. 21)

FINNEY fully organized, detached from FORD. (Finney County Historical Society, 1:9)

FINNEY lost to re-creation of MEADE. (Kans. Laws 1885, 21st leg., ch. 71, secs. 2, 5/p. 110)

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)

HAMILTON fully organized, detached from FINNEY. (Blue Skyways, http://skyways.lib.ks.us/counties, 23 November 2004)

SCOTT, SEWARD, and WICHITA remained attached to FINNEY "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1886, spec. sess., ch. 87/p. 121)

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)

SCOTT fully organized, detached from FINNEY. (Scott County Centennial Comm., 16)

STEVENS fully organized, detached from FINNEY. (Blue Skyways, http://skyways.lib.ks.us/counties, 23 November 2004)

WICHITA fully organized, detached from FINNEY. (Wichita County History Assn., 39)

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)

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

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) 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)

FOOTE (extinct) boundaries redefined [no change]. (Kans. Laws 1879, 18th leg., ch. 72, sec. 9/pp. 144–145)

FOOTE (extinct) remained attached to FORD "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 99, sec. 3/p. 200)

FOOTE lost all territory to the creation of GRAY; FOOTE eliminated. (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 48, sec. 7/p. 133)

FORD created from MARION; FORD not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 33, sec. 38/p. 57)

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)

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)

FORD fully organized. (Rath, 48; Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)

HODGEMAN detached from FORD, attached to PAWNEE "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1874, 14th leg., ch. 67, sec. 2/p. 101)

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)

WICHITA attached to FORD "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 103/p. 205)

BUFFALO and FOOTE eliminated, ending their attachment to FORD. (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 48, secs. 6–7/p. 133)

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)

FINNEY attached to FORD "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1884, spec. sess., ch. 9/p. 21)

FINNEY fully organized, detached from FORD. (Finney County Historical Society, 1:9)

FORD lost to re-creation of CLARK and MEADE. (Kans. Laws 1885, 21st leg., ch. 71, secs. 2–3, 6/pp. 110–111)

GREELEY, HAMILTON, SEWARD, and WICHITA detached from FORD, attached to FINNEY "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1885, 21st leg., ch. 119/pp. 165–166)

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)

GRAY fully organized, detached from FORD. (Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)

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)

FRANKLIN boundaries redefined to run on federal land survey lines [no change]. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 7/p. 39)

FRANKLIN fully organized. (Andreas, 606; HRS Kansas, Franklin, 4)

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) 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)

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) 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)

GARFIELD (extinct) was fully organized, detached from HODGEMAN. ("Charles Hall, Petitioner," in Kansas Rpts., 38:670–673)

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)

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)

DAVIS (now GEARY) boundaries redefined to run on federal land survey lines [no change]. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 21/p. 42)

DAVIS (now GEARY) fully organized, detached from RILEY. (Andreas, 1001; Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., pp. 91–92)

DAVIS (now GEARY) lost to MORRIS. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1859, 5th leg., ch. 46/p. 361)

DAVIS (now GEARY) lost to WABAUNSEE. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 47/p. 89)

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)

CLAY detached from RILEY, attached to DAVIS (now GEARY) "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 78, sec. 4/p. 133)

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)

DAVIS (now GEARY) lost to RILEY. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1861, ch. 12/p. 16)

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)

DAVIS (now GEARY) gained from DICKINSON. (Kans. Laws 1864, 4th leg., chs. 23–24/pp. 48–49)

OTTAWA detached from DAVIS (now GEARY), attached to SALINE "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1865, 5th leg., ch. 31/pp. 76–77)

CLAY fully organized; detached from DAVIS (now GEARY). (Andreas, 1313; Pioneers of the Bluestem Prairie, 10)

DAVIS (now GEARY) exchanged with RILEY. (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 58/pp. 113–115)

DAVIS (now GEARY) gained from RILEY. (Kans. Laws 1875, 15th leg., ch. 62/pp. 89–91)

DAVIS renamed GEARY. (Kans. Laws 1889, 23d leg., ch. 132/pp. 182–183)

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)

GEARY gained small area from RILEY along the Fort Riley Military Reservation boundary. (Kans. Laws 1978, 67th leg., ch. 88/pp. 421–422)

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)

GOVE gained from SHERIDAN, lost to LANE and WALLACE. (Kans. Laws 1879, 18th leg., ch. 72, sec. 5/p. 144; HRS Kansas, Gove, 3)

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)

GOVE gained from LANE and WALLACE, lost to SHERIDAN. (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 48/pp. 131–133; HRS Kansas, Gove, 3)

GOVE fully organized, detached from TREGO. (HRS Kansas, Gove, 15; Blue Skyways, http://skyways.lib.ks.us/counties, 23 November 2004)

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)

GRAHAM attached to ELLIS "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1868, 8th leg., gen., ch. 28, sec. 2/p. 310)

GRAHAM detached from ELLIS, attached to ROOKS "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 76, sec. 2/p. 160)

GRAHAM fully organized; detached from ROOKS. (Andreas, 1060; HRS Kansas, Graham, 4)

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)

GRANT boundaries redefined [no change]. (Kans. Laws 1879, 18th leg., ch. 72, sec. 17/p. 146)

GRANT remained attached to FORD "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 99, sec. 3/p. 200)

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)

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)

GRANT fully organized, detached from STEVENS. (Blue Skyways, http://skyways.lib.ks.us/counties, 23 November 2004)

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)

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)

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)

GRAY fully organized, detached from FORD. (Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)

GREELEY created from Non-County Area (6); GREELEY not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 72, sec. 23/pp. 151–152)

GREELEY boundaries redefined [no change]. (Kans. Laws 1879, 18th leg., ch. 72, sec. 19/p. 147)

GREELEY attached to FORD "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 99, sec. 3/p. 200)

GREELEY detached from FORD, attached to FINNEY "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1885, 21st leg., ch. 119/pp. 165–166)

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)

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 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)

GREENWOOD boundaries redefined to run on federal land survey lines [no change]. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 19/p. 42)

GREENWOOD detached from ALLEN, attached to COFFEY "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1859, 5th leg., ch. 40, sec. 4/p. 330)

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)

GREENWOOD became a county in the state of Kansas. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 20 [1861]/pp. 126–128; Van Zandt, 138–139)

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)

GREENWOOD detached from COFFEY, attached to WOODSON "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1861, 1st leg., ch. 23, sec. 1/p. 123)

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)

GREENWOOD lost to BUTLER. (Kans. Laws 1864, 4th leg., ch. 25/p. 50)

GREENWOOD gained from BUTLER. (Kans. Laws 1865, 5th leg., ch. 15/p. 45)

GREENWOOD gained from BUTLER and gained part of SEWARD (original); SEWARD (original) eliminated. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 33, sec. 4/p. 51)

GREENWOOD lost to HOWARD (extinct). (Kans. Laws 1868, 8th leg., gen., ch. 24, secs. 29, 32/pp. 236–237)

HOWARD (extinct) detached from BUTLER, attached to GREENWOOD "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1869, 9th leg., ch. 36, sec. 8/p. 121)

HOWARD (extinct) detached from GREENWOOD, attached to MONTGOMERY "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1870, 10th leg., ch. 60, sec. 2/p. 135)

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)

HAMILTON boundaries redefined [no change]. (Kans. Laws 1879, 18th leg., ch. 72, sec. 20/p. 147)

HAMILTON remained attached to FORD "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 99, sec. 3/p. 200)

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)

HAMILTON detached from FORD, attached to FINNEY "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1885, 21st leg., ch. 119/pp. 165–166)

HAMILTON fully organized, detached from FINNEY. (Blue Skyways, http://skyways.lib.ks.us/counties, 23 November 2004)

GREELEY and MORTON attached to HAMILTON "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1886, spec. sess., chs. 81, 86, 87/pp. 116, 120–121)

MORTON fully organized, detached from HAMILTON. (Blue Skyways, http://skyways.lib.ks.us/counties, 23 November 2004)

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)

STANTON fully organized, detached from HAMILTON. (Blue Skyways, http://skyways.lib.ks.us/counties, 23 November 2004)

KEARNEY (now spelled KEARNY) fully organized, detached from HAMILTON. (Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)

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 created from MARION; HARPER not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 33, sec. 18/p. 54)

HARPER attached to SEDGWICK "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1871, 11th leg., ch. 69, sec. 1/pp. 176–177)

HARPER detached from SEDGWICK, attached to SUMNER "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1872, 12th leg., ch. 112, sec. 5/p. 251)

HARPER lost to creation of KINGMAN. (Kans. Laws 1872, 12th leg., ch. 97, sec. 4/p. 184)

HARPER detached from SUMNER, attached to RENO "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 79, sec. 4/p. 166)

HARPER lost to BARBOUR (now BARBER). (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 57/pp. 112–113)

HARPER detached from RENO, attached to SUMNER "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1876, 16th leg., ch. 69, sec. 2/pp. 168–169)

HARPER fully organized, detached from SUMNER. (Andreas, 363–364; Sanders, 42–43)

HARPER boundaries redefined [no change]. (Kans. Laws 1879, 18th leg., ch. 73/pp. 148–149)

HARPER boundaries clarified [no change]. (Kans. Laws 1885, 21st leg., ch. 69/p. 108)

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)

HARVEY fully organized. (Andreas, 772, 1350)

HARVEY gained from MARION. (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 59/pp. 115–116)

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)

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

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)

HODGEMAN attached to FORD "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 79, sec. 6/p. 166)

HODGEMAN gained from Non-County Area (6), lost to FORD. (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 72, secs. 8–9/pp. 147–148)

HODGEMAN detached from FORD, attached to PAWNEE "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1874, 14th leg., ch. 67, sec. 2/p. 101)

HODGEMAN fully organized, detached from PAWNEE. (Andreas, 1608)

HODGEMAN gained from LANE and gained part of GRAY; GRAY eliminated. (Kans. Laws 1883, 20th leg., ch. 70, sec. 4/p. 114)

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)

GARFIELD (extinct) was fully organized, detached from HODGEMAN. ("Charles Hall, Petitioner," in Kansas Rpts., 38:670–673)

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)

HOWARD (extinct) attached to BUTLER "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 52, sec. 9/p. 87)

HOWARD (extinct) gained from GREENWOOD. (Kans. Laws 1868, 8th leg., gen., ch. 24, secs. 29, 32/pp. 236–237)

HOWARD (extinct) detached from BUTLER, attached to GREENWOOD "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1869, 9th leg., ch. 36, sec. 8/p. 121)

HOWARD (extinct) detached from GREENWOOD, attached to MONTGOMERY "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1870, 10th leg., ch. 60, sec. 2/p. 135)

HOWARD (extinct) fully organized, detached from MONTGOMERY. (Andreas, 1174)

HOWARD lost all territory to creation of CHAUTAUQUA and ELK; HOWARD eliminated. (Kans. Laws 1875, 15th leg., ch. 106/pp. 148–152)

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)

HUNTER (extinct) boundaries redefined to run on federal land survey lines [no change]. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 24/p. 43)

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)

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)

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)

HUNTER lost all territory to BUTLER; HUNTER eliminated. (Kans. Laws 1864, 4th leg., ch. 25/p. 50)

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)

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)

IRVING (extinct) attached to BRECKENRIDGE (now LYON) "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1861, 1st leg., ch. 23, sec. 1/p. 123)

IRVING lost all territory to BUTLER; IRVING eliminated. (Kans. Laws 1864, 4th leg., ch. 25/p. 50)

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)

CALHOUN (now JACKSON) fully organized. (Andreas, 1339; Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)

CALHOUN (now JACKSON) gained from JEFFERSON, lost to creation of POTTAWATOMIE. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 31/pp. 44–45)

CALHOUN renamed JACKSON. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1859, 5th leg., ch. 99/p. 572)

JACKSON lost to SHAWNEE. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 46/p. 88)

JACKSON became a county in the state of Kansas. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 20 [1861]/pp. 126–128; Van Zandt, 138–139)

JACKSON gained from BROWN, lost to SHAWNEE. (Kans. Laws 1868, 8th leg., spec., ch. 15/p. 50)

JEFFERSON created by Kansas Territory from non-county area. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1855, 1st leg., ch. 30, sec. 29/pp. 209–210)

JEFFERSON lost to CALHOUN (now JACKSON). (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 29/p. 44)

JEFFERSON became a county in the state of Kansas. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 20 [1861]/pp. 126–128; Van Zandt, 138–139)

JEFFERSON lost to DOUGLAS. (Kans. Laws 1865, 5th leg., ch. 14/p. 44)

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 created from Non-County Area (2) attached to RILEY; JEWELL not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 33, sec. 12/p. 53)

JEWELL attached to CLAY "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 52, sec. 16/p. 89)

JEWELL remained attached to CLAY "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1868, 8th leg., gen., ch. 28, sec. 2/p. 310)

JEWELL fully organized, detached from CLAY. (Andreas, 968)

SMITH detached from OTTAWA, attached to JEWELL "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1871, 11th leg., ch. 67, secs. 1–2/p. 172)

SMITH fully organized, detached from JEWELL. (Andreas, 908–909)

JOHNSON created by Kansas Territory from non-county area. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1855, 1st leg., ch. 30, sec. 1/p. 205)

JOHNSON boundaries redefined to run on federal land survey lines [no change]. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 1/pp. 37–38)

JOHNSON lost to creation of WYANDOTTE. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1859, 5th leg., ch. 47/pp. 362–364)

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) 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)

KANSAS (extinct) boundaries redefined [no change]. (Kans. Laws 1879, 18th leg., ch. 72, sec. 22/p. 147)

KANSAS (extinct) remained attached to FORD "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 99, sec. 3/p. 200)

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)

The United States created Kansas Territory from unorganized federal territory; included all of present Kansas and part of present Colorado. (Van Zandt, 138–139)

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 (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)

KEARNEY (now spelled KEARNY) boundaries redefined [no change]. (Kans. Laws 1879, 18th leg., ch. 72, sec. 16/p. 146)

KEARNEY (now spelled KEARNY) remained attached to FORD "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 99, sec. 3/p. 200)

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)

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)

KEARNEY (now spelled KEARNY) fully organized, detached from HAMILTON. (Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)

Spelling of "KEARNEY" changed to "KEARNY." (Kans. Laws 1889, 23d leg., ch. 167/pp. 242–243)

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)

KINGMAN remained attached to RENO "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 79, sec. 4/p. 166)

KINGMAN fully organized, detached from RENO. (Andreas, 1526)

KINGMAN boundaries redefined [no change]. (Kans. Laws 1879, 18th leg., ch. 73/pp. 148–149)

KIOWA created from MARION; KIOWA not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 33, sec. 31/p. 56)

KIOWA attached to RENO "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 79, sec. 4/p. 166)

KIOWA lost to creation of EDWARDS. (Kans. Laws 1874, 14th leg., ch. 59, secs. 1–2/pp. 91–92)

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)

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)

KIOWA fully organized, detached from COMANCHE. (Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)

LABETTE created from CHEROKEE and NEOSHO. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., chs. 29–30/pp. 48–49)

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 created from Non-County Area (6); LANE not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 72, sec. 11/pp. 148–149)

LANE gained from GOVE. (Kans. Laws 1879, 18th leg., ch. 72, sec. 7/p. 144)

LANE attached to NESS "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 99, sec. 5/p. 200)

LANE gained part of BUFFALO, lost to GOVE; BUFFALO eliminated. (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 48, sec. 6/p. 133)

LANE lost to HODGEMAN, and lost to creation of FINNEY. (Kans. Laws 1883, 20th leg., ch. 70, secs. 2, 4, 6/pp. 114–115)

LANE fully organized, detached from NESS. (Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)

LEAVENWORTH created by Kansas Territory from non-county area. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1855, 1st leg., ch. 30, sec. 27/p. 209)

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)

LEAVENWORTH lost to creation of WYANDOTTE. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1859, 5th leg., ch. 47/pp. 362–364)

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 created from Non-County Area (2) attached to RILEY; LINCOLN not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 33, sec. 14/p. 53)

LINCOLN attached to OTTAWA "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 52, sec. 16/p. 89)

LINCOLN detached from OTTAWA, attached to SALINE "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1868, 8th leg., gen., ch. 28, sec. 2/p. 310)

LINCOLN fully organized, detached from SALINE. (Andreas, 1421)

LINN created by Kansas Territory from non-county area. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1855, 1st leg., ch. 30, sec. 3/p. 206)

LINN boundaries redefined to run on federal land survey lines [no change]. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 3/p. 38)

LINN became a county in the state of Kansas. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 20 [1861]/pp. 126–128; Van Zandt, 138–139)

ST. JOHN (now LOGAN) created from WALLACE; ST. JOHN not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 48, sec. 1/pp. 131–132)

ST. JOHN (now LOGAN) attached to TREGO "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1885, 21st leg., ch. 107/p. 154)

ST. JOHN renamed LOGAN. (Kans. Laws 1887, 22d leg., ch. 173/p. 255)

LOGAN fully organized, detached from TREGO. (Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)

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)

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)

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)

BRECKENRIDGE (now LYON) gained from MADISON (Kansas Territory, extinct). (Kans. Terr. Laws 1859, 5th leg., ch. 43/p. 357)

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)

CHASE fully organized, detached from BRECKENRIDGE (now LYON). (Andreas, 1356; Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

BRECKENRIDGE renamed LYON. Act passed 5 February 1862; took effect 7 March 1862. (Kans. Laws 1862, 2d leg., ch. 61/pp. 444–445)

LYON lost to MORRIS. (Kans. Laws 1864, 4th leg., ch. 22/p. 48)

HUNTER, IRVING, and OTOE eliminated, ending their attachment to LYON. (Kans. Laws 1864, 4th leg., ch. 25/p. 50)

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)

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)

McPHERSON created from MARION; McPHERSON not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 33, sec. 9/p. 52)

McPHERSON attached to MARION "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 52, sec. 9/p. 87)

McPHERSON detached from MARION, attached to SALINE "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1869, 9th leg., ch. 36, sec. 8/p. 121)

McPHERSON fully organized, detached from SALINE. (Andreas, 812; Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)

McPHERSON lost to creation of HARVEY, and lost to RENO. (Kans. Laws 1872, 12th leg., ch. 97/pp. 183–185)

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)

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)

MADISON (Kansas Territory, extinct) lost to BRECKENRIDGE (now LYON). (Kans. Terr. Laws 1859, 5th leg., ch. 43/p. 357)

BUTLER fully organized, detached from MADISON (Kansas Territory, extinct). (Andreas, 1432; Mooney, 50; Kans. Terr. Laws 1859, 5th leg., ch. 51/pp. 367–368)

MADISON (Kansas Territory, extinct) lost to BUTLER and CHASE. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 32/pp. 70–71)

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 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)

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)

MARION detached from CHASE, attached to MORRIS "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 78, sec. 4/p. 133)

MARION became a county in the state of Kansas. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 20 [1861]/pp. 126–128; Van Zandt, 138–139)

MARION detached from MORRIS, attached to CHASE "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1861, 1st leg., ch. 23, sec. 1/p. 123)

MARION gained all of PEKETON; PEKETON eliminated. (Kans. Laws 1865, 5th leg., ch. 19/pp. 47–48)

MARION fully organized, detached from CHASE. (Andreas, 1256; Van Meter, 29)

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)

McPHERSON, PRATT, RICE, and STAFFORD attached to MARION "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 52, sec. 9/p. 87)

RICE detached from MARION, attached to ELLSWORTH "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1868, 8th leg., gen., ch. 28, sec. 2/p. 310)

MARION lost to CHASE. (Kans. Laws 1868, 8th leg., gen., ch. 24, secs. 10, 43/pp. 231, 240)

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)

MARION lost to HARVEY. (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 59/pp. 115–116)

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)

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)

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)

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)

WASHINGTON remained attached to MARSHALL "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 78, sec. 4/p. 133)

WASHINGTON fully organized, detached from MARSHALL. (Andreas, 1056; Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 48/p. 90)

MARSHALL became a county in the state of Kansas. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 20 [1861]/pp. 126–128; Van Zandt, 138–139)

REPUBLIC and SHIRLEY (now CLOUD) attached to MARSHALL "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1861, 1st leg., ch. 23, sec. 1/p. 123)

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)

REPUBLIC detached from WASHINGTON, attached to MARSHALL "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 52, sec. 16/p. 89)

REPUBLIC fully organized, detached from MARSHALL. (Andreas, 1033)

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)

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 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)

MEADE boundaries redefined [no change]. (Kans. Laws 1879, 18th leg., ch. 72, sec. 10/p. 145)

MEADE remained attached to FORD "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 99, sec. 3/p. 200)

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)

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)

MEADE attached to COMANCHE "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1885, 21st leg., ch. 119, sec. 2`/pp. 165–166)

MEADE fully organized, detached from COMANCHE. (Blue Skyways, http://skyways.lib.ks.us/counties, 23 November 2004)

SEWARD detached from FINNEY, attached to MEADE "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1886, spec. sess., ch. 86/pp. 120–121)

SEWARD fully organized, detached from MEADE. (HRS Kansas, Seward, 4)

LYKINS (now MIAMI) created by Kansas Territory from non-county area. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1855, 1st leg., ch. 30, sec. 2/pp. 205–206)

LYKINS (now MIAMI) boundaries redefined to run on federal land survey lines [no change]. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 2/p. 38)

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)

LYKINS renamed MIAMI. (Kans. Laws 1861, 1st leg., ch. 18/p. 114)

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)

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)

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 created from Non-County Area (2) attached to RILEY; MITCHELL not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 33, sec. 13/p. 53)

MITCHELL attached to OTTAWA "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 52, sec. 16/p. 89)

MITCHELL remained attached to OTTAWA "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1868, 8th leg., gen., ch. 28, sec. 2/pp. 310–311)

MITCHELL fully organized, detached from OTTAWA. (Andreas, 1022)

OSBORNE detached from OTTAWA, attached to MITCHELL "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1871, 11th leg., ch. 67, secs. 1–2/p. 172)

OSBORNE fully organized, detached from MITCHELL. (Andreas, 934)

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)

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 created from WILSON; MONTGOMERY not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 33, sec. 2/p. 51 and ch. 28/p. 47)

MONTGOMERY attached to WILSON "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 52, sec. 7/p. 87)

MONTGOMERY fully organized, detached from WILSON. (HRS Kansas, Montgomery, 3)

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)

HOWARD (extinct) fully organized, detached from MONTGOMERY. (Andreas, 1174)

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)

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)

WISE (now MORRIS) boundaries redefined to run on federal land survey lines [no change]. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 22/p. 42)

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)

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)

SALINE fully organized, detached from MORRIS. (Andreas, 698)

MORRIS became a county in the state of Kansas. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 20 [1861]/pp. 126–128; Van Zandt, 138–139)

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)

MORRIS gained from LYON and WABAUNSEE, lost to DICKINSON. (Kans. Laws 1864, 4th leg., chs. 22–23/pp. 48–49)

PEKETON eliminated, ending its attachment to MORRIS. (Kans. Laws 1865, 5th leg., ch. 19/pp. 47–48)

MORRIS lost to WABAUNSEE. (Kans. Laws 1868, 8th leg., gen., ch. 24, secs. 49, 75/pp. 241, 247)

MORRIS gained from WABAUNSEE. (Kans. Laws 1869, 9th leg., ch. 16/pp. 57–58)

MORRIS lost to WABAUNSEE. (Kans. Laws 1870, 10th leg., ch. 40/pp. 89–90)

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)

MORTON attached to HAMILTON "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1886, spec. sess., ch. 86/pp. 120–121)

MORTON fully organized, detached from HAMILTON. (Blue Skyways, http://skyways.lib.ks.us/counties, 23 November 2004)

NEMAHA created by Kansas Territory from non-county area. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1855, 1st leg., ch. 30, sec. 30/p. 210)

NEMAHA boundaries redefined to run on federal land survey lines [no change]. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 30/p. 44)

NEMAHA became a county in the state of Kansas. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 20 [1861]/pp. 126–128; Van Zandt, 138–139)

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)

DORN (now NEOSHO) boundaries redefined to run on federal land survey lines [no change]. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 10/p. 40)

DORN (now NEOSHO) detached from ALLEN, attached to BOURBON "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1859, 5th leg., ch. 40, sec. 4/p. 330)

DORN (now NEOSHO) gained from CHEROKEE, lost to WILSON. DORN detached from BOURBON, attached to ALLEN "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 31/p. 70 and ch. 78, sec. 4/p. 133)

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)

DORN renamed NEOSHO. (Kans. Laws 1861, 1st leg., ch. 18/p. 114)

NEOSHO fully organized, detached from ALLEN. (Andreas, 825)

NEOSHO gained from ALLEN. (Kans. Laws 1865, 5th leg., ch. 17/p. 46)

NEOSHO gained from WILSON, lost to CHEROKEE. (Kans. Laws 1866, 6th leg., ch. 27/p. 78)

NEOSHO lost to creation of LABETTE. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., chs. 29–30/pp. 48–49)

NEOSHO lost to ALLEN. (Kans. Laws 1870, 10th leg., ch. 39/pp. 88–89)

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)

NESS attached to ELLIS "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1868, 8th leg., gen., ch. 28, sec. 2/p. 310; Millbrook, Ness, 64)

NESS remained attached to ELLIS "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1872, 12th leg., ch. 113, sec. 2/p. 253)

NESS gained from Non-County Area (6). (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 72, sec. 10/p. 148)

NESS fully organized, detached from ELLIS. (Andreas, 1524; Millbrook, Ness, 66–70)

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)

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)

LANE fully organized, detached from NESS. (Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)

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)

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)

NEW MADRID District (Mo.) gained from CAPE GIRARDEAU District (Mo.); area within present Kansas was unchanged. (Terr. Papers U.S., 13:541–542)

NEW MADRID District (Mo.) lost to CAPE GIRARDEAU District (Mo.); NEW MADRID eliminated from present Kansas. (Ford, 5–6)

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)

Non-County Area (1) attached to MARSHALL lost to re-creation of WASHINGTON. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 33/p. 45)

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), 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)

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)

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)

Non-County Area (2) attached to RILEY lost to creation of SALINE. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 44/pp. 85–87)

Non-County Area (2) attached to RILEY gained from MARION. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 40/p. 80)

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)

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)

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)

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)

All the original area of WASHINGTON became Non-County Area (3). (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 33/p. 45)

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) 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)

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) was created when PEKETON (extinct) was created and divided Non-County Area (2). (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 42/p. 83)

Non-County Area (5) lost to creation of IRVING (extinct). (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 38/pp. 77–78)

BUTLER gained all of Non-County Area (5); Non-County Area (5) eliminated. (Kans. Laws 1864, 4th leg., ch. 25/p. 50)

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)

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)

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) created from PAWNEE and STAFFORD. (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 57/pp. 112–113 and ch. 72, secs. 27, 29/pp. 152–154)

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 created from Non-County Area (2) attached to RILEY; NORTON not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 33, sec. 33/p. 56)

NORTON fully organized. (Andreas, 1062; Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)

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)

BILLINGS renamed NORTON. (Kans. Laws 1874, 14th leg., ch. 55/p. 88)

DECATUR fully organized, detached from NORTON. (Andreas, 1614; Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)

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) 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)

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)

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)

WELLER (now OSAGE) boundaries redefined to run on federal land survey lines [no change]. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 12/p. 40)

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)

OSAGE gained from SHAWNEE. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 46/p. 88)

OSAGE lost to COFFEY. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 41, sec. 10/p. 82)

OSAGE became a county in the state of Kansas. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 20 [1861]/pp. 126–128; Van Zandt, 138–139)

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)

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 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)

OSBORNE attached to OTTAWA "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1868, 8th leg., gen., ch. 28, sec. 2/pp. 310–311)

OSBORNE detached from OTTAWA, attached to MITCHELL "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1871, 11th leg., ch. 67, secs. 1–2/p. 172)

OSBORNE fully organized, detached from MITCHELL. (Andreas, 934)

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)

OTOE (extinct) detached from BUTLER, attached to BRECKENRIDGE (now LYON) "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 78, sec. 4/p. 133)

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)

OTOE (extinct) remained attached to BRECKENRIDGE (now LYON) "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1861, 1st leg., ch. 23, sec. 1/p. 123)

OTOE lost all territory to BUTLER; OTOE eliminated. (Kans. Laws 1864, 4th leg., ch. 25/p. 50)

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)

OTTAWA became a county in the state of Kansas. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 20 [1861]/pp. 126–128; Van Zandt, 138–139)

OTTAWA attached to DAVIS (now GEARY) "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1861, 1st leg., ch. 23, sec. 1/p. 123)

OTTAWA detached from DAVIS (now GEARY), attached to SALINE "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1865, 5th leg., ch. 31/pp. 76–77)

OTTAWA fully organized, detached from SALINE. (Andreas, 1425)

LINCOLN and MITCHELL attached to OTTAWA "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 52, sec. 16/p. 89)

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)

MITCHELL fully organized, detached from OTTAWA. (Andreas, 1022)

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 created from MARION; PAWNEE not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 33, sec. 30/p. 55)

PAWNEE attached to ELLIS "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1872, 12th leg., ch. 113, sec. 2/p. 253)

PAWNEE fully organized, detached from ELLIS. (Andreas, 1350)

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)

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)

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)

PRATT detached from RENO, attached to PAWNEE "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1875, 15th leg., ch. 61/pp. 88–89)

COMANCHE detached from RENO, attached to PAWNEE "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1876, 16th leg., ch. 69, sec. 2/pp. 168–169)

HODGEMAN fully organized, detached from PAWNEE. (Andreas, 1608)

STAFFORD fully organized, detached from PAWNEE. (Andreas, 1271)

PRATT fully organized, detached from PAWNEE. (Andreas, 1268)

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) 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)

PEKETON (extinct) attached to MORRIS "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 78, sec. 4/p. 133)

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)

PEKETON (extinct) remained attached to MORRIS "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1861, 1st leg., ch. 23, sec. 1/p. 123)

PEKETON lost all territory to MARION; PEKETON eliminated. (Kans. Laws 1865, 5th leg., ch. 19/pp. 47–48)

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)

PHILLIPS fully organized. (HRS Kansas, Phillips, 12)

POTTAWATOMIE created by Kansas Territory from CALHOUN (now JACKSON) and RILEY. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 34/p. 45)

POTTAWATOMIE lost small area to SHAWNEE. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 46/p. 88)

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 created from MARION; PRATT not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 33, sec. 24/pp. 54–55)

PRATT attached to MARION "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 52, sec. 9/p. 87)

PRATT detached from MARION, attached to ELLSWORTH "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1869, 9th leg., ch. 36, sec. 8/p. 121)

PRATT detached from ELLSWORTH, attached to RENO "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 79, sec. 4/p. 166)

PRATT lost to BARBOUR (now BARBER). (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 57/pp. 112–113)

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)

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)

PRATT fully organized, detached from PAWNEE. (Andreas, 1268)

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)

RAWLINS boundaries redefined [no change]. (Kans. Laws 1879, 18th leg., ch. 72, sec. 2/p. 143)

RAWLINS detached from NORTON, attached to DECATUR "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 100, sec. 3/p. 202)

RAWLINS fully organized, detached from DECATUR. (Andreas, 1607)

CHEYENNE detached from DECATUR, attached to RAWLINS "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1883, 20th leg., ch. 103/pp. 157–158)

CHEYENNE fully organized, detached from RAWLINS. (Cheyenne County Historical Society, 11)

RENO created from MARION; RENO not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 33, sec. 17/p. 53)

RENO attached to BUTLER "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 52, sec. 9/p. 87)

RENO remained attached to BUTLER "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1869, 9th leg., ch. 36, sec. 8/p. 121)

RENO detached from BUTLER, attached to SEDGWICK "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1871, 11th leg., ch. 69, sec. 1/pp. 176–177)

RENO fully organized, detached from SEDGWICK. (Andreas, 1350, 1371; Kans. Laws 1872, 12th leg., ch. 119/p. 262)

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)

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)

BARBOUR (now BARBER) fully organized, detached from RENO. (Andreas, 1522; Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)

KINGMAN fully organized, detached from RENO. (Andreas, 1526)

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)

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)

RENO lost small area to RICE. (Kans. Laws 1886, spec. sess., ch. 36/p. 56)

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)

REPUBLIC became a county in the state of Kansas. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 20 [1861]/pp. 126–128; Van Zandt, 138–139)

REPUBLIC attached to MARSHALL "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1861, 1st leg., ch. 23, sec. 1/p. 123)

REPUBLIC detached from MARSHALL, attached to WASHINGTON for judicial and administrative purposes. (Kans. Laws 1865, 5th leg., ch. 18/pp. 46–47)

REPUBLIC detached from WASHINGTON, attached to MARSHALL "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 52, sec. 16/p. 89)

REPUBLIC fully organized, detached from MARSHALL. (Andreas, 1033)

RICE created from MARION; RICE not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 33, sec. 16/p. 53)

RICE attached to MARION "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 52, sec. 9/p. 87)

RICE detached from MARION, attached to ELLSWORTH "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1868, 8th leg., gen., ch. 28, sec. 2/p. 310)

RICE remained attached to ELLSWORTH "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1869, 9th leg., ch. 36, sec. 8/p. 121)

RICE fully organized, detached from ELLSWORTH. (Andreas, 753; Kans. Laws 1872, 12th leg., ch. 28/p. 32)

RICE lost to RENO. (Kans. Laws 1872, 12th leg., ch. 97, sec. 1/p. 183; Andreas, 755)

RICE gained small area from RENO. (Kans. Laws 1886, spec. sess., ch. 36/p. 56)

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)

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)

DAVIS (now GEARY) fully organized, detached from RILEY. (Andreas, 1001; Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., pp. 91–92)

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)

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)

Non-County Area (2) attached to RILEY gained from MARION. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 40/p. 80)

RILEY lost to DAVIS (now GEARY) and DICKINSON. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 34/pp. 72–74)

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)

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)

RILEY gained from DAVIS (now GEARY). (Kans. Terr. Laws 1861, ch. 12/p. 16)

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)

RILEY gained from WABAUNSEE. (Kans. Laws 1871, 11th leg., ch. 53/pp. 105–106)

RILEY lost to WABAUNSEE. (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 56/pp. 110–112)

RILEY exchanged with DAVIS (now GEARY). (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 58/pp. 113–115)

RILEY lost to DAVIS (now GEARY). (Kans. Laws 1875, 15th leg., ch. 62/pp. 89–91)

RILEY lost small area to GEARY along the Fort Riley Military Reservation boundary. (Kans. Laws 1978, 67th leg., ch. 88/pp. 421–422)

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)

ROOKS attached to ELLIS "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1868, 8th leg., gen., ch. 28, sec. 2/p. 310)

ROOKS fully organized, detached from ELLIS. (Andreas, 1609)

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)

GRAHAM fully organized, detached from ROOKS. (Andreas, 1060; HRS Kansas, Graham, 4)

SHERIDAN fully organized, detached from ROOKS. (Andreas, 1520)

SHERMAN and THOMAS detached from ROOKS, attached to SHERIDAN "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 100, sec. 3/p. 202)

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)

RUSH attached to ELLIS "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1868, 8th leg., gen., ch. 28, sec. 2/p. 310)

RUSH remained attached to ELLIS "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1872, 12th leg., ch. 113, sec. 2/p. 253)

RUSH lost to PAWNEE. (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 72, secs. 27–28/pp. 152–153)

RUSH fully organized, detached from ELLIS. (Andreas, 1585; Kans. Laws 1875, 15th leg., ch. 84, sec. 2/p. 121)

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)

RUSSELL attached to ELLSWORTH "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1868, 8th leg., gen., ch. 28, sec. 2/p. 310 and sec. 5/p. 311)

RUSSELL remained attached to ELLSWORTH "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1872, 12th leg., ch. 113, sec. 2/p. 253)

RUSSELL fully organized, detached from ELLSWORTH. (Andreas, 1284)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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 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)

SALINE attached to MORRIS "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 78, sec. 4/p. 133)

SALINE fully organized, detached from MORRIS. (Andreas, 698)

SALINE became a county in the state of Kansas. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 20 [1861]/pp. 126–128; Van Zandt, 138–139)

OTTAWA detached from DAVIS (now GEARY), attached to SALINE "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1865, 5th leg., ch. 31/pp. 76–77)

OTTAWA fully organized, detached from SALINE. (Andreas, 1425)

SALINE lost small area to DICKINSON. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 31/p. 49)

ELLSWORTH attached to SALINE "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 52, sec. 16/p. 89)

ELLSWORTH fully organized, detached from SALINE. (Andreas, 1275)

LINCOLN detached from OTTAWA, attached to SALINE "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1868, 8th leg., gen., ch. 28, sec. 2/p. 310)

McPHERSON detached from MARION, attached to SALINE "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1869, 9th leg., ch. 36, sec. 8/p. 121)

McPHERSON fully organized, detached from SALINE. (Andreas, 812; Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)

LINCOLN fully organized, detached from SALINE. (Andreas, 1421)

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)

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 created from Non-County Area (6); SCOTT not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 72, sec. 15/pp. 149–150)

SCOTT boundaries redefined [no change]. (Kans. Laws 1879, 18th leg., ch. 72, sec. 11/p. 145)

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)

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)

SCOTT remained attached to FINNEY "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1886, spec. sess., ch. 87/p. 121)

SCOTT fully organized, detached from FINNEY. (Scott County Centennial Comm., 16)

SEDGWICK created from BUTLER and MARION; SEDGWICK not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 33, sec. 10/p. 52)

SEDGWICK attached to BUTLER "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 52, sec. 9/p. 87)

SEDGWICK remained attached to BUTLER "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1869, 9th leg., ch. 36, sec. 8/p. 121)

SEDGWICK fully organized, detached from BUTLER. (Andreas, 1385; Bentley, 494–495)

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)

RENO fully organized, detached from SEDGWICK. (Andreas, 1350, 1371; Kans. Laws 1872, 12th leg., ch. 119/p. 262)

HARPER detached from SEDGWICK, attached to SUMNER "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1872, 12th leg., ch. 112, sec. 5/p. 251)

SEDGWICK lost to creation of HARVEY, and lost to RENO. (Kans. Laws 1872, 12th leg., ch. 97/pp. 183–185)

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)

SEQUOYAH (extinct) boundaries redefined [no change]. (Kans. Laws 1879, 18th leg., ch. 72, sec. 12/p. 145)

SEQUOYAH (extinct) remained attached to FORD "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 99, sec. 3/p. 200)

SEQUOYAH lost all territory to the creation of FINNEY; SEQUOYAH eliminated. (Kans. Laws 1883, 20th leg., ch. 70, sec. 2/p. 114)

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)

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)

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)

GODFREY (later SEWARD original, extinct) remained attached to COFFEY "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 78, sec. 4/p. 133)

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)

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)

GODFREY renamed SEWARD (original, extinct). (Kans. Laws 1861, 1st leg., ch. 18/p. 114)

SEWARD (original, extinct) lost to BUTLER. (Kans. Laws 1864, 4th leg., ch. 25/p. 50)

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 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)

SEWARD boundaries redefined [no change]. (Kans. Laws 1879, 18th leg., ch. 72, sec. 14/p. 146)

SEWARD remained attached to FORD "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 99, sec. 3/p. 200)

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)

SEWARD lost to re-creation of MEADE. (Kans. Laws 1885, 21st leg., ch. 71, secs. 2, 4/p. 110)

SEWARD detached from FORD, attached to FINNEY "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1885, 21st leg., ch. 119/pp. 165–166)

SEWARD remained attached to FINNEY "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1886, spec. sess., ch. 87/p. 121)

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)

SEWARD detached from FINNEY, attached to MEADE "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1886, spec. sess., ch. 86/pp. 120–121)

SEWARD fully organized, detached from MEADE. (HRS Kansas, Seward, 4)

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)

SHAWNEE boundaries redefined to run on federal land survey lines [no change]. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 11/p. 40)

OSAGE and WABAUNSEE fully organized, detached from SHAWNEE. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1859, 5th leg., chs. 59, 100/pp. 376–377, 573)

SHAWNEE gained from JACKSON and a small area of POTTAWATOMIE, lost to OSAGE. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 46/p. 88)

SHAWNEE became a county in the state of Kansas. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 20 [1861]/pp. 126–128; Van Zandt, 138–139)

SHAWNEE gained from JACKSON. (Kans. Laws 1868, 8th leg., spec., ch. 15/p. 50)

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)

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)

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 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)

SHERIDAN lost to GOVE and WALLACE. (Kans. Laws 1879, 18th leg., ch. 72, sec. 3/p. 143)

SHERIDAN fully organized, detached from ROOKS. (Andreas, 1520)

SHERMAN and THOMAS detached from ROOKS, attached to SHERIDAN "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 100, sec. 3/p. 202)

SHERIDAN gained from GOVE and WALLACE. (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 48, sec. 2/p. 132)

THOMAS fully organized; detached from SHERIDAN. (Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)

SHERMAN detached from SHERIDAN, attached to THOMAS "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1886, spec. sess., chs. 77–78/pp. 113–114)

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)

SHERMAN boundaries redefined [no change]. (Kans. Laws 1879, 18th leg., ch. 72, sec. 24/p. 148)

SHERMAN detached from ROOKS, attached to SHERIDAN "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 100, sec. 3/p. 202)

SHERMAN detached from SHERIDAN, attached to THOMAS "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1886, spec. sess., chs. 77–78/pp. 113–114)

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)

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)

SMITH attached to OTTAWA "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1868, 8th leg., gen., ch. 28, sec. 2/pp. 310–311)

SMITH detached from OTTAWA, attached to JEWELL "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1871, 11th leg., ch. 67, secs. 1–2/p. 172)

SMITH fully organized, detached from JEWELL. (Andreas, 908–909)

STAFFORD created from MARION; STAFFORD not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 33, sec. 23/p. 54)

STAFFORD attached to MARION "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 52, sec. 9/p. 87)

STAFFORD detached from MARION, attached to ELLSWORTH "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1869, 9th leg., ch. 36, sec. 8/p. 121)

STAFFORD detached from ELLSWORTH, attached to BARTON "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 79, sec. 5/p. 166)

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)

STAFFORD detached from BARTON, attached to PAWNEE "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1874, 14th leg., ch. 67, sec. 2/p. 101)

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)

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)

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)

STAFFORD fully organized, detached from PAWNEE. (Andreas, 1271)

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)

STANTON boundaries redefined [no change]. (Kans. Laws 1879, 18th leg., ch. 72, sec. 21/p. 147)

STANTON remained attached to FORD "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 99, sec. 3/p. 200)

STANTON lost all territory to HAMILTON; STANTON eliminated. (Kans. Laws 1883, 20th leg., ch. 70, sec. 1/pp. 113–114)

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)

STANTON fully organized, detached from HAMILTON. (Blue Skyways, http://skyways.lib.ks.us/counties, 23 November 2004)

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)

STEVENS boundaries redefined [no change]. (Kans. Laws 1879, 18th leg., ch. 72, sec. 18/pp. 146–147)

STEVENS remained attached to FORD "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 99, sec. 3/p. 200)

STEVENS lost all territory to SEWARD; STEVENS eliminated. (Kans. Laws 1883, 20th leg., ch. 70, sec. 5/p. 114)

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)

STEVENS attached to FINNEY "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1886, spec. sess., ch. 86/pp. 120–121)

STEVENS fully organized, detached from FINNEY. (Blue Skyways, http://skyways.lib.ks.us/counties, 23 November 2004)

GRANT attached to STEVENS "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1887, 22d leg., ch. 81, sec. 2/pp. 111–112 and ch. 132/p. 195)

GRANT fully organized, detached from STEVENS. (Blue Skyways, http://skyways.lib.ks.us/counties, 23 November 2004)

SUMNER created from BUTLER and MARION; SUMNER not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 33, sec. 11/p. 52)

SUMNER attached to BUTLER "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 52, sec. 9/p. 87)

SUMNER remained attached to BUTLER "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1869, 9th leg., ch. 36, sec. 8/p. 121)

SUMNER fully organized, detached from BUTLER. (Andreas, 1495; Caldwell Messenger, 257–258)

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)

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)

HARPER detached from RENO, attached to SUMNER "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1876, 16th leg., ch. 69, sec. 2/pp. 168–169)

HARPER fully organized, detached from SUMNER. (Andreas, 363–364; Sanders, 42–43)

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)

THOMAS lost to WALLACE. (Kans. Laws 1879, 18th leg., ch. 72, sec. 4/p. 143)

THOMAS detached from ROOKS, attached to SHERIDAN "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 100, sec. 3/p. 202)

THOMAS gained from WALLACE. (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 48, sec. 3/p. 132)

THOMAS fully organized, detached from SHERIDAN. (Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)

SHERMAN detached from SHERIDAN, attached to THOMAS "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1886, spec. sess., chs. 77–78/pp. 113–114)

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 created from Non-County Area (2) attached to RILEY; TREGO not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 33, sec. 35/p. 56)

TREGO attached to ELLIS "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1868, 8th leg., gen., ch. 28/pp. 310–311)

TREGO remained attached to ELLIS "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1872, 12th leg., ch. 113, sec. 2/p. 253)

TREGO fully organized, detached from ELLIS. (Andreas, 1297; Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)

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)

ST. JOHN (now LOGAN) attached to TREGO "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1885, 21st leg., ch. 107/p. 154)

GOVE fully organized, detached from TREGO. (HRS Kansas, Gove, 15; Blue Skyways, http://skyways.lib.ks.us/counties, 23 November 2004)

LOGAN fully organized, detached from TREGO. (Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)

WALLACE fully organized, detached from TREGO. (Blackmar, 2:868–870; Wallace County History, 33; Kans. Laws 1889, 23d leg., ch. 114/pp. 154–155)

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)

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)

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)

RICHARDSON (now WABAUNSEE) boundaries redefined to run on federal land survey lines [no change]. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 16/p. 41)

RICHARDSON renamed WABAUNSEE; WABAUNSEE fully organized, detached from SHAWNEE. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1859, 5th leg., ch. 59/pp. 376–377)

WABAUNSEE gained from DAVIS (now GEARY). (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 47/p. 89)

WABAUNSEE became a county in the state of Kansas. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 20 [1861]/pp. 126–128; Van Zandt, 138–139)

WABAUNSEE lost to MORRIS. (Kans. Laws 1864, 4th leg., ch. 22/p. 48)

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)

WABAUNSEE lost to MORRIS. (Kans. Laws 1869, 9th leg., ch. 16/pp. 57–58)

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)

WABAUNSEE lost to RILEY. (Kans. Laws 1871, 11th leg., ch. 53/pp. 105–106)

WABAUNSEE gained from RILEY. (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 56/pp. 110–112)

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)

WALLACE remained attached to ELLIS "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1872, 12th leg., ch. 113, sec. 2/p. 253)

WALLACE gained from GOVE, SHERIDAN, and THOMAS. (Kans. Laws 1879, 18th leg., ch. 72, sec. 6/p. 144)

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)

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)

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 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)

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)

WASHINGTON attached to MARSHALL "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1859, 5th leg., ch. 40, sec. 4/p. 330)

WASHINGTON remained attached to MARSHALL "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 78, sec. 4/p. 133)

WASHINGTON fully organized, detached from MARSHALL. (Andreas, 1056; Kans. Terr. Laws 1860, ch. 48/p. 90)

WASHINGTON became a county in the state of Kansas. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 20 [1861]/pp. 126–128; Van Zandt, 138–139)

SHIRLEY (now CLOUD) fully organized, detached from WASHINGTON. (Andreas, 1016; Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)

REPUBLIC detached from WASHINGTON, attached to MARSHALL "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 52, sec. 16/p. 89)

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)

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)

WICHITA created from Non-County Area (6); WICHITA not fully organized. (Kans. Laws 1873, 13th leg., ch. 72, sec. 19/pp. 150–151)

WICHITA boundaries redefined [no change]. (Kans. Laws 1879, 18th leg., ch. 72, sec. 15/p. 146)

WICHITA attached to FORD "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1881, 19th leg., ch. 103/p. 205)

WICHITA detached from FORD, attached to FINNEY "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1885, 21st leg., ch. 119/pp. 165–166)

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)

WICHITA fully organized, detached from FINNEY. (Wichita County History Assn., 39)

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)

WILSON boundaries redefined to run on federal land survey lines [no change]. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 15/p. 41)

WILSON remained attached to ALLEN "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1859, 5th leg., ch. 40, sec. 4/p. 330)

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)

WILSON became a county in the state of Kansas. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 20 [1861]/pp. 126–128; Van Zandt, 138–139)

WILSON detached from COFFEY, attached to WOODSON "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1861, 1st leg., ch. 23, sec. 1/p. 123)

WILSON gained from WOODSON. (Kans. Laws 1861, 1st leg., ch. 10/p. 107)

WILSON fully organized, detached from WOODSON. (Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)

WILSON gained from ALLEN. (Kans. Laws 1865, 5th leg., ch. 16/pp. 45–46)

WILSON lost to NEOSHO. (Kans. Laws 1866, 6th leg., ch. 27/p. 78)

WILSON lost to creation of MONTGOMERY. (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 33, sec. 2/p. 51 and ch. 28/p. 47)

MONTGOMERY attached to WILSON "for judicial purposes." (Kans. Laws 1867, 7th leg., ch. 52, sec. 7/p. 87)

WILSON lost to WOODSON. (Kans. Laws 1868, 8th leg., gen., ch. 24, secs. 78–79/pp. 247–248)

MONTGOMERY fully organized, detached from WILSON. (HRS Kansas, Montgomery, 3)

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)

WOODSON detached from ALLEN, attached to COFFEY "for civil and military purposes." (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 9/pp. 94–95)

WOODSON boundaries redefined to run on federal land survey lines [no change]. (Kans. Terr. Laws 1857, 2d leg., sec. 14/pp. 40–41)

WOODSON fully organized, detached from COFFEY. (Andreas, 1189; Duncan and Scott, 601; "First Proceedings," 3)

WOODSON became a county in the state of Kansas. (U.S. Stat., vol. 12, ch. 20 [1861]/pp. 126–128; Van Zandt, 138–139)

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)

WOODSON lost to WILSON. (Kans. Laws 1861, 1st leg., ch. 10/p. 107)

WILSON fully organized, detached from WOODSON. (Kansas Counties, KSHS, http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.htm, 20 October 2004)

Kansas: Individual County Chronologies