Marion County, Kansas

For counties with a similar name, see Marion County (disambiguation).

Marion County, Kansas
Marion County Courthouse in Marion
Location in the state of Kansas
Kansas's location in the U.S.
Founded	August 30, 1855
Seat	Marion
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	953.54 sq mi (2,470 km²) 943.11 sq mi (2,443 km²) 10.43 sq mi (27 km²), 1.09%
Population  - (2010)  - Density	12,660 13.7/sq mi (5.3/km²)
Time zone	Central: UTC-6/-5
Website	www.MarionCoKS.net

Marion County (standard abbreviation: MN) is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 12,660.^[1] The county seat is Marion. The county was named in honor of Francis Marion, a Brigadier General of the American Revolutionary War, known as the "Swamp Fox".^[2]

History

19th century

For millennia, the land that is currently Kansas was inhabited by Native Americans. In 1803, most of modern Kansas was secured by the United States as part of the Louisiana Purchase.

In 1806, Zebulon Pike led the Pike expedition westward from St Louis, Missouri, of which part of their journey followed the Cottonwood River through Marion County near the current towns of Florence, Marion, Durham.^[3]

In 1855, Marion County was founded. The city of Marion Centre was founded in 1860, became the county seat, and later the city name was shortened to Marion.

The first settlers in Marion County located on Doyle Creek, near the present site of Florence. They were Moses Shane, who came in 1858, and whose death the next year was the first in the county; Patrick Doyle, in 1859, for whom Doyle Creek and Township were named, and a family by the name of Welsh, in which occurred the first birth in the county in August 1859.

1845 Santa Fe Trail crossing Marion County

In the spring of 1859, a trading post was established at the "Lost Spring" on the Santa Fe Trail, and in the autumn of the same year, the Moore brothers established a ranch near the present site of Durham, and the first post office was established at this place. Later in the same year, a post office was established at "Lost Spring" near the current city of Lost Springs. Previous to this the nearest post office was Emporia. The next year Billings, Griffith, Shreve located where the city of Marion now stands. The population of the county in that year was 74.^[4]

Originally, Marion County covered more than a third of the area of Kansas, including all the territory in the state south and west of the present northern and eastern lines of the county. The original location of the county was fixed by legislative act in 1860. It comprised less than the present area. The original boundaries were altered by an increase of territory on the west and a decrease on the south. In 1863, the legislature by special act fixed the boundaries to include all of southwestern Kansas. In June of that year, on petition of the citizens of the county, the governor restored the previous boundaries and ordered a separate organization of the county.^[4] The south-eastern border one mile "notch" with Chase County was established under unusual circumstances. A murder had occurred and Marion County didn't want to have the trial, so a section one mile wide and eighteen miles long was ceded to Chase County to ensure the murder had occurred there.^[5] The one mile strip of land remains in Chase County to this day.

Santa Fe Railroad

The state of Kansas granted the Atchison and Topeka Railroad three million acres (12,000 km²) of land if it would build a continuous line to the western border of the state within ten years (March 1, 1873). In 1871, the railroad pushed westward from Emporia through Florence, Horners, and Peabody towards Newton, and got title to the land in 1873.^[6] According to the original land grant, the railroad was to receive every odd numbered section for ten miles (16 km) on each side of its track, but in eastern Kansas which was pretty well settled, much of this land wasn't available. The law therefore gave the railroad what was called "in lieu" lands further west. Eventually this worked out to be half the land on a strip twenty miles (32 km) on each side of its track from Emporia nearly out to Kinsley, which meant that most of Marion County fell in this strip.^[7]

1914 railroad map.

In 1877, the Florence, El Dorado, and Walnut Valley Railroad Company built a branch line from Florence to El Dorado, in 1881 it was extended to Douglass, and later to Arkansas City.^[8] The line was leased and operated by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. The line from Florence to El Dorado was abandoned in 1942.^[9] The original branch line connected Florence, Burns, De Graff, El Dorado, Augusta, Douglass, Rock, Akron, Winfield, Arkansas City.

In 1887, Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway built a branch line from Neva (3 miles west of Strong City) to Superior, Nebraska. This branch line connected Strong City, Neva, Rockland, Diamond Springs, Burdick, Lost Springs, Jacobs, Hope, Navarre, Enterprise, Abilene, Talmage, Manchester, Longford, Oak Hill, Miltonvale, Aurora, Huscher, Concordia, Kackley, Courtland, Webber, Superior. At some point, the line from Neva to Lost Springs was pulled but the right of way has not been abandoned. This branch line was originally called "Strong City and Superior line" but later the name was shortened to the "Strong City line". The railway is connected via a switch to allow north-bound "Rock Island" traffic to connect onto the north-west-bound "Santa Fe" tracks. This is the only way for the Santa Fe traffic to travel north-west after removing the tracks to Neva.

As early as 1875, city leaders of Marion held a meeting to consider a branch railroad from Florence. In 1878, Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway and parties from Marion County and McPherson County chartered the Marion and McPherson Railway Company.^[8] In 1879, a branch line was built from Florence to McPherson, in 1880 it was extended to Lyons, in 1881 it was extended to Ellinwood.^[10] The line was leased and operated by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. The line from Florence to Marion, was abandoned in 1968.^[11] In 1992, the line from Marion to McPherson was sold to Central Kansas Railway. In 1993, after heavy flood damage, the line from Marion to McPherson was abandoned. The original branch line connected Florence, Oursler, Marion, Canada, Hillsboro, Lehigh, Canton, Galva, McPherson, Conway, Windom, Little River, Mitchell, Lyons, Chase, Ellinwood.

In 1996, the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway merged with Burlington Northern Railroad and renamed to the current BNSF Railway. Most locals still refer to this railroad as the "Santa Fe".

Rock Island Railroad

1893 Railroad Map.

In 1887, the Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway extended its main line from Herington to Pratt.^[12] This main line connected Herington, Ramona, Tampa, Durham, Waldeck, Canton, Galva, McPherson, Groveland, Inman, Medora, Hutchinson, Whiteside, Partridge, Arlington, Langdon, Turon, Preston, Natrona, Pratt. In 1888, this main line was extended to Liberal. Later, this line was extended to Tucumcari, New Mexico and El Paso, Texas. This line is called the "Golden State Limited".

In 1887, the Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway built a branch line north-south from Herington to Caldwell.^[12] This branch line connected Herington, Lost Springs, Lincolnville, Antelope, Marion, Aulne, Peabody, Elbing, Whitewater, Furley, Kechi, Wichita, Peck, Corbin, Wellington, Caldwell. By 1893, this branch line was incrementally built to Fort Worth, Texas. This line is called the "OKT".

The "Rock Island" has switches in Peabody and Lost Springs to allow connections to the crossing "Santa Fe" railroad in each city.

The Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway was foreclosed in 1891 and was taken over by Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway, which shut down in 1980 and reorganized as Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas Railroad, merged in 1988 with Missouri Pacific Railroad, and finally merged in 1997 with Union Pacific Railroad. Most locals still refer to this railroad as the "Rock Island".

Marion Belt and Chingawasa Springs Railroad

In 1889, the Marion Belt and Chingawasa Springs Railroad built a 4.5 mile railroad from Marion north-east to Chingawasa Springs. A hotel was built near the site of the spa at Chingawasa Springs, and a depot and eatery as well. Both Santa Fe and Rock Island offered round trip fares from Chicago and western cities to Chingawasa Springs. An economic panic in 1893 closed down the health spa and hotel, and quarry business along the tracks never developed sufficiently. In 1893, the railroad ceased operations, and tracks were removed in 1910.^[13][14]

20th century

Truck hauling 36-Inch pipe to build Keystone-Cushing Pipeline (Phase II) south-east of Peabody at corner of Timber Rd and 20th St. (Whitewater Center Church in background), in 2010.

The National Old Trails Road, also known as the Ocean-to-Ocean Highway, was established in 1912, and was routed through Lehigh, Hillsboro, Marion, Lost Springs.

From 1935 to 1937, the Marion County Park and Lake was constructed southeast of Marion. From 1964 to 1968, the Marion Reservoir was constructed northwest of Marion.

21st century

In 2010, the Keystone-Cushing Pipeline (Phase II) was constructed north to south through Marion County with much controversy over road damage, tax exemption, and environmental concerns (if a leak ever occurs).^{[15][16][17][18]}

Law and government

Following amendment to the Kansas Constitution in 1986, the county remained a prohibition, or "dry", county until 2004, when voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with a 30% food sales requirement.^[19]

Geography

According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 953.54 square miles (2,469.7 km²), of which 943.11 square miles (2,442.6 km²) (or 98.91%) is land and 10.43 square miles (27.0 km²) (or 1.09%) is water.^[20]

Marion County is located in the Great Plains, and the eastern part of the county is part of the Flint Hills.^[21][22]

Adjacent counties

• Dickinson County (north)
• Morris County (northeast)
• Chase County (east)
• Butler County (southeast)
• Harvey County (southwest)
• McPherson County (west)
• Saline County (northwest)

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1860	74		—
1870	768		937.8%
1880	12,453		1,521.5%
1890	20,539		64.9%
1900	20,676		0.7%
1910	22,415		8.4%
1920	22,923		2.3%
1930	20,739		−9.5%
1940	18,951		−8.6%
1950	16,307		−14.0%
1960	15,143		−7.1%
1970	13,935		−8.0%
1980	13,522		−3.0%
1990	12,888		−4.7%
2000	13,361		3.7%
2010	12,660		−5.2%
U.S. Decennial Census

Age pyramid

2005 KDOT Map of Marion County (map legend)

As of the census^[23] of 2000, there were 13,361 people, 5,114 households, and 3,687 families residing in the county. The population density was 14 people per square mile (5/km²). There were 5,882 housing units at an average density of 6 per square mile (2/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.06% White, 0.47% Black or African American, 0.59% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.55% from other races, and 1.14% from two or more races. 1.92% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 5,114 households out of which 30.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.80% were married couples living together, 5.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.90% were non-families. 25.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the county the population was spread out with 24.80% under the age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 23.50% from 25 to 44, 22.70% from 45 to 64, and 21.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 95.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,500, and the median income for a family was $41,386. Males had a median income of $30,236 versus $21,119 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,100. About 4.80% of families and 8.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.50% of those under age 18 and 9.70% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

Incorporated cities

Name and population (2010):

• Hillsboro, 2993
• Marion, 1927
• Peabody, 1210
• Goessel, 539
• Florence, 465
• Burns, 228
• Lincolnville, 203
• Lehigh, 175
• Durham, 112
• Tampa, 112
• Ramona, 87
• Lost Springs, 70

Unincorporated communities

• Antelope
• Aulne
• Canada
• Eastshore
• Pilsen

Ghost towns and defunct settlements

Marion County contained some oil boom towns and cattle loading pens at railroads that have since been abandoned.

• Creswell
• Fred
• Gnadenau
• Hampson
• Horners
• Jacobs
• Oursler
• Waldeck
• Watchorn, oil town, 5 miles east of Peabody.
• Youngtown

Townships

Marion County is divided into twenty-four townships. The cities of Florence, Hillsboro, and Marion are considered governmentally independent and are excluded from the census figures for the townships. In the following table, the population center is the largest city (or cities) included in that township's population total, if it is of a significant size.

Sources: 2000 U.S. Gazetteer from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Township	FIPS	Population center	Population	Population density /km² (/sq mi)	Land area km² (sq mi)	Water area km² (sq mi)	Water %	Geographic coordinates
Blaine	07125		212	2 (6)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.33%	38°33′30″N 97°10′46″W / 38.55833°N 97.17944°W / 38.55833; -97.17944
Catlin	11075		180	2 (5)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.05%	38°12′56″N 97°5′14″W / 38.21556°N 97.08722°W / 38.21556; -97.08722
Centre	11825		535	4 (11)	128 (49)	0 (0)	0.26%	38°20′36″N 96°59′39″W / 38.34333°N 96.99417°W / 38.34333; -96.99417
Clark	13500		149	2 (4)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.42%	38°28′17″N 97°6′4″W / 38.47139°N 97.10111°W / 38.47139; -97.10111
Clear Creek	13750		592	3 (8)	196 (76)	0 (0)	0.06%	38°28′1″N 96°57′35″W / 38.46694°N 96.95972°W / 38.46694; -96.95972
Colfax	14800		218	2 (6)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.01%	38°34′42″N 97°5′28″W / 38.57833°N 97.09111°W / 38.57833; -97.09111
Doyle	18550		75	1 (2)	98 (38)	0 (0)	0.08%	38°14′3″N 96°53′17″W / 38.23417°N 96.88806°W / 38.23417; -96.88806
Durham Park	19100		230	3 (7)	90 (35)	3 (1)	2.70%	38°29′9″N 97°12′46″W / 38.48583°N 97.21278°W / 38.48583; -97.21278
East Branch	19325		188	2 (5)	92 (35)	0 (0)	0 %	38°13′33″N 97°11′53″W / 38.22583°N 97.19806°W / 38.22583; -97.19806
Fairplay	22350		121	1 (3)	116 (45)	0 (0)	0.04%	38°13′44″N 96°59′23″W / 38.22889°N 96.98972°W / 38.22889; -96.98972
Gale	25075		220	3 (8)	67 (26)	21 (8)	23.70%	38°23′15″N 97°5′21″W / 38.3875°N 97.08917°W / 38.3875; -97.08917
Grant	27775		128	1 (2)	174 (67)	0 (0)	0.08%	38°22′13″N 96°53′3″W / 38.37028°N 96.88417°W / 38.37028; -96.88417
Lehigh	39250		370	4 (10)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0 %	38°23′3″N 97°18′27″W / 38.38417°N 97.3075°W / 38.38417; -97.3075
Liberty	40225		327	4 (9)	92 (35)	0 (0)	0 %	38°18′13″N 97°12′37″W / 38.30361°N 97.21028°W / 38.30361; -97.21028
Logan	41950		127	1 (4)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0.07%	38°32′38″N 97°19′34″W / 38.54389°N 97.32611°W / 38.54389; -97.32611
Lost Springs	42850		201	2 (6)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.01%	38°34′14″N 96°58′23″W / 38.57056°N 96.97306°W / 38.57056; -96.97306
Menno	45800		317	3 (9)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.12%	38°18′50″N 97°18′34″W / 38.31389°N 97.30944°W / 38.31389; -97.30944
Milton	46900		348	4 (12)	78 (30)	0 (0)	0.03%	38°6′6″N 96°53′4″W / 38.10167°N 96.88444°W / 38.10167; -96.88444
Moore	48100		65	1 (2)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.03%	38°29′27″N 97°19′39″W / 38.49083°N 97.3275°W / 38.49083; -97.3275
Peabody	55125		1,544	16 (42)	95 (37)	0 (0)	0.23%	38°9′40″N 97°6′22″W / 38.16111°N 97.10611°W / 38.16111; -97.10611
Risley	60000		241	3 (7)	89 (34)	1 (0)	1.36%	38°23′56″N 97°11′48″W / 38.39889°N 97.19667°W / 38.39889; -97.19667
Summit	69100		82	1 (2)	92 (36)	0 (0)	0.51%	38°7′21″N 96°58′54″W / 38.1225°N 96.98167°W / 38.1225; -96.98167
West Branch	76775		1,024	11 (29)	92 (36)	0 (0)	0.01%	38°13′30″N 97°19′35″W / 38.225°N 97.32639°W / 38.225; -97.32639
Wilson	79750		232	2 (6)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0 %	38°18′17″N 97°5′19″W / 38.30472°N 97.08861°W / 38.30472; -97.08861

Education

Unified school districts

• USD 397, Centre
  • Lincolnville, Lost Springs, Pilsen, Tampa, Ramona, Antelope, Rural Areas
  • Centre High School
• USD 398, Peabody-Burns
  • Peabody, Burns, Rural Areas
  • Peabody-Burns Junior/Senior High School
• USD 408, Marion
  • Marion, Florence, Eastshore, Canada, Aulne, Rural Areas
  • Marion High School
• USD 410, Hillsboro
  • Hillsboro, Lehigh, Durham, Rural Areas
  • Hillsboro High School
• USD 411, Goessel
  • Goessel, Rural Areas
  • Goessel High School

Colleges

• Tabor College, in Hillsboro
• Butler Community College, Marion

Historical Maps

• 

  1845 Santa Fe Trail map.

• 

  1860 Santa Fe Trail map.

• 

  Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway route map of principal regular stops

• 

  1891 Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway route map from Grain Dealers and Shippers Gazetteer.

• 

  1893 Railroad Map.

• 

  1914 railroad map.

• 

  2000 Kansas population map.

• 

  2010 map of Marion County with Township Boundaries.

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Marion County, Kansas
• Public Land Survey System
• Chisholm Trail
• Santa Fe Trail

Information on this and other counties in Kansas

• List of counties in Kansas
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Kansas
• Kansas locations by per capita income

Other information for Kansas

• List of cities in Kansas
• List of unified school districts in Kansas
• List of colleges and universities in Kansas

References

1. ^ "2010 County Population and Housing Occupancy Status". U.S. Census Bureau. http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=DEC_10_PL_GCTPL2.ST05&prodType=table. Retrieved March 28, 2011. 
2. ^ Francis Marion
3. ^ 1806 Pike Expedition map through Marion County.
4. ^ ^{a b} Kansas: a cyclopedia of state history, embracing events, institutions, industries, counties, cities, towns, prominent persons, etc; Published 1912
5. ^ Kansas State Historical Society - Marion County
6. ^ Santa Fe Rail History
7. ^ Kansas Heritage Server - Railroads In Kansas
8. ^ ^{a b} Marion County Kansas : Past and Present; Sondra Van Meter; MB Publishing House; LCCN 72-92041; 344 pages; 1972.
9. ^ Railway Abandonment 1942
10. ^ Fourth Annual Report of the Board of Railroad Commissioners for the Year Ending December 1, 1886 in State of Kansas; Kansas Publishing House; 1886.
11. ^ Railway Abandonment 1968
12. ^ ^{a b} Rock Island Rail History
13. ^ The Marion Belt and Chingawasa Springs Railroad - 117 Year Old Passenger Car Exists Today
14. ^ Chingawasa Springs (1 of 2)
15. ^ Keystone Pipeline - Marion County Commission calls out Legislative Leadership on Pipeline Deal; April 18, 2010.
16. ^ Keystone Pipeline - TransCanada inspecting pipeline; December 10, 2010.
17. ^ County and Keystone settle on road damages; Hillsboro Free Press; November 2, 2010.
18. ^ Keystone Pipeline - County ask TransCanada for pipeline emergency plan; Hillsboro Free Press; February 15, 2011.
19. ^ "Map of Wet and Dry Counties". Alcoholic Beverage Control, Kansas Department of Revenue. November 2006. http://www.ksrevenue.org/abcwetdrymap.htm. Retrieved 2007-12-26. 
20. ^ "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Counties". United States Census. http://www.census.gov/tiger/tms/gazetteer/county2k.txt. Retrieved 2011-02-13. 
21. ^ Flint Hills Tourism Coalition
22. ^ Flint Hills Introduction; Kansas Geological Survey
23. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 

Further reading

County

• Marion County Kansas : Past and Present; Sondra Van Meter; MB Publishing House in Hillsboro, KS; LCCN 72-92041; 344 pages; 1972.
• The Early Schools of Marion County Kansas; Wilma Stewart Stallwitz; Located at Peabody Township Library; 33 pages; November 11, 1960.
• World War Roll of Honor : Marion County Kansas 1917-1920; Mrs Alexander and Mrs Dean of Marion, Kansas; 221 pages; 1920. (Downlaod 11MB PDF eBook)
• Standard Atlas of Marion County Kansas; Geo A. Ogle & Co; 103 pages; 1902. (Online HTML eBook)
• Marion County Auto Tour of the Santa Fe Trail; 2 pages. (Download 1MB PDF Flyer)
• Wikipedia : The Marion County Kansas Collection; 2nd Edition; Wikipedia; 410 pages; September 4, 2011. (Download 64MB PDF eBook)

Kansas

• History of the State of Kansas; William G. Cutler; A.T. Andreas Publisher; 1883. (Online HTML eBook)
• Kansas : A Cyclopedia of State History, Embracing Events, Institutions, Industries, Counties, Cities, Towns, Prominent Persons, Etc; 3 Volumes; Frank W. Blackmar; Standard Publishing Co; 944 / 955 / 824 pages; 1912. (Volume1 - Download 54MB PDF eBook), (Volume2 - Download 53MB PDF eBook), (Volume3 - Download 33MB PDF eBook)

USA

• The Story of the Marking of the Santa Fe Trail by the Daughters of the American Revolution in Kansas and the State of Kansas; Almira Cordry; Crane Co; 164 pages; 1915. (Download 4MB PDF eBook)
• The National Old Trails Road To Southern California, Part 1 (LA to KC); Automobile Club Of Southern California; 64 pages; 1916. (Download 6.8MB PDF eBook)

External links

Kansas portal

County

• Marion County - Official Website
• Marion County - Directory of Public Officials
• Marion County - Economic Development Council
• Marion County - Information, Skyways

News

• Counties join effort to help revitalize rural Kansas in 2011

Historical

• Pioneer trails
• Detailed map of Santa Fe Trail
• Marion County History Bibliography
• Marion County Schools Bibliography
• History of Early Marion County Newspapers, 1916

Maps

• Marion County Map, KDOT
• Kansas Highway Map, KDOT
• Kansas Railroad Map, KDOT
• Kansas School District Boundary Map, KSDE
• Marion County School District Boundary Map, U.S. Census Bureau