Clark County, KS

History

Organized in 1885. County Seat, Ashland. Originally and correctly Clarke, with a final e, in memory of Charles F. Clarke, Captain and Adjutant-General, United States Volunteers, who died at Memphis, December 10, 1862.

Map and text from History of Kansas, Noble Prentis, 1899

The Special Collections of the Ablah Library at WSU contain historical images of Minneola.

The Kansas State Historical Society also has more historical data for Clark County online including a rich bibliography and lists of cemeteries, post offices, and newspapers.

Cities, Towns, & Villages of Clark County

                           2000
    Town                Population  ZIP         Year  Elevation
    =================   ==========  =========   ====  =========
     
    Ashland                    975  67851       1884    1979
    Cash City                    0              1885
    Englewood                  109  67840       1884    1970
    Lexington                    0              1885    2010
    Minneola                   717  67865       1887    2548
    Sitka                                       1909    1883

Census Bureau Profile & Map

Special Places in Clark County

Clark County State Lake is a special jewel in the rugged landscape north of Ashland. The drive around the south side of the lake (best taken in dry weather) is breathtaking.
Big Basin and Little Basin are geologic depressions or sinkholes in rural Clark County. Big Basin is nearly a mile wide and 100 feet deep.
St. Jacob's Well located inside Little Basin is a "bottomless" spring that never goes dry. This was an important oasis for pioneer travelers. A search is now on for the lost plaque called the "Indian Living Water Marker" that overlooked St. Jacob's Well.
The Hardesty House is a turn-of-the-century hotel in Ashland that is now a good restaurant/private club.
Manning was a little town on the AT&SF between Ashland and Englewood.

Libraries

Ashland Public Library (620) 635-2589 ashlib@ucom.net
604 Main Street / Ashland, KS 67831
Minneola City Library (620) 885-4749 Established 1930
112 Main Street / P. O. Box 95 / Minneola, KS 67865

Museums

Pioneer-Krier Museum (620) 635-2227
430 W. Fourth (Highway 160) / Ashland, KS 67831-0862
Pioneer life, fossils, barbed wire, & aerobatic planes. Memorabilia of five famous people: Wes Santee, Harold Krier, Jesse Clair Harper, Jay Berryman and Rodney Hardesty

Clark County School Systems

USD 219 Minneola (620) 885-4372 Minneola
USD 220 Ashland (620) 635-2220 FAX: (620) 635-2637

Hospitals

Ashland District Hospital (620) 635-2241
709 Oak / Ashland, KS 67831
Minneola District Hospital (620) 885-4264
212 S. Main / Minneola, KS 67865

Newspapers

Clark County Clipper (620) 635-2312
705 Main Box 457 / Ashland, KS 67831
Minneola Record (620) 885-4710
205 S. Main / Minneola, KS 67865

More Data About Clark County

Economic Development

Kansas County Profile Reports
Statistical data from The Institute for Policy and Social Research, the University of Kansas

Health Data

KDHE's Clark County Health Profile

Genealogy

Clark County KSGenWeb

Clark County Offices

Clark County (620) 635-2813
P. O. Box 886 / Ashland, KS 67831
Extension Service (620) 635-2811
913 Highland / Ashland,KS 67831-0488

For more about Clark County contact:

Ashland Chamber of Commerce (620) 635-2680
703 Main / Ashland, KS 67831

References

Fitzgerald, Daniel Faded Dreams : More Ghost Towns of Kansas ( University Press of Kansas. 1994)
WPA The WPA Guide to 1930s Kansas ( Lawrence: University Press of Kansas. 1984 )