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Dickinson County Courthouse in Abilene, Kansas. Photo by Susan Howell.
 Dickinson County Courthouse

Dickinson County

 Location
 
 
County Seat: Abilene 
Founded: 1857 
Population:
    · 19,344  (2000)
    · 18,958  (1990)
    · 21,816  (1900)
Area: 852 Square Miles 
Standard Abbreviation: DK 

 

History

Map of Dickinson County, KS in 1899
Organized in 1857.  County seat Abilene.  In honor of Daniel S. Dickinson. who was a Senator from the State of New York.  In 1847 he introduced, in the United States Senate, resolutions respecting territorial government, embodying the doctrine of popular sovereignty, afterwards incorporated in the Bill for the organization of Kansas Territory.  He died in 1866.
 
Map and text from History of Kansas, Noble Prentis, (Winfield: E.P. Greer. 1899)
 
William G. Cutler's History of Kansas, first published in 1883, tells about early Dickinson County.
 
There is a section on Dickinson County in the book Kansas: a Cyclopedia Of State History by Frank Blackmar (1912).
 
The Special Collections of the Ablah Library at WSU contain historical images of Abilene. Carlton, Chapman, Dillon, Elmo, Enterprise, Herington, Hope, Manchester, Navarre, Solomon, Talmage, and Woodbine,
 
The Kansas State Historical Society also has more historical data for Dickinson County online including a rich bibliography and lists of cemeteries, post offices, and newspapers.

Cities, Towns, & Villages of Dickinson County

                 2000
  Year  Elev  Population Name              ZIP
  ====  ====  ========== ================ =====
        1153       6,543 Abilene          67410
        1183             Acme
        1294             Buckeye
        1310          38 Carlton          67429
        1113       1,241 Chapman          67431
        1147             Detroit
        1297             Dillon
  1866  1350             Elmo
        1137         836 Enterprise       67441
        1350       2,563 Herington        67449
  1872  1220             Holland
        1400         372 Hope             67451
        1370             Jacobs
        1155             Lyona
        1295         102 Manchester       67463
        1245             Moonlight
        1350             Navarre          67469
        1280             Pearl
        1380             Rishel
        1160             Sand Spring
        1296             Shady Brook
        1180       1,072 Solomon          67480
        1150             Sutphen
        1212             Talmage          67482
        1261             Upland
        1250         207 Woodbine         67492
Census Bureau Profile & Map

Special Places in Dickinson County

  • The American Indian Art Center in Abilene has Native American produced art created by 90 artists from 30 tribes of this area; pottery, paintings, carvings, jewelry, weavings, books, music.
    206 S. Buckeye, Abilene, KS 67410   785-263-0090
    Open daily 10am-5pm, extended summer hours.  Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day.
  • See artists, Bob and Inga Bow at their Bow Studio & Gallery in Abilene making ceramic tiles, scupltures and fountains from native Kansas clay and wild flowers.  Gift shop on the grounds.
    921 S. Buckeye, Abilene, KS 67410   (785) 263-7166   Open daily 10am to 7pm.

Special Things to do in Dickinson County

  • In an hour and a half you can ride the Abilene & Smoky Valley railroad to Enterprise and back on the rails of the original Rock Island Railroad.
    Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad   (785) 263-1077
    417 S. Buckeye, Abilene, KS 67410
    Open weekends May, Sept. & Oct.: Sat. 10am & 2pm, Sun. 2 & 4pm
    Memorial Day - Labor Day: Tues. - Fri. 10am & 2pm, Sat. 10am & 2 & 4pm., Sun. 2 & 4pm
  • You can take a ride on the C. W. Parker Carry-Us-All (785-263-2681   heritagecenter@access-one.com) at 412 S. Campbell in Abilene. This is a complete hardcarved working carousel manufactured in Abilene at the turn of the century by the C. W. Parker Amusement Co.
  • The Great Plains Theatre Festival holds performances June through December.  Located in the restored United Presbyterian Church, the GPTF is Kansas' first professional live theater and is located at 300 N. Mulberry.
  • The Kirby House (785-263-7336) serves lunch and dinner daily in their 8 dining rooms in the restored Thomas Kirby mansion.  It's located at 205 N.E. 3rd at Kirby Ave.
  • The new Brookville Hotel is now located in Abilene.

Dickinson County Libraries

Dickinson County Museums

  • Abilene Public Library Doll Collection   785-263-3082   abplib@access-one.com
    209 N. W. 4th Street, Abilene, Kansas 67410
    No admission fee - WPA American fashion; Mamie Eisenhower & Davis Sisters collections
  • Dickinson County Historical Museum   785-263-2681   heritagecenter@access-one.com
    412 S. Campbell, Abilene, Kansas 67410
    8:30am-4:30pm, extended summer hours; Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day.
    Admission - life on the plains during the American pioneer movement
  • Eisenhower Library & Museum   785-263-4751   Library@eisenhower.nara.gov
    200 S.E. 4th Street / Abilene, KS 67410
    Library: 9am-4:45pm Daily;   Museum & Visitors Center: 8am-5:45pm;   Chapel: 7:30am-dusk
  • Greyhound Hall of Fame   785-263-3000   1-800-932-7881   info@greyhoundhalloffame.com
    407 S. Buckeye, Abiliene, KS 67410
    9am-5pm, 7 days week; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day
    Donation - Greyhound history, dating back to 5,000 B. C.; miniature racetrack ..
  • Kansas Auto Racing Museum   785-922-6644
    1205 Manor Rd., Chapman, KS 67431
  • Lebold Mansion   785-263-4356
    106 N. Vine Street, Abilene, KS 67410
    Admission - built in 1880 by C. H. Lebold, banker, politician, land agent, entrepreneur. Listed on the national register of historic places.
  • Museum of Independent Telephony   785-263-2681   dchs@ikansas.com
    412 S. Campbell, Abilene, KS 67410
    8:30am-4:30pm; extended summer hours; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day.
    Admission - early independent telephone system history & displays
  • Old Abilene Town & Museum   785-263-4194
    S. E. 6th at Buckeye, Abilene, KS 67410
    Open early spring to late fall during daylight hours
    Donation - Re-creates cowtown Abilene; Can-can girls, gunfights, stage coach rides, Memorial-Labor Days
  • Seelye Mansion & Museum   785-263-1084
    1104 N. Buckeye, Abilene, KS 67410
    A beautiful Georgian home built in the early 1900's
  • Tri-County Historical Museum (785) 258-2842
    800 South Broadway, Herington, KS 67449
  • Vintage Fashion Museum   785-263-7997   fashion@ikansas.com
    212 N. Broadway, Abilene, KS 67410
    Open Mon.-Sat. 10am- 4pm; Sunday 1-4pm; Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years Day
    Admission - fashions from 1870's to 1970's; special exhibits & programs

Dickinson County School Systems

Dickinson County Newspapers

  • Abilene Reflector-Chronicle (785) 263-1000
    303 Broadway, Abilene, KS 67410
  • Chapman Advertiser & Enterprise Journal (785) 922-6856
    1118 W Cloud St., Salina, KS
  • Herington Times (785) 258-2211 editor111@att.net
    7 N. Broadway / Herington, KS 67449

More Data About Dickinson County

Economic Development
  • Kansas County Profile Reports
    Statistical data from The Institute for Policy and Social Research, the University of Kansas
Health Data

Genealogy

Dickinson County Offices

For more about Dickinson County contact:

 
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Last updated on October 31, 2011 by COUNTIES@KSLIB.INFO
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Graphics by John Howell,
photos by Susan Howell,
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