Geary County, KS

History

Organized in 1855 as Davis County, which name was given for Jefferson Davis--United States Senator and Secretary of war--who became President of the Southern Confederacy. The Legislature changed the name to Geary in 1869, in honor of John W. Geary, who was Territorial Governor of Kansas from 1856 until March, 1857. County seat, Junction City.

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 Davis County, which was later renamed to Geary County. For more about Geary County's history, see Geary County's Genealogy site.

The Special Collections of the Ablah Library at WSU contain historical images of Fort Riley, Junction City, Milford, and Pawnee.

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

Cities, Towns, & Villages of Geary County

                         2000
     Town             Population     ZIP     Year Elevation
     ===============  ========== =========== ==== =========
     Alida                                           1105
     Briggs
     Grandview Plaza       1,184                     1100
     Junction City        18,886 66441-66442 1858    1107
     Kansas Falls                                    1098
     Milford                 502 66514       1855    1194
     Smoky Hill                                      1120
     Welcome
     Westgate
     Weston
     Wreford                                         1120

Census Bureau Profile & Map

Special Places in Geary County

Fort Riley, an active Army base, is full of museums and things to see, including Kansas' First Territorial Capital.
The Milford Nature Center/Fish Hatchery, near the Milford Lake outlet is open for tours on weekdays (and Sunday afternoon in the summer).

Libraries

Dorothy Bramlage Public Library (785) 238-4311 • jclib@jc.net
230 W. Seventh, Junction City, KS 66441

Museums

U.S. Cavalry Museum (785) 239-2737
Building 205 (off Sheridan)
Fort Riley, KS 66442
Hours: Monday-Saturday 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Sunday 12:00-4:30 p.m.; Closed Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day
1st Infantry Division Museum
Building 207 (between Sheridan and Custer)
Fort Riley, KS 66442
Phone & Hours: same as U.S. Cavalry Museum
Custer House (785) 239-2737
Quarters 24 (off Sheridan)
Fort Riley, KS 66442
Hours: Memorial Day-Labor Day
Saturdays 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.; Sundays 1:00-4:00 p.m.
Closed on weekdays
First Territorial Capitol (785) 784-5355
Buildings 692 & 693 (off Huebner Road - East of Irwin Army Hospital)
Fort Riley, KS 66442
Hours: Thursday-Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday 1:00-5:00 p.m.
Closed Monday-Wednesday
Geary County Historical Society Museum 785-238-1666
520 N. Adams (6th & Adams Street), Junction City, KS 66441
In an old stone school

Geary County School Systems

USD 475 Geary County Schools (785) 238-6184 Junction City

Hospitals

Geary Community Hospital (785) 238-4131
1102 Saint Marys Rd., Junction City, KS 66441

Newspapers

The Daily Union (785) 762-5000 • dailyu@jc.net
222 W. Sixth Street, Junction City, KS 66441

More Data About Geary 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 Geary County Health Profile

Genealogy

Geary County KSGenWeb

Geary County Offices

Geary County (785) 238-3912
8th. & Franklin / Junction City, KS 66441
Geary County Extension Office (785) 238-4161
119 East 9th Street / Junction City

For more about Geary County contact:

Geary County Convention & Visitors Bureau
(800) JCT-CITY / 425 N. Washington / P. O. Box 1846, Junction City, KS 66441-6846
JCGC Economic Development
(785) 762-1976 / 700 N. Jefferson B104 / PO Box 1876, Junction City, KS 66441