Hamilton County, KS

Description

The Arkansas river, the Santa Fe railroad, and highway US 50, running almost together, divide the county and join all of its towns. If you leave the valley, you'll be in the rolling high plains.

For about five miles just west of Syracuse, highway US 50 follows the original path of the mountain route of the Santa Fe Trail.
If you look off to the North from highway US 50 in Coolidge, you can see the old stone water tower.
If you're feeling a little more adventurous, take the river road along the south side of the river from Syracuse to Coolidge. You'll have cottonwoods on one side and pastures on the other.
There is a sinkhole about seven miles south of Coolidge. It's not very impressive, but the drive down to see it gives a good sense of the countryside.
In 1900, Mayline was a tiny town on the AT&SF halfway between Kendall and Syracuse. The 1927-1928 Report from the State Board of Agriculture makes no mention of it.
The Northrup Theater in Syracuse opened April 7, 1930 with "Footlights and Fools" starring Colleen Moore. The ornate "art deco" paint job on the interior was added in the forties. The building has been restored and is operated by the Chamber of Commerce.
The Donahue Memorial Hospital in Syracuse has been replaced but the gracious old three-story brick building still stands on a tree-covered site high above most of town.

History

Organized January 29, 1886. County seat, Syracuse. In honor of General Alexander Hamilton, the great American statesman; he was killed in a duel with Aaron Burr, July 11, 1804.

Map and text from History of Kansas, Noble Prentis, (Winfield: E.P. Greer. 1899)

The county was named for Alexander Hamilton, the American statesman who was killed in a duel with Aaron Burr on July 11, 1804.

The Special Collections of the Ablah Library at WSU contain historical images of Coolidge and Syracuse.

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

Cities, Towns & Villages of Hamilton County

    Town                Population  ZIP         Year  Elevation
    =================   ==========  =========   ====  =========
    Coolidge                    90  67836       1883    3355
    Kendall                         67857       1885    3136
    Mayline                                             3210
    Medway                                              3300
    Syracuse                  1606  67878       1875    3233
    Trail City                   0              1885

Census Bureau Profile & Map

Hamilton County School Systems

USD 494 Syracuse (620) 384-7872 Syracuse

Hospitals

Hamilton County Hospital (620) 384-7461
706 East G / Syracuse, KS 67878

Libraries

Hamilton County Library (620) 384-5622
102 W. Avenue C / P. O. Box 1307 / Syracuse, KS 67878

Museums

Hamilton County Museum (620) 384-7496
108 E. Highway 50 / Syracuse, KS 67878

Newspapers

Syracuse Journal (620) 384-5640
105 E. Hwy 50 / Syracuse, KS 67878

More Data About Hamilton 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 Hamilton County Health Profile

Genealogy

Hamilton County GenWeb

References

Hamilton County Kansas History (Hamilton County Historical Society. 1979)

Hamilton County Offices

Hamilton County (620) 384-5629
N. Main St. / Syracuse, KS 67878
Extension Service (620) 384-5225
520 N Hamilton, PO Box 629 / Syracuse, KS 67878-0629

For more about Hamilton County contact:

Syracuse Chamber of Commerce (620) 384-5459 schamber@pld.com
118 N. Main · P.O. Box 678 · Syracuse, KS 67878