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Jeffrson County Courthouse in Oskaloosa, KS. Photo by Susan Howell.

Jefferson County

 Location in Kansas of Jefferson County.
 
County Seat: Oskaloosa
Founded: 1855
Population:
    · 18,426 (2000)
    · 15,905 (1990)
    · 17,533 (1900)
Area: 535 Square Miles
Standard Abbreviation: JF

History

Map of Jefferson County, KS in 1899
Organized in 1855.  County seat, Oskaloosa.  In honor of Thomas Jefferson, third President of the United States--author of the Declaration of Independence.
 
Map and text from History of Kansas, Noble Prentis, (Winfield: E.P. Greer. 1899)
 
Kansas' first settlement was established in 1827 in Jefferson County by Major Daniel M. Boone, son of the famous frontiersman. The county was heavily involved in the stuggle over slavery that brought the state the name "Bleeding Kansas". The battles of Hickory Point and Slough Creek were fought here.

William G. Cutler's History of Kansas, first published in 1883, tells about early Jefferson County.
 
The Special Collections of the Ablah Library at WSU contain historical images of Ozawkie, Valley Falls, Oskaloosa, & Nortonville.
 
The Kansas State Historical Society also has more historical data for Jefferson County online including a rich bibliography and lists of cemeteries, post offices, and newspapers.

Cities, Towns, & Villages of Jefferson County

                         Population
     Town             1990     2000    ZIP     Year Elevation
     ============== ======   ======   =====    ==== =========
     Boyle                                            1144
     Buck Creek                                        878
     Dunavant                                         1140
     Grantville                       66429            875
     Half Mound                                        967
     Indian Ridge                                      950
     Lake Ridge                                       1030
     Lake Shore                                       1030
     McLouth           719       868  66054    1880   1180
     Medina                                            850
     Meriden           622       706  66512            970
     Newman                                            850
     Nortonville       643       620  66060           1163
     Oskaloosa       1,074     1,165  66066    1856   1123
     Ozawkie           403       552  66070           1000
     Perry             881       901  66073            850
     Rock Creek                       66512           1100
     Thompsonville                    66073            870
     Valley Falls    1,253     1,254  66088            950
     West Shore                                       1010
     Williamstown                     66073            854
     Winchester        613       579  66097           1190
Census Bureau Profile & Map

Special Places in Jefferson County

  • Perry Lake offers 160 miles of beautiful shoreline with boating, sailing, fishing, and swimming.
  • The Perry Lake National Recreation Trail is a 29 mile trail.
  • Perry State Park - 22 miles of bicycle and equestrian trails.
  • State Champion Tree - Ozawkie
  • Bleeding Kansas sites
  • Daniel Boone settlement site
  • John Steuart Curry homestead
  • Village Greens Golf Course - Ozawkie
  • Lake Perry Country Club Golf Course - Ozawkie
  • Apple Valley Farm hosts special events, offers dining in the Grainery Saloon, and has live melodrama shows in their Barn Theatre.
    9252 Apple Valley Lane, Ozawkie, KS 66070; (785) 876-2034
    Grainery Saloon; (785) 876-2527

Special Events in Jefferson County

  Month  City           Event
  ====== ============   =======================
  June   Meriden        Threshers Show
  July 4 Perry Lake Dam Fireworks display
  July   Meriden        Steam Engine Show
  July   Oskaloosa      Old Settlers Reunion
  Aug.   McLouth        Threshing Bee & Steam Engine Show
  Aug.   Valley Falls   Jefferson County 4-H Fair
  Sept.  Meriden        Fall Festival
  Sept.  Nortonville    Fall Festival
  Sept.  Oskaloosa      John Stuart Curry Fall Festival
  Dec.   Oskaloosa      Christmas Homes Tour
  Dec.   Valley Falls   Christmas Home Tour

Libraries

Museums

  • Old Jefferson Town (785) 863-2070
    815 Walnut St. (Hwy 59) / Oskaloosa, KS 66066
  • Valley Falls Historical Museum (785) 945-6698
    310 Broadway / Valley Falls, KS 66088

Jefferson County School Systems

Hospitals

  • Jefferson County Memorial Hospital (913) 774-4340
    Winchester, KS 66097
  • McLouth Medical Clinic (913) 796-6116
    313 Union Street / McLouth, KS 66054
  • St. Francis Clinic (785) 484-3060
    7210 N. K 4 Hwy / Meriden, KS 66512
  • Stormont-Vail Clinic (785) 484-2803
    407 E. Wyandotte / Meriden, KS 66512

Newspapers

More Data About Jefferson County

Economic Development Health Data

Genealogy

Other links

Jefferson County Offices

For more about Jefferson County contact:

 
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Last updated on November 29, 2009 by COUNTIES@KSLIB.INFO
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Graphics by John Howell,
photos by Susan Howell,
used by permission.