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Location of McPherson County in Kansas

 

 

County Seat: McPherson
Founded: 1870
Population:
    · 29,554 (2000)
    · 27,268 (1990)
    · 21,421 (1900)
Area: 900 Square Miles
Standard Abbreviation: MP

 

 

 

 

McPherson County 

 McPherson County Courthouse in McPherson, Kansas, Photo by Susan Howell.

History

Map of McPherson County, KS in 1899
Organized, 1870.  County seat, McPherson.  In honor of Major-General James B. McPherson, United States Volunteers, who was killed in battle at Atlanta, Ga., July 22, 1864.
 
Map and text from History of Kansas, Noble Prentis, (Winfield: E.P. Greer. 1899)
 
The city and county of McPherson were named for General James Birdseye McPherson, the highest ranking Union officer to die on the battlefield during the Civil War.
 
William G. Cutler's History of Kansas, first published in 1883, tells about early McPherson County.
 
More early history of McPherson County is available online from the book Kansas: A Cyclopedia Of State History by Frank W. Blackmar (1912).
 
The Special Collections of the Ablah Library at WSU contain historical images of several McPherson County towns: Canton, Conway, Galva, Inman, Lindsborg, Marquette, McPherson, Moundridge, Roxbury, & Windom.
 
The Kansas State Historical Society also has more historical data for McPherson County online including a rich bibliography and lists of cemeteries, post offices, and newspapers.

Cities, Towns, & Villages of McPherson County

                 2000
  Year  Elev  Population Name              ZIP
  ====  ====  ========== ================ =====
        1590         829 Canton           67428
        1540             Conway           67460
        1485             Elyria
        1372             Freemount
        1546         701 Galva            67443
        1483             Groveland
        1521             Hilton
  1887  1527       1,142 Inman            67546
        1355             Jenkins
        1390             Johnstown
  1869  1333       3,321 Lindsborg        67456
        1478             Mackie
  1874  1385         542 Marquette        67464
  1872  1504      13,770 McPherson        67460
  1887  1490       1,593 Moundridge       67107
        1528             New Gottland
        1350             Roxbury          67476
        1950         137 Windom           67491

 
Census Bureau Profile & Map

Special Places in McPherson County

  • The Kansas Sampler Center is located on Arapahoe Road about 1 1/2 miles east of the road connecting Inman and Buhler.  The Kansas Sampler Foundation works toward preserving rural Kansas culture and helping people explore Kansas via the Kansas Explorers Club.
  • The Spring Valley community in the eastern part of the county is down to a simple white frame Mennonite church (dated 1892) and cemetery.
  • There is an extensive collection of antique farm machinery parked under the water tower at Galva.
  • The McPherson Opera House was built in 1889 at a cost of $42,000.
  • Bethany College, a four year liberal arts college in Lindsborg, was founded in 1881 by Swedish immigrants. It is famous for its presentations of Handel's Messiah oratorio.
  • The Maxwell Wildife Refuge, six miles north of Canton, has over 2200 acres of prairie habitat. Tram rides to view the wildlife are available.

Special Events in McPherson County

  • The Kansas Sampler Festival, which for years was held at the Penner farm south of Inman, now travels around the state.  In 1998 and 1999 it was held in Pratt; Ottawa hosted the festival in 2000 & 2001.  In 2002, in Independence, the date of the festival changed to the first weekend in May.  This is "the" event for those of us who love to travel around Kansas.
  • Canton holds "Prairie Days" in June to celebrate the beauty of the early summer prairie
  • Bethany College in Lindsborg has been presenting Handel's Messiah every Easter season since the 1880s.
  • The Midsummer Festival in Lindsborg celebrates the Swedish traditions of the town. It's held on the third Satuday in June.
  • McPherson is home to a yearly Scottish Festival.

Libraries

Museums

  • McCormick-Deering Days Museum   (620) 585-2226
    204 S. Main, Inman, KS 67546
     
  • Birger Sandzen Gallery   (785) 227-2220
    Bethany College / 401 N. First, Lindsborg, KS 67456
    1:00-5:00 Wednesday through Sunday
    An awesome collection of the famous Swedish-American artist and some of his student's work lovingly displayed.
     
  • Old Mill Museum   (785) 227-3595
    P.O. Box 94 / 120 Mill Street / Lindsborg, KS 67456
    Monday - Saturday 9-5, Sundays 1-5
     
  • The McPherson Museum / Vaniman House   (620) 241-8464
    1130 E. Euclid, McPherson, KS
    Tue-Sun 1:00-5:00

McPherson County School Systems

Colleges & Universities

  • Bethany College   (785) 227-3311
    335 East Swensson Street / Lindsborg, Kansas 67456-1895
  • Central Christian College   (800)  835-0078 or (316)  241-0723
    1220 S Main / P.O. Box 1403 / McPherson, KS 67460
  • McPherson College   (800) 365-7402 or (316)  241-0731
    1600 E. Euclid / McPherson, Kansas 67460

Hospitals

Newspapers

  • Lindsborg News-Record   (785) 227-3348
    114 S. Main, Lindsborg, KS 67456
  • Marquette Tribune   (785) 546-2266
    112 N. Washington, Marquette, KS 67464
  • McPherson Sentinel   (620) 241-2422
    301 S. Main, McPherson, KS 67460
  • Moundridge Ledger   (620) 345-6353
    120 N. Christian, Moundridge, KS 67107

Genealogy

More Data About McPherson County

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

McPherson County Offices

For more about McPherson County contact:

 
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Last updated on November 29, 2009 by COUNTIES@KSLIB.INFO
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