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Location
 
County Seat: Elkhart
Founded: 1886
Population:
    · 3,496 (2000)
    · 3,480 (1990)
    ·    304 (1900)
Area: 731 Square Miles
Standard Abbreviation: MT

 

 

Morton County

Morton County courthouse in Elkhart, Kansas. Photo by Susan Howell.

 

 


Courthouse in Elkhart

History

Map of Barber County, KS in 1899
Organized November 18, 1886.  County seat, Richfield.  Was named in honor of Honorable Oliver P. Morton, of Indiana.
 
Map and text from History of Kansas, Noble Prentis, (Winfield: E.P. Greer. 1899)
 
The Special Collections of the Ablah Library at WSU contain historical images of Elkhart.
 
The Kansas State Historical Society also has more historical data for Morton County online including a rich bibliography and lists of cemeteries, post offices, and newspapers.

Cities, Towns, & Villages of Morton County

                 2000
  Year  Elev  Population Name              ZIP
  ====  ====  ========== ================ =====
  1913  3624       2,233 Elkhart          67950
  1885  3400          48 Richfield        67953
  1912  3300         482 Rolla            67954
  1913  3430             Wilburton
Census Bureau Profile & Map

Special Places in Morton County

  • Cunningham Park in Elkhart honors the famous Olympic runner.
  • The Cimarron Grasslands are the largest tract of public land in Kansas.
  • Point of Rocks is a scenic and historic location north of Elkhart looking out over the Cimarron River valley which probably won't have any water in it when you visit.
  • Richfield used to be the county seat of Morton County and had a two story stone courthouse which was abandoned many years ago. The town school has been converted into a Sr. Center and the city park has clean free public restrooms.
  • The Richfield Methodist Church was built in the 1800's and still serves an active congregation. The bricks in the building were made in Richfield.

Libraries

  • Morton County Library   (620) 697-2025
    410 Kansas / P. O. Box 938 / Elkhart, KS 67950
  • Rolla Public Library   (620) 593-4328
    201 Van Buren / Rolla, KS 67954

Morton County School Systems

Hospitals

Museums

Newspapers

  • Tri-State News   (620) 697-4716
    546 Morton / Elkhart, KS 67950

More Data About Morton County

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

Morton County Genealogy

References

  • WPA The WPA Guide to 1930s Kansas ( Lawrence: University Press of Kansas. reprint 1984) See Tour 4a.

Morton County Offices

For more about Morton County contact:

  • Elkhart Chamber of Commerce   (620) 697-4600
    P. O. Box 696 / Elkhart, KS 67950
 
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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.