Smith County, KS

History

Organized in 1872. County seat Smith Center. In memory of Nathan Smith, Major of Second Colorado Volunteers, killed October 23, 1864, at the battle of the Little Blue, Mo.

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 Smith County.

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

The Special Collections of the Ablah Library at WSU contain historical images of Smith Center, Kensington, Gaylord, Lebanon, and Athol.

Cities, Towns, & Villages of Smith County

                 2000
  Year  Elev  Population Name              ZIP
  ====  ====  ========== ================ =====
        1789          51 Athol            66932
        1890             Bellaire
        1631             Cedar            67628
        1660             Claudell
        1960             Cora
        1548             Dispatch
        1592         145 Gaylord          67638
        1576             Harlan           67641
        1784         529 Kensington       66951
        1821         303 Lebanon          66952
        1900             Reamsville
  1871  1800       1,931 Smith Center     66967
        2076             Thornburg
        1933             Womer

Census Bureau Profile & Map

Special Places in Smith County

Just northwest of Athol is the "Home on the range" cottage (1871); it's amazingly small.
Lebanon is close to the "Center of the US" and a good state road gives access to the little park where the marker is located.
Smith Center, the county seat has an Old Dutch-style windmill once used to grind grain.

Special Events in Smith County

Gaylord has become known as the "Watermelon City" and people from miles around gather on Labor Day weekend to celebrate Watermelon Day.
Kensington celebrates Veterans Day with a community barbeque.
The Smith County Free Fair is held in July in Smith Center.

Libraries

Athol City Library (785) 695-2314
P.O. Box 12, Athol, KS 66932
Gaylord City Library (785) 697-2650
P.O. Box 570, Gaylord, KS 67638-0570
Kensington School-Community Library (785) 476-2217
203 S. Jackson, PO Box 188, Kensington, KS 66951-0188
Lebanon City Library (785) 389-5711
North Main, Lebanon, KS 66952-0067
Smith Center Public Library (785) 282-3361
119 W. Court Street / Smith Center, KS 66967

Smith County School Systems

USD 237 Smith Center (785) 282-6665 Smith Center
USD 238 West Smith County (785) 476-2218 Kensington

Hospitals

Smith County Memorial Hospital (785) 282-6845
614 S. Main, Smith Center, KS 66967

Newspapers

Lebanon Times (785) 389-6631
409 Walnut, Lebanon, KS 66952
Smith County Pioneer (785) 282-3371
614 S. Main, Smith Center, KS 66967

More Data About Smith 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 Smith County Health Profile

Genealogy

Smith County KSGenWeb

Smith County Offices

Smith County (785) 282-5110
218 S. Grant St., Smith Center, KS 66967
Extension Service (785) 282-6823
218 S Grant, Courthouse / Smith Center, KS 66967-0287

For more about Smith County contact:

Smith Center Chamber of Commerce (785) 282-3895
113 S. Main, Smith Center, KS 66967