Cheyenne County, KS

History

Organized in 1886. County Seat, St. Francis. Named after the Indian tribe of that name.

Map and text from History of Kansas, Noble Prentis, 1899

The Special Collections of the Ablah Library at WSU contain historical images of Bird City.

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

Cities, Towns, & Villages of Cheyenne County

                 2000
  Year  Elev  Population Name              ZIP
  ====  ====  ========== ================ =====
  1885  3460         482 Bird City        67731
  1885  3320       1,497 St. Francis      67756
        3482             Wheeler          67756

Census Bureau Profile & Map

Special Places in Cheyenne County

The wide main street of St. Francis leads uphill, past the courthouse, park, and pool, up to the school at the top of the ridge.
The Dusty Farmer restaurant in St. Francis is decorated with memorabilia from farm machinery. The collection of model farm equipment is worth a visit.
Bird City has a really unusual stone City Hall and Library.
"The Breaks" is a scenic badland area in Cheyenne county. Its beauty would make it a major tourist attraction if it weren't so remote.

The Arikaree Breaks in northern Cheyenne County, Kansas

The Arikaree Breaks
north of St. Francis

Special Events in Cheyenne County

Bird City has celebrated Kansas Day, January 29, since 1930.
The Mini Grand Prix is held on the first weekend in June in St. Francis.
St. Francis hosts an annual Stearman Fly-In on the second Saturday in June.
Bird City has a four day antique engine and thresher show that begins on the last Thursday in July.
The Cheyenne County Fair is held every August in St. Francis

Cheyenne County School Systems

USD 103 Cheylin Cougars (785) 734-2341 Bird City,McDonald
USD 297 St. Francis Community Schools (785) 332-8182 St. Francis

Hospitals

Cheyenne County Hospital (785) 332-2104
210 W. First St., St. Francis, KS 67556

Libraries

Mary L. Gritten Library
P. O. Box 175, Bird City, KS 67731
Saint Francis Public Library (785) 332-3292
121 N. Scott, St. Francis, KS 67756

Museums

Cheyenne County Historical Museum (785) 332-2504
West Highway 36, St. Francis, KS 67756

Newspapers

Bird City Times (785) 734-2621
312 Bird Ave., Bird City, KS 67731
St. Francis Herald (785) 332-3162
310 W. Washington, St. Francis, KS 67756

More Data About Cheyenne County

Economic Development

Cheyenne County Development Corp.
(785) 734-3508 or toll-free: 888-735-2444
P. O. Box 255, St. Francis, KS 67556
University of Kansas' County Profile Reports (PDF Document)
Statistical data from The Institute for Public Policy and Business Research

Health Data

KDHE's Cheyenne County Health Profile

Genealogy

Cheyenne County KSGenWeb

Cheyenne County Offices

Cheyenne County (785) 332-3171
P. O. Box 985, St. Francis, KS 67756
Extension Service (785) 332-3171
212 East Washington / Box 667, St. Francis, KS 67756-0667

References

WPA The WPA Guide to 1930s Kansas ( Lawrence: University Press of Kansas. 1984 )

_____________________

Cheyenne County Development Corp.
(785) 734-2444 or toll-free: 888-735-2444
P. O. Box 255, St. Francis, KS 67556