History

Organized in 1879.  County seat Jetmore.  Named in honor of Amos Hodgman, Captain of Company H, Seventh Kansas Cavalry. He died on October 16, 1863, near Oxford, Miss., of wounds received in an action at Wyatt, Miss., October 10,1863. The name should be spelled Hodgman without the e--it was so spelled in the original statute of 1868 which created the county, but by accident--probably--in the statute which defined its boundaries in 1873, the e was inserted. Of course it is legally Hodgeman, and must remain orthographically incorrect until changed by legislative enactment.

Map and text from History of Kansas, Noble Prentis, (Winfield: E.P. Greer. 1899)

 
Historical Images of Jetmore are available from WSU's Ablah Library.
 
There is a section on Hodgeman County in the book Kansas: a Cyclopedia Of State History by Frank Blackmar (1912).
 
William G. Cutler's History of Kansas, first published in 1883, tells about early Hodgeman County.
 
The Kansas State Historical Society also has more historical data for Hodgeman County online including a rich bibliography and lists of cemeteries, post offices, and newspapers.

Cities, Towns & Villages of Hodgeman County

                           2000
    Town                Population  ZIP         Year  Elevation
    =================   ==========  =========   ====  =========
    Beersheba                    0              1882
    Bosse                                               2236
    Dungans Crossing                                    2139
    Gray                                                2131
    Hanston                    259  67849               2160
    Jetmore                    903  67854       1879    2307
    Orwell                                              2212

Special Places in Hodgeman County

• Jetmore just appears from nowhere if you approach from the south.

• The stonework in the downtown buildings, including the Haun Museum, in Jetmore are worth a side trip off US Highway 156.

Special Events in Hodgeman County

• The Sawlog N' Strings Bluegrass festival is held in August.  For more about this festival see Jetmore's special events.

Libraries

• Hanston Library   (620) 623-5240
  105 N. Logan / Hanston, KS 67849
• Jetmore Municipal Library   (620) 357-8336
  308 Main St / P. O. Box 274 / Jetmore, KS 67854

Museums

• Hodgeman County Historical Society, Haun Museum   (620) 357-8794
  Route 2; P.O. Box 114, (downtown) Jetmore, Kansas 67854

Hodgeman County School Systems

• USD 227   Jetmore   (620) 357-8301   FAX: (620) 357-6563
• USD 228   Hanston   (620) 623-2641 FAX: (620) 623-4488

Hospitals

• Hodgeman County Health Center   (620) 357-8361
  809 Bramley, Jetmore, KS 67854

Newspapers

• Jetmore Republican   (620) 357-8316
  415 Main, Jetmore, KS 67854

More Data About Hodgeman County

Genealogy

• Hodgeman County KSGenWeb

Hodgeman County Offices

• Hodgeman County   (620) 357-6421
  P. O. Box 247, Jetmore, KS 67854
• Extension Service

For more about Hodgeman County contact:

• Hodgeman County Economic Development Association   (620) 357-8831
  E-mail: hodgeman@sunflowertelco.com
  Courthouse / P. O. Box 121, Jetmore, KS 67854