Description
Meade County is part of the High Plains of Kansas: fairly flat and well
suited to dry country farming. Early settlers seemed to think they
had found the Garden of Eden:
"If there is a more beautiful country than Meade Co. we know it not"
- The Call, Pearlette (Meade County), Kansas, August 15, 1879
Crooked Creek drains most of the county and the Cimarron River crosses
the southwest corner. Highway US 54 follows the railroad diagonally
across the the county leading southwest to
Liberal.
Highway
US 160
crosses East/West and state highway K-23 runs North/South.
History
|
|
Organized November 3, 1885.
County seat Meade.
Named in honor of Major-General George C. Meade,
United States Army, who died in 1872. |
Map and text from History of Kansas,
Noble Prentis, (Winfield: E.P. Greer. 1899)
|
Both the city and county were named for General George C. Meade (1815-1872),
the Union commander at Gettysburg.
O. E. Short and members of his government surveying team were killed in
Meade County by Cheyenne Indians in 1874. The six were buried under a
lone
cottonwood tree that was a well-known trail landmark of the times.
The Special Collections of the Ablah Library at WSU contain historical images of
Fowler and
Meade.
The Kansas State Historical Society also has
more
historical data for Meade County online including a rich bibliography and lists of
cemeteries, post offices, and newspapers.
Extracts from
Pioneer Stories of Meade County:
(Used by permission of the Meade County Historical Society)
Cities, Towns, & Villages of Meade County
2000
Year Elev Population Name ZIP
==== ==== ========== ================ =====
2723 Collano
1884 2481 567 Fowler 67844
2730 Hobart
2497 1,672 Meade 67864
1886 Mertilla
2697 Missler
1886 Pearlette
1885 2760 1,163 Plains 67869
Census Bureau Profile & Map
Special Places in Meade County
- The Meade State Lake is 13 miles southwest of Meade off
KS-23. There is also a state fish hatchery there.
- The historical society in Meade has an old school and a collection
of old farm implements on Pearlette St in addition to the regular
museum.
- The Dalton Gang hideout in Meade has a tunnel for fast getaways.
- Plains wide main street has amusingly painted fire hydrants.
Special Events in Meade County
- Meade celebrates Dalton Days
and the Meade County Rodeo in May with a parade, festival, and rodeo.
- On the third weekend in July, Fowler hosts its 3-day "Threshing Days" celebration.
Meade County School Systems
- USD 226 Meade (620) 873-2081 Meade
- USD 225 Fowler (620) 646-5661 Fowler
- USD 483 Kismet-Plains (620) 563-7292 Plains
Hospitals
- Meade District Hospital (620) 873-2141
510 E. Carthage / Meade, KS 67864
Libraries
- Fowler Public Library (620) 646-5550
510 Main St / P.O. Box 101 / Fowler, KS 67844
- Meade Public Library (620) 873-2522
132 S. Fowler Street / P. O. Box 599 / Meade, KS 67864
- Plains Community Library (620) 563-7326
308 Second / Plains, KS 67869
Museums
- Dalton Gang Hideout (620) 873-2731 or 1-800-354-2743
502 S. Pearlette / Meade, KS 67864
- Meade County Historical Society Museum (620) 873-2359
200 E. Carthage / Meade, KS / 67864
Newspapers
- Meade County News (620) 873-2118
105 S. Fowler / P. O. Box 310 / Meade, KS 67864
- Prairie Sun Weekly (620) 873-2900
102 N. Fowler / P. O. Box 700 / Meade, KS 67864
More Data About Meade County
Genealogy
References
- Pioneer Stories of Meade County (Meade: Meade County Historical Society. 1985)
- Sullivan, Frank S. A History of Meade County, Kansas (Topeka: Crane & Co. 1916)
- WPA The WPA Guide to 1930s Kansas ( Lawrence: University Press of Kansas. 1984 )
Meade County Offices
For more about Meade County
