History

Organized, 1870.  County seat, McPherson.  In honor of Major-General James B. McPherson, United States Volunteers, who was killed in battle at Atlanta, Ga., July 22, 1864.   Map and text from History of Kansas, Noble Prentis, (Winfield: E.P. Greer. 1899)

Cities, Towns, & Villages of McPherson County

                 2000
  Year  Elev  Population Name              ZIP
  ====  ====  ========== ================ =====
        1590         829 Canton           67428
        1540             Conway           67460
        1485             Elyria
        1372             Freemount
        1546         701 Galva            67443
        1483             Groveland
        1521             Hilton
  1887  1527       1,142 Inman            67546
        1355             Jenkins
        1390             Johnstown
  1869  1333       3,321 Lindsborg        67456
        1478             Mackie
  1874  1385         542 Marquette        67464
  1872  1504      13,770 McPherson        67460
  1887  1490       1,593 Moundridge       67107
        1528             New Gottland
        1350             Roxbury          67476
        1950         137 Windom           67491

Special Places in McPherson County

• The Kansas Sampler Center is located on Arapahoe Road about 1 1/2 miles east of the road connecting Inman and Buhler.  The Kansas Sampler Foundation works toward preserving rural Kansas culture and helping people explore Kansas via the Kansas Explorers Club.
• The Spring Valley community in the eastern part of the county is down to a simple white frame Mennonite church (dated 1892) and cemetery.
• There is an extensive collection of antique farm machinery parked under the water tower at Galva.
• The McPherson Opera House was built in 1889 at a cost of $42,000.
• Bethany College, a four year liberal arts college in Lindsborg, was founded in 1881 by Swedish immigrants. It is famous for its presentations of Handel's Messiah oratorio.
• The Maxwell Wildife Refuge, six miles north of Canton, has over 2200 acres of prairie habitat. Tram rides to view the wildlife are available.

Special Events in McPherson County

• The Kansas Sampler Festival, which for years was held at the Penner farm south of Inman, now travels around the state.  In 1998 and 1999 it was held in Pratt; Ottawa hosted the festival in 2000 & 2001.  In 2002, in Independence, the date of the festival changed to the first weekend in May.  This is "the" event for those of us who love to travel around Kansas.
• Canton holds "Prairie Days" in June to celebrate the beauty of the early summer prairie
• Bethany College in Lindsborg has been presenting Handel's Messiah every Easter season since the 1880s.
• The Midsummer Festival in Lindsborg celebrates the Swedish traditions of the town. It's held on the third Satuday in June.
• McPherson is home to a yearly Scottish Festival.

Libraries

• Canton Township Library
  N. Main / P. O. Box 336 / Canton, KS 67428
• Inman Public Library   (620) 585-2474
  P. O. Box 416, Inman, KS 67546
• Lindsborg Community Library   (785) 227-2710
  111 S. Main, Lindsborg, KS 67456
• McPherson Public Library   (620) 245-2570
  214 W. Marlin, McPherson, KS 67460
• Marquette Community Library   (785) 546-2561
  121 N. Washington / Marquette, KS 67464
• Moundridge Public Library   (620) 345-6355
  220 S. Christian, Moundridge, KS 67107
• Roxbury Special Library
  P. O. Box 38, Roxbury, KS 67476

Museums

• McCormick-Deering Days Museum   (620) 585-2226
  204 S. Main, Inman, KS 67546
   
  
• Birger Sandzen Gallery   (785) 227-2220
  Bethany College / 401 N. First, Lindsborg, KS 67456
  1:00-5:00 Wednesday through Sunday
  An awesome collection of the famous Swedish-American artist and some of his student's work lovingly displayed.
   
  
• Old Mill Museum   (785) 227-3595
  P.O. Box 94 / 120 Mill Street / Lindsborg, KS 67456
  Monday - Saturday 9-5, Sundays 1-5
   
  
• The McPherson Museum / Vaniman House   (620) 241-8464
  1130 E. Euclid, McPherson, KS
  Tue-Sun 1:00-5:00

McPherson County School Systems

• USD 400 Lindsborg   (785) 227-2981 Lindsborg
• USD 418 McPherson - Bullpups
• USD 419 Canton-Galva   (620) 628-4901 Canton
• USD 423 Moundridge   (620) 345-8611 "Wildcats"
• USD 448 Inman   (620) 585-6424 Inman "Teutons"

Colleges & Universities

• Bethany College, Lindsborg,   (785) 227-3311
• Central Christian College, McPherson,   (800)  835-0078 or (316)  241-0723
• McPherson College, McPherson,   (800) 365-7402 or (316)  241-0731

Hospitals

• Canton Clinic   (620) 628-4448
  114 N. Main, Canton, KS 67428
• Lindsborg Community Hospital   (785-227-3308)
  605 W Lincoln St., Lindsborg, KS 67456-2399
• Memorial Hospital of McPherson   (620) 241-2250
  1000 Hospital Dr., McPherson, KS 67460
• Mercy Hospital   (620) 345-6391
  218 E. Pack, Moundridge, KS 67107

Newspapers

• Lindsborg News-Record   (785) 227-3348
  114 S. Main, Lindsborg, KS 67456
• Marquette Tribune   (785) 546-2266
  112 N. Washington, Marquette, KS 67464
• McPherson Sentinel   (620) 241-2422
  301 S. Main, McPherson, KS 67460
• Moundridge Ledger   (620) 345-6353
  120 N. Christian, Moundridge, KS 67107

Genealogy

• McPherson County KSGenWeb

More Data About McPherson County

McPherson County Offices

• McPherson County   (620) 241-3656
  Kansas & Maple Sts., McPherson, KS 67460
• Extension Service

For more about McPherson County contact:

• Inman Chamber of Commerce
  101 N. Main, Inman, KS
   
• Lindsborg Arts Council   (785) 227-3032
  402 N. Roosevelt / Lindsborg, KS 67456
   
• Lindsborg Chamber of Commerce   (785) 227-3706
  104 E. Lincoln / P. O. Box 191, Lindsborg, KS 67466
   
• McPherson CVB   (800) 324-8022 or (620) 241-3340
  McPherson, KS
   
• McPherson County Council on Aging   (620) 241-1848
  112 East Euclid, McPherson, KS 67460