Neosho County, KS

History

Organized in 1864. County seat, Erie. The county was originally called Dorn (see Labette), and changed in 1861 to Neosho, after the river which traverses the county from northwest to southeast. The name was given to the river by the Osages.

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 Neosho County.

The Special Collections of the Ablah Library at WSU contain historical images of Chanute, Earlton, and Thayer.

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

Cities, Towns, & Villages of Neosho County

                 2000
  Year  Elev  Population Name              ZIP
  ====  ====  ========== ================ =====
  1873   950       9,411 Chanute          66720
         960          80 Earlton
         925       1,211 Erie             66733
        1000         150 Galesburg        66740
         929             Hayden
        1040             Kimball
         903             Morehead
        1032             Odense
         911             Rollin
  1847   897         646 St. Paul         66771
         920             Shaw
         980             South Mound
        1050         106 Stark            66775
        1033         500 Thayer           66776
         955             Urbana

Census Bureau Profile & Map

Special Places in Neosho County

The old Santa Fe Depot in Chanute has been restored and now houses both the city library and the Safari Museum. It has a nice (free) shop and restrooms.
Santa Fe locomotive #762 is in the city park in the southern part of Chanute.
The Canville Trading post was at the site of the town of Shaw. There is a stone marker on the grounds of the simple white frame church there.

Libraries

Chanute Public Library (620) 431-3820
111 N. Lincoln, Chanute, KS 66720
Erie City Public Library (620) 244-5119
204 S. Butler, Erie, KS 66733
Graves Memorial Public Library
P. O. Box 354, St. Paul, KS 66771
Thayer City Library
100 N. Preston Street, P. O. Box 36 / Thayer, KS 66776

Museums

The Martin & Osa Johnson Safari Museum (620) 431-2730
111 N. Lincoln Ave / Chanute, KS 66720
Artifacts, photos, and mementos of the famous 1930s world travellers and explorers.

Neosho County School Systems

USD 101 Erie, (620) 244-3264, Erie, St. Paul, Thayer, and Galesburg
USD 413 Chanute Public Schools, (620) 431-4650, Chanute

Colleges & Universities

Neosho County Community College, Chanute (620) 431-2820

Hospitals

Neosho Regional Medical Center (620) 431-4000
629 S. Plummer, Chanute, KS 66720

Newspapers

Chanute Tribune (620) 431-4100
15 N. Evergreen / Mail: Box 559, Chanute, KS 66720
The Erie Record (620) 244-3371
317 S. Main, Erie, KS 66733

More Data About Neosho County

Economic Development

University of Kansas' County Profile Reports
Statistical data from The Institute for Public Policy and Business Research

Health Data

KDHE's Neosho County Health Profile

Genealogy

Neosho County KSGenWeb

References

WPA. The WPA Guide to 1930s Kansas (Lawrence: University Press of Kansas, reprint 1984) See tour 12, pages 489-490

Neosho County Offices

Neosho County (800) 498-1008
100 S. Main, Erie, KS 66733
Extension Service

For more about Neosho County contact:

Chanute Chamber of Commerce (620) 431-3350
21 N. Lincoln / Chanute, KS 66720