Norton County, Kansas

Towns & Places:

Almena
Lenora
Norton (County seat)

Extinct Towns of Norton County

Ghost Towns

Calvert
Clayton
Densmore
Edmond
New Almelo

Keith Sebelius Lake

Prairie Dog Creek

Prairie Dog State Park

Soloman River

Norton County Photo Gallery

 

Norton County, Kansas, is located in the northwest part of the state. The county was established in 1867 and named for Civil War soldier Orloff Norton, captain of Company L of the 15th Kansas Militia Infantry Regiment, who was killed at Cane Hill, Arkansas, in November 1864. The county seat and largest city is Norton. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 5,459, and it had a total area of 881 square miles, of which 878 square miles is land and 3.2 square miles is water.

Norton County, one of the counties in the northern tier, is the fourth from Colorado. It is bounded on the north by the State of Nebraska, east by Phillips County, south by Graham, and west by Decatur.

Norton County has numerous waterways: the Soloman River, flowing east through the southern tier of townships; Prairie Dog Creek, through the central portion; and Sappa Creek, from southwest to northeast, through the county’s northwest corner. The Solomon River has several tributaries: the Cactus, Skull, Buck, Big Timber, Otter, Sand, East, and West Elk Creeks. The Prairie Dog and Sappa also have numerous tributaries.

The surface was prairie, with bottomlands comprising 15%. The principal streams were Sappa Creek in the northwest, Prairie Dog Creek through the center, and the north fork of the Solomon River in the south. Thin belts of native timber lined them. Limestone, sandstone, and potter’s clay were found.

The first settlers came in 1871, and George Cole took the first homestead in September of that year. James Hall, D.C. Coleman, Charles Brazee, and Fred Hyde settled in the county in November.

In the spring of 1872, a party composed of S. Marsh, Charles Hillsinger, Mott Wood, Henry Oliver, and Thomas Brown came from New York to the Prairie Dog Valley. Shelby D. Reed settled in Center Township in April 1872. More families followed, including James Hall and Daniel C. Coleman, located on Prairie Dog Creek, 12 miles east of Norton. During the same season, Joel Simmons, W.E. Case, Charles and John Beiber, G.N. Kingsbury, Henry Oliver, Sol. Marsh, Charles Hisinger, and Joel Mott settled in the county. Soon after came an individual called Colonel N.H. Billings, who took sway as a leader, became the first Representative in the Legislature on the organization of the county.

Norton County was founded and organized by Noah H. Billings, Thomas Beaumont, Henry Gordon, P. Hansen, and George Cole on August 22, 1872. At that time, it was common to witness immense herds of buffalo roaming its beautiful plains. Consequently, bands of Pawnee, Omaha, and other Indians visited often, but no outbreaks occurred. At one time, a band of Sioux just returning from a battle with the Pawnee, with bloody scalps dangling from their belts, visited the settlers and indulged in a war dance but did no serious damage.

In June, Noah Billings went to Topeka, where he prepared a forged petition and presented it to Governor James Harvey. The governor refused to act upon it, as it contained just eight names of county residents. Immediately, Billings prepared an affidavit stating that there were not less than 600 inhabitants in Norton County. This was sent to the governor in a second petition asking for organization and made recommendations for officers. Although this petition did not contain the name of a single resident of Norton County, the governor appointed Richard M. Johnson to take the census. As Johnson was a fictitious character, Billings had things his way, and a bogus census was taken in short order. It was presented to the governor on August 22, and the same day, the proclamation of the organization was issued, Norton the temporary county seat and appointing the following officers: Clerk David C. Coleman; commissioners J. W. Vance, S.D. Reed, and James Hall. In the fall of the same year, Thomas Beaumont, Henry Gordon, and Peter Hanson settled in the county’s southern section near the Solomon River.

According to a bogus 1872 census, the county had 636 people, though the actual number probably did not exceed one-third of those figures.

On August 22, 1872, the governor declared Norton County organized for all government purposes. He appointed the following temporary officers: D.C. Coleman, County Clerk; J.W. Vance, S.D. Reed, and James Hall, Commissioners. The county was divided into three townships: Almena, Center, and Solomon, each ten miles wide and thirty miles long.

The commissioners met and scheduled September 24 for the first election of the county seat. It was conducted in an emigrant’s covered wagon. After 42 votes were cast, Norton received 38 for the county seat, and the following officers were elected: Treasurer Henry Oliver; Sheriff James Hall; Clerk of the District Court S. Marsh; Surveyor D.W. Mills; Probate Judge Edward Newell; Register of Deeds, Samuel Newell; coroner, William Gibbon; commissioners, W.J. Vance, Abram Louk and Peter Hansen. Noah H. Billings was elected county attorney, superintendent of public instruction, and Representative. He succeeded in having school bonds voted on, and Norton’s first school district was formed. After that, Representative Billings, then a central figure in local affairs, climbed out on the tongue of the wagon and, assuming the duties of chairman, exclaimed: “All in favor of Norton for the county seat, say aye.” The vote was declared unanimous, and the record was made up accordingly. This action was endorsed at a regular election two years later.

In the winter of 1872, Edgar Page, whose dugout was located on a bend of Prairie Dog Creek, was one day fixing up a bedstead when the blanket that served as a door was raised, and in stepped an Indian, followed by several others. The little dugout was crowded. An old chief, his family, and five of his tribe slept by the fire that night. In the morning, they visited a ranch where Mr. Shaw dwelt, and the men were absent; their presence caused consternation. One of the Indians came to the bed where Mrs. Shaw was lying with a four-day-old infant and said: “Good Indians; no hurt pretty white squaw,” which, however, did not relieve her fears. They were part of a band of 900 Pawnee warriors out on a hunt.

In 1873, an old man named Chapman settled in the county near the Solomon River, built a cabin, and began improving his claim. It was known that he had quite a sum of gold, which he indiscreetly displayed at times. He was found dead in his cabin, his head severely bruised, and a pistol ball in his heart. The money was taken from his pockets. The murderers were never discovered.

Newell Brothers established the first general merchandise store at Norton in 1873. In the fall of 1873, Judge A.J. Banty held the first regular term of court in a log house with a buffalo skin roof. Beginning December 1, 1873, J H. Simmons taught the first school to 16 students in a dugout. The first physician was Mrs. P.A.O. Briggs, who often traveled 50 miles in the worst weather to see patients even though she knew they could not pay her.

The first post offices were established at West Union and Port Landis in January 1874, with Alfred Coleman and John Landis as the first postmasters.

Complaints of unfairness caused a second election in 1874. Norton again received a majority in this election and retained the courthouse and other county buildings.

In 1874, the grasshopper plague almost ruined all of the settlers.

In 1875, the county’s population was 899. Iowa, Illinois, and Nebraska contributed the bulk of the population. At that time, 94% were engaged in farming. Wells ranged from ten to 75 feet. Coal had been mined for local use but is limited to a few Townships. Limestone and sandstone are found nearly all over the County. There were no railroads, banks, noted manufacturers, or newspapers in the County. There were 17 schools and 17 districts but only two schoolhouses, no churches, and no libraries. Norton, the county seat, was 230 miles northwest of Topeka.

In 1878, the county had 24 organized school districts and a school population of 642. The average monthly pay for male teachers was $22.55, and for females, it was $15.13. At that time, there were 11 schoolhouses in the county. Although not officially recognized, the first county fair was held in Leota in October 1878.

By 1879, the number of school districts had increased to 52, and the school population was 1,623. With 34 teachers employed, the average pay of male teachers was $19.76; for females, it was $13.07. The assessed valuation of school property was reported at $157,728.

In 1880, there were 84 school districts with a school population of 2,014. Sixty-two teachers were employed, with the average pay of male teachers being $17.89 and female teachers being $14.80. The assessed valuation of the school property was $324,922.72.

By 1882, the number of districts was 92, with 2,122 students and 71 teachers employed, with the average pay of male teachers being $17.50 and females $15.90. The schoolhouses, with very few exceptions, were built of sod. However, the public school building in Norton was a large, two-story stone structure erected for $3,800.

There were 19 post offices, including Almena, Cactus, Clayton, Croco, Dallas, Densmore, Devizes, Edmond, Fair Haven, Lee, Lenora, Long Branch, Hedgewood, Neighborville, New Almelo, Norton, Reagle, Tucket, and Wakeman.

A branch of the Missouri Pacific Railroad entered south from Phillips County, ran west, and terminated at Lenora. A Chicago, Burlington & Quincy branch entered northeast, running southwest to Norton and west into Decatur County. The Chicago, Rock Island, & Pacific Railway entered northeast and crossed southwest through Norton into Decatur County.

At that time, the county’s population of 1882 was a little less than 6,000. The number of acres in the county was 576,000. Since the first returns were made in 1874, the acreage has increased from 3,156 to 205,921 in the present season. Number of farm dwellings erected in 1881, 159; value of same, $15,635; pounds of butter made in 1881, 123,259; number of horses 2,181; mules, 280; milch cows, 2,020; other cattle, 2,684; sheep, 2,947; swine, 2,565; prairie hay, 6,900 tons; timothy, 816 tons; number of acres in spring wheat, 4,263; corn, 28,188; barley, 114; oats, 1,112, buckwheat, 38; Irish potatoes, 289; sweet potatoes, 25; sorghum, 1,366; castor beans, 116; broom corn, 970; Hungarian, 3,382; rice corn, 590; pearl millet, 39. Bearing peach-trees, 1,014; plum, 100; cherries, 117. Not bearing: Apples, 2,376; pear, 184; peach, 13,885; plum, 6,326; cherry, 1,935. Artificial forest trees: Walnut, 82 acres; maple, 26; honey locust, 40; cottonwood, 270; other varieties, 182. The value of agricultural implements in the county is $23,158.

The county had five water-powered grist mills: David Morton and Charles Lathrop had two mills at Lenora, Lindsay & Brothers at Devizes, and Noah Weaver at Edmond. The value of raw materials used that year was $110,000. A successful creamery was also in operation, and its business was rapidly increasing. There were Methodist Episcopal, Presbyterian, Christian, Free Methodist, Missionary Baptist, Catholic, Mennonite Churches, and a Church of God.

From 1873 to 1889, there was no permanent courthouse building in Norton. Instead, various buildings were rented for county purposes. Bonds to build a courthouse failed to pass in 1887 and again early in 1888. A petition was presented asking that an election be held to vote $26,000 to erect a suitable courthouse for the county. The motion was granted, and an election was ordered to be held on November 6, 1888. The vote was taken, and the bonds carried 1197 to 1029. The contract to build the courthouse was awarded to Kuhn and Waller of Norton, Kansas, for $24,875.

The county population in 1890 was 10,617. After 1900, the county fair was held yearly in Elmwood Park in Norton. The county population in 1900 was 11,325.

In 1910, the county population was 11,614, with an assessed property valuation of $18,242,467. The total value of farm products that year was $2,527,204. Wheat, the principal crop, was worth $647,519; corn, $307,633; tame grasses, $271,430; prairie grass, $136,432; oats, $135,522; sorghum, $88,000; Kafir corn, $68,000. Animals sold for slaughter brought $531,501; poultry and eggs, $103,978; dairy products, $147,593. The county had more than $2,500,000 worth of livestock and 85,000 bearing fruit trees.

At that time, the county was divided into 23 townships: Aldine, Almelo, Almena, Belle Plaine, Center, Clayton, Crystal, Emmett, Garfield, Grant, Harrison, Highland, Lenora, Leota, Lincoln, Modell, Noble, Orange, Rock Branch, Rockwell, Sand Creek, Solomon, and West Union. Post offices were also in Almena, Calvert, Clayton, Dellville, Densmore, Devizes, Edmond, Lenora, Norton, and Oronoque.

The courthouse was destroyed by fire on the night of December 1, 1926. Afterward, the county commissioners rented the American Legion building on the southeast corner of E. Main Street and S. Wabash Avenue. In August 1928, voters approved a bond issue to erect a new courthouse. Gurtler & Co. of Topeka, Kansas, was the general contractor. The total cost of the building, jail, and furnishings was $208,576. Move-in day was December 20, 1929. This building still serves the county.

Norton County’s population peaked in 1930 at 11,701.

Following an amendment to the Kansas Constitution in 1986, the county remained a prohibited, or “dry,” county until 1992, when voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with a 30% food sales requirement.

In 2020, Norton County became a major hotspot in the COVID-19 pandemic. In July, an inmate at the Norton Correctional Facility, a state prison, tested positive for coronavirus. By mid-October, more than 130 cases had been reported at the prison. On October 19, officials announced that all 62 residents of the Andbe Nursing Home in Norton had tested positive for COVID-19, ten of whom had died. By October 20, Norton County had the highest infection rate over the previous 7 and 14 days of any county in the United States.

Two Unified school districts serve the county, including Norton USD 211 and Northern Valley USD 212 in Alamena.

©Kathy Alexander/Legends of Kansas, December 2024.

Also See:

Cities & Towns of Kansas

Kansas Counties

Kansas Destinations

Norton County Photo Gallery

Sources:

Blackmar, Frank W.; Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, Vol I; Standard Publishing Company, Chicago, IL 1912.
Cutler, William G; History of Kansas; A. T. Andreas, Chicago, IL, 1883.
Norton County Genealogy
Tuttle, Charles Richard; A New Centennial History of the State of Kansas; Inter-State Book Company, January 1876.
Wikipedia