Marshall County, Kansas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Marshall County
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Former Marshall County Courthouse (left), current one-story courthouse (right) in Marysville (2010)
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Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
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 Kansas's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Kansas |
| Founded | August 25, 1855 |
| Named for | Frank J. Marshall |
| Seat | Marysville |
| Largest city | Marysville |
| Area | |
| • Total | 905 sq mi (2,340 km2) |
| • Land | 900 sq mi (2,000 km2) |
| • Water | 4.9 sq mi (13 km2) 0.20%% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 10,038 |
| • Density | 11.1/sq mi (4.3/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Area code | 785 |
| Congressional district | 1st |
Marshall County is a place in the state of Kansas, USA. Its main city and biggest town is Marysville. In 2020, about 10,038 people lived here. The county got its name from Frank J. Marshall. He was a state representative and ran the first boat ferry across the Big Blue River.
Contents
Exploring Marshall County's Past
Marshall County has a rich history. The famous Oregon Trail passed right through it. Many pioneers traveled this trail on their way west.
Early Settlers and the Oregon Trail
The well-known Donner Reed Party once rested by the Big Blue River in this county. Sadly, one of their members, Sarah Keyes, passed away here. She is buried at a spot called Alcove Springs. Many other pioneer graves are also found around Alcove Spring.
In 1849, a man named Francis James Marshall came to the area. He started a ferry service on the Big Blue River. This ferry helped people cross the river at a place called "Independence Crossing." Later, Francis Marshall decided to live in Marshall County. He moved his ferry business to a new spot. This new spot became the city of Marysville. The city is named after Marshall's wife, Mary.
Major Weather Events
On May 30, 1879, a very strong tornado hit Marshall County. It was called the "Irving, Kansas Tornado." This tornado was rated F4 on the Fujita scale, which means it was very powerful. It was about 800 yards wide and traveled for 100 miles. Eighteen people lost their lives, and sixty were hurt.
Local History and Museums
Today, the Marshall County Historical Society helps preserve the county's history. They are located in the old county courthouse. This building is now a museum and a research library. It's a great place to learn more about the area's past.
Understanding Marshall County's Geography
Marshall County covers a total area of about 905 square miles. Most of this area, about 900 square miles, is land. The rest, about 4.9 square miles, is water.
Neighboring Counties
Marshall County shares its borders with several other counties:
- Pawnee County, Nebraska (to the northeast)
- Nemaha County (to the east)
- Pottawatomie County (to the south)
- Riley County (to the southwest)
- Washington County (to the west)
- Gage County, Nebraska (to the northwest)
People and Population in Marshall County
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1860 | 74 | — | |
| 1870 | 768 | 937.8% | |
| 1880 | 12,453 | 1,521.5% | |
| 1890 | 20,539 | 64.9% | |
| 1900 | 24,355 | 18.6% | |
| 1910 | 23,880 | −2.0% | |
| 1920 | 22,730 | −4.8% | |
| 1930 | 23,056 | 1.4% | |
| 1940 | 20,986 | −9.0% | |
| 1950 | 17,926 | −14.6% | |
| 1960 | 15,598 | −13.0% | |
| 1970 | 13,139 | −15.8% | |
| 1980 | 12,787 | −2.7% | |
| 1990 | 11,705 | −8.5% | |
| 2000 | 10,965 | −6.3% | |
| 2010 | 10,117 | −7.7% | |
| 2020 | 10,038 | −0.8% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 9,933 | −1.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2020 |
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In 2000, there were 10,965 people living in Marshall County. The population density was about 12 people per square mile. Most of the people living here were White (98.14%).
The average age of people in the county was 42 years old. About 25% of the population was under 18 years old.
Education in Marshall County
Students in Marshall County attend schools in different unified school districts. These districts bring together schools from different towns.
Unified School Districts
- Marysville USD 364
- Vermillion USD 380
- Valley Heights USD 498
Historical School Changes
Some school districts have joined together over time. For example, Axtell USD 488 and Sabetha USD 441 combined to form Prairie Hills USD 113.
Communities in Marshall County
Marshall County has several cities and smaller communities.
Cities in Marshall County
- Axtell
- Beattie
- Blue Rapids
- Frankfort
- Marysville (This is the county seat)
- Oketo
- Summerfield
- Vermillion
- Waterville
Unincorporated Communities
These are smaller communities that are not officially cities. Some are called Census-Designated Places (CDP) by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Ghost Towns
These are towns that used to exist but are now abandoned.
Townships of Marshall County
Marshall County is divided into 25 areas called townships. The city of Marysville is separate and not included in the township numbers. The table below shows information about each township.
| Township | Population center |
Population | Land area km2 (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balderson | 106 | 98 (38) | |
| Bigelow | 66 | 97 (37) | |
| Blue Rapids | Blue Rapids | 78 | 93 (36) |
| Blue Rapids City | Irving | 1,201 | 92 (36) |
| Center | Reedsville | 151 | 98 (38) |
| Clear Fork | Bigelow | 54 | 93 (36) |
| Cleveland | 91 | 92 (36) | |
| Cottage Hill | Cottage Hill | 143 | 93 (36) |
| Elm Creek | Schroyer | 178 | 93 (36) |
| Franklin | Home City | 337 | 98 (38) |
| Guittard | Beattie | 454 | 93 (36) |
| Herkimer | 234 | 92 (36) | |
| Lincoln | 130 | 92 (35) | |
| Logan | Bremen, Herkimer | 335 | 93 (36) |
| Marysville | Marysville | 383 | 84 (32) |
| Murray | Axtell | 640 | 92 (36) |
| Noble | Vermillion, Vliets | 217 | 92 (35) |
| Oketo | Marietta, Oketo | 251 | 92 (35) |
| Richland | Summerfield | 206 | 93 (36) |
| Rock | 123 | 93 (36) | |
| St. Bridget | Mina | 232 | 92 (35) |
| Vermillion | Barrett, Frankfort | 1,012 | 93 (36) |
| Walnut | 144 | 93 (36) | |
| Waterville | Waterville | 797 | 93 (36) |
| Wells | 131 | 98 (38) |
Famous People from Marshall County
Marshall County has been home to some notable individuals, especially in sports.
- Frank Wayenberg (1898-1975) - He was a pitcher for the Cleveland Indians baseball team in 1924.
- Butch Nieman (1918-1993) - Born in Herkimer, he played outfield for the Boston Braves from 1943 to 1945.
- Don Songer (1899-1962) - He was a pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1924 to 1927 and the New York Giants in 1927.
Images for kids
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Former Marshall County Courthouse (left), current one-story courthouse (right) in Marysville (2010)
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Marshall (Kansas) para niños
