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Morris County, Kansas facts for kids

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Morris County
Madonna of the Trail monument in Council Grove
Map of Kansas highlighting Morris County
Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
Map of the United States highlighting Kansas
Kansas's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  Kansas
Founded February 11, 1859
Named for Thomas Morris
Seat Council Grove
Largest city Council Grove
Area
 • Total 703 sq mi (1,820 km2)
 • Land 695 sq mi (1,800 km2)
 • Water 7.6 sq mi (20 km2)  1.1%%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 5,386
 • Density 7.7/sq mi (3.0/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district 2nd

Morris County is a county in the state of Kansas, USA. Its main city and county seat is Council Grove. In 2020, about 5,386 people lived here. The county is named after Thomas Morris. He was a U.S. Senator from Ohio who spoke out against slavery.

History of Morris County

Early Days

For thousands of years, the Great Plains of North America were home to nomadic Native American tribes. In the 16th to 18th centuries, France claimed large parts of North America. Later, France secretly gave this land to Spain in 1762.

In 1803, the United States bought most of the land that is now Kansas from France. This was part of the huge Louisiana Purchase. In 1848, after the Mexican–American War, the U.S. gained more land, including parts of southwest Kansas. The Kansas Territory was set up in 1854. Then, in 1861, Kansas officially became the 34th U.S. state.

The 1800s: A Time of Change

1845 trailmap
1845 Santa Fe Trail crossing Morris County
Stouffer's Railroad Map of Kansas 1915-1918 Morris County
1915-1918 railroad map of Morris County

Morris County was first home to the Kaw Native American tribe. As more settlers arrived, their relationship with the Kaw became difficult.

The town of Council Grove was started by European Americans in 1825. It became a very important stop for supplies on the Santa Fe Trail. The Santa Fe Trail was a busy trade route that crossed Morris County from 1821 to 1866.

The county was first called Wise County in 1855. It was named after Henry A. Wise, a governor from Virginia. However, in 1859, people who were against slavery renamed it Morris County. They chose to honor Thomas Morris, who was a strong opponent of slavery.

From 1846 to 1873, the Kaw Indian Reservation was located near Council Grove. In 1851, the Methodist Church also started an Indian Mission in Morris County.

Between 1877 and 1879, Benjamin "Pap" Singleton helped former enslaved people settle in Morris County. These settlers were called "Exodusters". Thousands of families moved from the southern U.S. to the Midwest. They hoped to find more opportunities and better lives.

In 1887, the Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway built a main railroad line through the county. Another railroad, the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway, also built a line in 1887. These railroads helped connect Morris County to other parts of the country.

The 1900s

The National Old Trails Road was created in 1912. This important road, also known as the Ocean-to-Ocean Highway, passed through Herington, Delavan, and Council Grove in Morris County.

Geography

Morris County covers about 703 square miles. Most of this area, 695 square miles, is land. The remaining 7.6 square miles, or about 1.1%, is water.

Neighboring Counties

Morris County shares borders with these counties:

Population Information

USA Morris County, Kansas age pyramid
Population pyramid based on 2000 census age data
Historical population
Census Pop.
1860 770
1870 2,225 189.0%
1880 9,265 316.4%
1890 11,381 22.8%
1900 11,967 5.1%
1910 12,397 3.6%
1920 12,005 −3.2%
1930 11,859 −1.2%
1940 10,363 −12.6%
1950 8,485 −18.1%
1960 7,392 −12.9%
1970 6,432 −13.0%
1980 6,419 −0.2%
1990 6,198 −3.4%
2000 6,104 −1.5%
2010 5,923 −3.0%
2020 5,386 −9.1%
2023 (est.) 5,334 −9.9%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790-1960 1900-1990
1990-2000 2010-2020

Education

Morris County has a few school districts that serve its students.

Local School Districts

  • Morris County USD 417
  • Rural Vista USD 481

Some students in Morris County might attend schools in districts that have offices in neighboring counties:

  • Centre USD 397
  • Chase County USD 284

Communities

Map of Morris Co, Ks, USA
2005 map of Morris County (map legend)

Morris County has several cities and smaller communities.

Cities in Morris County

Smaller Communities

These are communities that are not officially incorporated as cities:

Former Communities

  • Comiskey (This was once a community but is now considered a "ghost town." Part of it was in another county.)

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Morris (Kansas) para niños

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