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Atchison County, Kansas

Atchison County History, Geography, Demographics, Cities and Towns, and Education

Etymology - Origin of County Name

Named for David H. Atchison, a US Senator from Missouri, and President of the United States Senate at the date of the passage of the Act for the organization of the Territory of Kansas. He was a Pro-Slavery Democrat, and zealous partisan leader in the discussions and movements affecting the interests of slavery and its attempted establishment in the new state to be created.

Demographics:

County QuickFacts: Census Bureau Quick Facts

History

Atchison County, one of the northeastern counties of the state, was created by the first territorial legislature in 1855, with the following boundaries, "Beginning at the southeast corner of the county of Doniphan; thence west twenty-five (25) miles; thence south sixteen (16) miles; thence east to the Mississippi (Missouri) river; thence up said river to the place of beginning." The county was named in honor of David R. Atchison, United States senator from Missouri, and the town of Atchison was made the county seat. In 1868, the boundaries of the county were redefined as follows: "Commencing at the southeast corner of Doniphan county; thence with the southern boundary of Doniphan county, to the township line between townships 4 and 5 south; thence west with the said township line between townships 4 and 5 south, to the range line between ranges 16 and 17 east; thence south with said range line, to the southwest corner of section 19, of township 7 south of range 17 east; thence east with the section lines to the intersection with the west boundary line of the State of Missouri; thence north with said boundary line of the State of Missouri, to the place of beginning."

Atchison county is in the second tier of counties south of the Nebraska state line and has an area of 423 square miles. It is bounded on the north by Brown and Doniphan counties, on the east by Doniphan county and the Missouri river, which divides it from the State of Missouri, on the south by Leavenworth and Jefferson counties and on the west by Jackson county.

Geography

The surface of the county is gently undulating prairie, except along the Missouri river where it breaks into prominent bluffs. The average width of the valleys is from a quarter of a mile to a mile and a half and these constitute about one-eighth of the area. Timber is found along all the streams, the principal varieties being black walnut, burr-oak, black and white oak, hickory, red and white elm and honey-locust. Besides the Missouri river, which forms the eastern boundary, there is the Delaware river, which flows across the southwest corner, Stranger creek in the center of the county, and Independence creek which forms a part of the northeastern boundary. A mineral spring, said to have medicinal properties, is at Arrington in the southwest. Limestone and sandstone are plentiful; a rich vein of coal, averaging 3 feet or more in thickness, has been found just outside the corporate limits of Atchison; and there an abundance of clay for making vitrified brick.

Neighboring Counties:

• Northeast: Doniphan County; Buchanan County, Mo.
• Southeast: Platte County, Mo.; Leavenworth County
• South: Jefferson County
• Southwest: Jackson County
• Northwest: Brown County

Cities and Towns:

County Resources:

Atchison County - KS-Cyclopedia - 1912
 

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