Chase County, Kansas

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

Named: Created out of portions of Wise and Butler counties, named in honor of Salmon P. Chase, successively Governor of Ohio, United States Senator, Secretary of the Treasury, and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. In the Senate, he was earnest in his opposition to the extension of slavery into Kansas.

State & County QuickFacts: Census Bureau Quick Facts

History

Chase County contains vast areas of unspoiled prairie, used and managed as grasslands since it was settled. In the spring, after the pastures have been burnt, some of the hills look like they are all rock without enough soil to support life, and it's easy to see where the name Flint Hills came from. Later, by the end of May, the harshness is buried in a thick carpet of wildflowers and lush bluestem grasses.

Sharp's Creek Drive is probably the prettiest drive in the county, if not the state. Head south and east from Bazaar and go at least a couple of miles beyond the Kansas Turnpike onto the open range to experience what the first settlers must have seen and felt. If you travel east from Matfield Green you can still ford the Verdigris river. The road west from Matfield Green through Wonsevu to Burns in Marion County provides a similar experience. Stop somewhere and savor the solitude and silence. If you can't visit, William Least Heat-Moon's 1991 book, Prairy Erth, captures the spirit of the land. Wagon train tours through the Flint Hills are another nice way to experience this area

Geography

In surface the county is somewhat broken and hilly, especially in the southern portion, while in the north are gently rolling slopes. In some places along the streams the slopes terminate in abrupt bluffs. The Cottonwood river is the principal stream and with its numerous tributaries forms the water system of the county. It enters the county from the west about 12 miles from the southern line, flows northeast to Cottonwood Falls and thence east into Lyon county. Some of the important creeks are Diamond, Fox and Middle creeks on the north, and Fork and Cedar on the south. The river bottoms average over 2 miles in width, those on the creeks three-fourths of a mile and together comprise about one-eighth of the total area. The timber belts along the streams average less than half a mile in width and contain the following varieties of wood: walnut, cottonwood, burr-oak, sycamore, ash, hickory, hackberry, box-elder, redbud and buckeye. Limestone of an excellent quality and material for building-brick is found in abundance.

Neighboring Counties:

• North: Morris County
• Northeast: Lyon County
• Southeast: Greenwood County
• Southwest: Butler County
• West: Marion County

Cities:

County Resources:

Chase County - KS-Cyclopedia - 1912