Trego County, Kansas

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

Etymology - Origin of County Name

Named in memory of Edward P. Trego, Captain of Company H, Eighth Kansas Infantry, killed September 19, 1863 at Chickamauga, Tenn.

Demographics:

County QuickFacts: Census Bureau Quick Facts

County History

Trego County, in the western part of the state, is the third county south from the Nebraska line and the fourth east from Colorado. It is bounded on the north by Graham county, on the east by Ellis, on the south by Ness, and on the west by Gove. It was named in honor of Capt. Edgar P. Trego of the Eighth Kansas infantry. The first settler was B. O. Richards, who located at Coyote, near the present town of Collyer, about 1875 or 1876. During the year 1877 the following settlers located in the county: J. R. Snyder J. C. Henry, Harlow Orton, Earl Spaulding, J. K. Snyder, D. O. Adams, George Brown, George McCaslin and George Pinkham. The same year came the advance agents of a colony from Chicago, viz.: Mr. Warren, W. S. Harrison, George Barrell, F. O. Ellsworth, Thomas Peak and C. W. F. Street. The next year there was a rush of immigrants, most of whom were from Chicago and vicinity. The influx continued through the first half of 1879, the population reaching 3,500 by midsummer.

With a view to organizing the county a census enumeration was made and upon receiving the returns Gov. John P. St. John issued a proclamation, dated June 21, organizing the county. The town of Wakeeney was named as county seat

Geography

The general surface of the county is rolling, with some bluffs and broken lands along the Saline river in the north. In the east is Roundmound, an elevation of considerable height, and in the south are bluffs along the Smoky Hill. Bottom lands are from one-half to one mile in width and comprise 12 per cent. of the area. A few small groves containing cottonwood, white-ash, box-elder, elm and hackberry comprise all the native timber. The Saline river enters in the northwest corner and flows east across the northern tier of townships into Ellis county. Trego and Springer creeks are its principal tributaries from the south. The Smoky Hill river flows east across the southern portion, Downer, Castle Hill, Wild Horse and Elm creeks being tributaries. Big creek enters in the west and flows southeast into Ellis county. Magnesian limestone is abundant and a very hard conglomerate stone exists in some localities. Native lime is abundant and chalk and coal have been found to some extent.

Neighboring Counties:

• Graham County (north)
• Rooks County (northeast)
• Ellis County (east)
• Ness County (south)
• Gove County (west)

Cities and Towns:

County Resources:

Trego County - KS-Cyclopedia - 1912