History

Clara Harlowe Barton (1821-1912) was the founder of the American Red Cross during the Civil War.  She is the only woman to have a Kansas county named for her.
 
William G. Cutler's History of Kansas, first published in 1883, tells about early Barton County.

Organized in 1872.  County seat, Great Bend.  In honor of Miss Clara Barton, of Massachusetts, who won great distinction during the war for the Union by her remarkably effective philanthropic career in the sanitary department of the army.   Map and text from History of Kansas, Noble Prentis, (Winfield: E.P. Greer. 1899)

 
 
The Special Collections of the Ablah Library at WSU contain historical images of Pawnee Rock, Great Bend, Albert, and Claflin.
 
The Kansas State Historical Society also has more historical data for Barton County online including a rich bibliography and lists of cemeteries, post offices, and newspapers.

Cities, Towns, & Villages of Barton County

                           2000
    Town                Population  ZIP         Year  Elevation
    =================   ==========  =========   ====  =========
    Albert                     181  67511               1915
    Beaver                          67525               1920
    Boyd                                                1851
    Claflin                    705  67525               1810
    Dartmouth                                            815
    Dubuque                                             1888
    Dundee                                              1901
    Ellinwood                2,164  67526       1872    1800
    Farhman                                             1889
    Galatia                     61                      1995
    Great Bend              15,345  67530       1871    1849
    Heizer                                              1880
    Hitschmann                                          1930
    Hoisington               2,975  67544               1845
    Kanbrick                                            1815
    Millard                                             1994
    Odin                            67525               1839
    Olmitz                     138  67564               2010
    Pawnee Rock                356  67567               1949
    Redwing                                             1811
    South Hoisington                                    1819
    Stickney                                            1951
    Susank                      57  67544               1970

Special Places in Barton County

• Pawnee Rock was (is) a famous landmark along the Santa Fe Trail; from its top you can see both Larned & Great Bend
• Fort Zarah outside of Great Bend is now just a tiny roadside park with historical markers.
• Ellinwood's underground city contained perhaps eleven underground businesses.
• Pioneer black film maker Oscar Micheaux is buried in Great Bend. The community is planning a film festival in his honor.
• Cheyenne Bottoms is a 41,000 acre lowland/wetland that is excellent for wildlife watching.

Special Events in Barton County

• Great Bend Fourth of July Fireworks
• Ellinwood's After Harvest Festival is held the third week in July.
• Hoisington hosts an annual Labor Day Celebration.

Libraries

• Ellinwood Public Library   (620) 564-2306
  210 N. Schiller / Ellinwood, KS 67526
• Great Bend Public Library   (620) 792-2409
  1409 Williams Street / Great Bend, KS 67530
• Central Kansas Library System   (620) 792-4865   1-800-362-2642 (in Kansas)
  1409 Williams Street / Great Bend, KS 67530
• Hoisington City Library   (620) 653-4128
  169 S. Walnut / Hoisington, KS 67544

Museums

• Barton County Historical Society   (620) 793-5125 or 792-2204
  Great Bend, KS   1-4 Tue-Sun
• L. E. "Gus" and Eva Shafer Memorial Art Gallery   620-792-9342
  245 NE 30th Road, Great Bend, KS 67530   On the campus of Barton County Community College
• Barton Arts Center
  Forest & Main, Great Bend, KS 67530
• Hoisington Historical Society
  120 E. 2nd / Hoisington, KS 67544

Barton County School Systems

• USD 354 Claflin   (620) 587-3878 Claflin
• USD 355 Ellinwood Public Schools   (620) 564-3226 Ellinwood
• USD 428 Great Bend   (620) 793-1500 Great Bend
• USD 431 Hoisington   (620) 653-4134 Hoisington

Colleges & Universities

• Barton County Community College, Great Bend (620) 792-2701

Hospitals

• Central Kansas Medical Center   (620) 792-2511
  3515 Broadway / Great Bend, KS
• Clara Barton Hospital   (620) 653-2114
  250 W. 9th / Hoisington, KS 67544
• Ellinwood District Hospital   (620) 564-2548
  605 North Main Street / Ellinwood, KS 67526

Museums

• Barton County Museum and Historical Village   (620) 793-5125
  85 S. Highway 281 / PO Box 1091 / Great Bend, KS

Newspapers

• Ellinwood Leader   (620) 564-3116
  105 N. Main / Ellinwood, KS 67526
• Great Bend Tribune
  2012 Forest Avenue / P. O. Box 228 / Great Bend, KS 67530
• Hoisington Dispatch   (620) 653-4154
  104 N. Main / Hoisington, KS 67544

More Data About Barton County

Barton County Offices

• Barton County   (620) 793-1800
  1400 Main Street / Great Bend, KS 67530,
• Barton County Health Department   (620) 793-1902
  1300 Kansas Avenue / Great Bend, KS 67530
• Extension Service   (620) 793-1910
  1800 12th St. / Great Bend,KS 67530

For more about Barton County visit:

• Great Bend Chamber of Commerce   (620) 792-2401
  1307 Williams / PO Box 400, Great Bend, KS 67530
   
• Great Bend Convention & Visitors Bureau   (620) 792-2401
  1307 Williams / P. O. Box 400 / Great Bend, KS