History

Organized in 1869.  County seat, Independence.  Named for Gen. Richard Montgomery, born in Ireland, December 2, 1736; was an officer of distinction in the British Army; resigned and settled in New York State in 1773; was appointed one of the eight generals to command the revolutionary army, in 1775; was killed in the attack on Quebec, December 31, 1775, shouting, "Death or Liberty!"   Map and text from History of Kansas, Noble Prentis, (Winfield: E.P. Greer. 1899)

Cities, Towns, & Villages of Montgomery County

                 2000
  Year  Elev  Population Name              ZIP
  ====  ====  ========== ================ =====
         726             Avian
         807             Blake
         826             Bolton
  1871   770       2,092 Caney            67333
  1871   850       2,386 Cherryvale       67335
  1869   736      11,021 Coffeyville      67337
         854             Corbin (historical)
         787             Crane
         770         415 Dearing          67340
         835         305 Elk City         67344
         791             Fruitland
         760          86 Havana           67347
  1870   826       9,846 Independence     67301
         797             Jefferson
         804             Le Hunt
         750          95 Liberty          67351
         730             Owen
         840             Sycamore         67363
         891         226 Tyro             67364
         877             Wayside
         750             West Coffeyville

Special Places in Montgomery County

• While in Coffeyville, see the Dalton Defenders Museum in the Perkin's Building (Old Condon Bank) downtown and the Brown Mansion south of downtown.
   
• Elk City Lake is famous for its hiking trails and record (123 Pound) catfish.
  

Special Events in Montgomery County

• The Kansas Sampler Festival brings Kansans together to discover what there is to see and do in Kansas.  Independence is hosting the festival the first weekend in May in 2002 and 2003.
• Coffeyville's Dalton Defenders' Days recall the raid on the town by the Dalton Gang.  It's held in October every year.
• Independence's Neewollah (Halloween spelled backwards) in late October is one of the largest festivals in Kansas, with Broadway musicals, a carnival, presentations by great regional talent on street stages, performances by well known national recording musical artists in Memorial Hall, contests and parades.

Libraries

• Caney City Library   (620) 879-5828
  100 N. Ridgeway, Caney, KS 67333-2035
• Cherryvale Public Library   (620) 336-3460
  329 E. Main, Cherryvale, KS 67335-1413
• Coffeyville Public Library   (620) 251-1370
  311 W. Tenth, Coffeyville, KS 67337-5816
• Havana City Library   (620) 673-8033
  205 Mary Street / Box 296, Havana, KS 67347-8914
• Independence Public Library   (620) 331-3030
  220 E. Maple, Independence, KS 67301-3899
• Graham Library   (620) 251-7700
  400 W. Eleventh, Coffeyville, KS 67337

Museums

• Caney Valley Historical Museum  (620) 879-2210
  P. O. Box 354 / Fourth & Wood, Caney, KS 67333
• Cherryvale Museum  (620) 336-3576
  215 East 4th Cherryvale, Kansas 67335
• Brown Mansion  (620) 251-0431
  Eldridge & Walnut / Coffeyville, KS
• Coffeyville Aviation Heritage Museum
  P.O. Box 774, Coffeyville, Ks 67337
• Dalton Defenders Museum   (620) 251-5944
  113 E. 8th Street (downtown), Coffeyville, KS 67337
• Independence Historical Museum   (620) 331-3515
  8th & Myrtle / Independence, KS 67301
• Independence Science & Technology Center   (620) 331-1999, or toll free 1-888-312-1999
  125 S. Penn Ave., Independence, KS 67301
• Montgomery County Historical Society 
  1 Riverside Park Shelter House, Independence, KS 67301

Montgomery County School Systems

• USD 436 Caney Valley  (620) 879-9200 Caney
• USD 445 Coffeyville  (620) 252-6800 Coffeyville
• USD 446 Independence  (620) 332-1800 Independence
• USD 447 Cherryvale  (620) 336-2137 Cherryvale

Vocational/Technical Training

• Technical Division - Coffeyville Community College  (620) 251-3910
  600 Roosevelt / Coffeyville, KS

Colleges & Universities

• Coffeyville Community College   (620) 251-7700
  400 W. 11th / Coffeyville, KS 67337
• Independence Community College   (620) 331-4100
  1057 W. College Ave / Independence, KS 67301

Hospitals

• Caney Shepherd Center  (620) 879-2479
  601 S. High / Caney, KS 67333
• Coffeyville Regional Medical Center   (620) 251-1200
  1400 W. 4th, Coffeyville, KS 67337
• Mercy Hospital  (620) 331-2200
  800 W. Myrtle / Independence, KS 67301

Newspapers

• Coffeyville Journal   (620) 251-3300
  P. O. Box 849 / Coffeyville, KS 67337
• Independence Daily Reporter  (620) 331-3550
  320 N. Sixth / Independence, KS 67301
• Independence News Publishing Co.   (620) 331-4950
  210 W. Main, Independence, KS 67301
• Montgomery County Chronicle
  Cherryvale Office   (620) 336-2100
  115 N. Labette / P.O. Box 156
  Caney Office   (620) 879-2156
  202 W. Fourth / P.O. Box 186 / Caney, KS 67333
• Reporter Publishing Co., Inc.   (620) 331-3550
  320 N 6th, Independence, KS 67301

More Data About Montgomery County

Genealogy

• Montgomery County KSGenWeb

References

• WPA The WPA Guide to 1930s Kansas ( Lawrence: University Press of Kansas. 1984 )

Montgomery County Offices

• Montgomery County (620) 330-1200 (Clerk)
  P. O. Box 446 / 217 E. Myrtle / Independence, KS 67301
• Extension Service (620) 331-2690
  410 Peter Pan Road, Suite B / Independence, KS 67301-9309

For more about Montgomery County contact:

• Caney Chamber of Commerce   (620) 879-5131
  Fourth & McGee / Caney, KS 67333
   
• Coffeyville Chamber of Commerce   (620) 251-1194
  807 Walnut / P. O. Box 456 / Coffeyville, KS 67337
   
• Independence CVB   (800) 882-3606
  322 N. Penn Ave / Independence, KS 67301