Records from Barton County

Abstract: This collection contains records of Barton County from the County Court, District Court, Probate Court, County Clerk, and Justice of the Peace. Unlike most county records in the state archives that relate primarily to vital statistics, this collection documents various court cases throughout the county's history. The bulk of the records are volumes such as appearance dockets, criminal dockets, civil dockets, and journals documenting all legal actions, orders, motions, and final judgments of both civil and criminal cases. Records from the County Clerk also include election records from 1940-1964 such as returns from the 1964 primary election, nomination petitions, declaration of candidacy forms, and election expense reports.

The collection also contains volumes on microfilm such as District and Probate Court journals from 1873-1977, as well as civil and criminal appearance dockets dated 1949-1970 organized by docket number.

Administrative History: Barton County was established on February 26, 1867 and organized on May 16, 1872. It was named for Clara Harlowe Barton (1821-1912), Civil War nurse and founder of the American Red Cross. On May 15, 1875, the southern boundary was moved south to encompass the northern half of Stafford County; on April 25, 1879, Stafford County was reestablished. Great Bend is the county seat and largest city. Other cities in order of largest population include Hoisington and Ellinwood. Townships include Albion, Beaver, Buffalo, Cheyenne, Clarence, Cleveland, Comanche, Eureka, Fairview, Grant, Great Bend, Independent, Lakin, Liberty, Logan, North Homestead, Pawnee Rock, South Bend, South Homestead, Union, Walnut, and Wheatland.

[Kansas State Historical Society. "Kansas Counties - Barton County, Kansas." http://www.kshs.org/genealogists/places/counties.php?county=BT (accessed June 9, 2009.)]