GREELEY COUNTY, KS HISTORY AND LOOKUP
County History Books
*None Listed
Greeley County, Kansas: A Genealogical Overview
Located on the far western edge of Kansas, bordering Colorado, Greeley County is a testament to the High Plains pioneer spirit. As one of the last counties organized in the state, its history is deeply connected to homesteading, the railroad, and the challenges of dryland farming. It is the least populous county in Kansas and is unique for its unified city-county government with its county seat, Tribune. Its vast, open landscapes are dominated by agriculture, primarily wheat, sorghum, and cattle ranching.
I. County Formation and Evolution
Understanding Greeley County’s late organization and the classic “county seat war” that defined its early days is essential for genealogical research in this part of Kansas.
- 1873/1888: County Formed: Greeley County was officially established by the Kansas Legislature on March 20, 1873. However, it remained unorganized territory attached to Hamilton County for administrative purposes until it was formally organized on July 9, 1888.
- Parent County: It was created from the western portion of unorganized territory that was previously attached to Hamilton County. Records for any individuals in the area prior to 1888 would be non-existent or potentially found in Hamilton County records.
- Subsequent County Formations: The boundaries of Greeley County have remained unchanged since its organization in 1888.
- Name Origin: The county was named in honor of Horace Greeley, the influential editor of the New-York Tribune, a prominent abolitionist, and a strong promoter of westward expansion who famously advised, “Go West, young man.”
- County Seat History: The organization of the county sparked a fierce county seat war between the rival towns of Tribune and Horace. Tribune was named the temporary county seat, and after a contentious election in November 1888, it was officially declared the permanent county seat and remains so today.
II. Settlement and Early History
- Early Inhabitants: Prior to European-American settlement, the region was part of the vast hunting grounds of Plains Native American tribes, most notably the Cheyenne and Arapaho.
- Pioneer Settlement and Economy: Significant settlement did not begin until the Missouri Pacific Railroad built through the area in the 1880s, bringing homesteaders and speculators. These early pioneers established farms and ranches, creating an economy based entirely on agriculture. The region endured the severe hardships of the Dust Bowl in the 1930s, which led to significant population shifts and changes in farming practices. The economy remains centered on agriculture and cattle ranching.
III. Genealogical Records and Resources
This section provides practical information for locating ancestral records specific to Greeley County.
- Courthouse: The Greeley County Courthouse is located at 616 2nd Street, Tribune, KS 67879. As a unified government, many records are centralized here. The Clerk of the District Court holds marriage, divorce, probate, and civil court records. The Register of Deeds holds all land records (deeds, mortgages). The County Clerk’s office maintains county commission records and some tax information.
- Vital Records:
- Birth and Death Records: Statewide registration in Kansas began on July 1, 1911. Records after this date are held by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Office of Vital Statistics in Topeka. For births and deaths prior to 1911, records are scarce. Researchers should check newspapers, church records, and cemetery records.
- Marriage Records: Marriage records from the county’s organization in 1888 to the present are held by the Clerk of the District Court at the county courthouse.
- Libraries with Genealogy Collections:
- Greeley County Library: Located at 200 E. Harper St., Tribune, KS 67879. It is the primary local resource, with collections of local newspapers on microfilm and local history materials.
- Greeley County Historical Society Museum: Located at 404 C St., Tribune, KS 67879. This museum is an essential resource for family histories, photographs, and artifacts related to the county’s pioneer settlement.
- Kansas Historical Society: (Located in Topeka) This is the main repository for Kansas genealogy, holding state census records, extensive newspaper collections, maps, and manuscripts relevant to all counties, including Greeley.
- Bordering Jurisdictions:
- Wallace County, KS
- Wichita County, KS
- Hamilton County, KS
- Kiowa County, CO
- Cheyenne County, CO