SEDGWICK COUNTY, KS HISTORY AND LOOKUP
County History Books
*None Listed
Sedgwick County, Kansas: A Genealogical Overview
Located in south-central Kansas, Sedgwick County is the state’s most populous county and a major economic and cultural hub for the Great Plains. Dominated by its county seat, Wichita, the “Air Capital of the World,” the county’s identity is a unique blend of its Chisholm Trail cowtown origins, its agricultural bounty from the surrounding prairies, and its 20th-century legacy as a global center for aviation manufacturing. Its history is a story of rapid growth on the American frontier.
I. County Formation and Evolution
Understanding Sedgwick County’s formation from its parent counties is the first step for researchers tracing families who arrived in the area during its earliest settlement period.
- 1870: County Organized: Sedgwick County was created by the Kansas legislature in 1867 and officially organized on March 25, 1870.
- Parent Counties: It was formed from the western portion of Butler County and a large unorganized territory to the south that was previously attached to Marion County for administrative purposes. Records prior to 1870 for ancestors in this area would be located in Butler or Marion County records.
- Subsequent County Formations: The county’s boundaries have remained largely stable since its organization in 1870.
- Name Origin: The county was named in honor of Major General John Sedgwick, a highly respected Union Army officer who was killed during the Civil War at the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House in 1864.
- County Seat History: Wichita was named the temporary county seat upon organization in 1870. After a spirited election, it was chosen as the permanent county seat and has remained so ever since.
II. Settlement and Early History
- Early Inhabitants: The land was historically the territory of several Plains Indian tribes, most notably the Wichita people, for whom the river and city are named. The Osage, Kiowa, and other nomadic groups also hunted in the region.
- Pioneer Settlement and Economy: American settlement began in earnest after the Civil War, spurred by the Homestead Act. The county’s trajectory was defined by the arrival of the railroad in 1872, which intersected with the famous Chisholm Trail. This turned Wichita into a booming cowtown, a primary destination for massive cattle drives from Texas. After the cattle trade moved west, the economy shifted to agriculture, centered on the region’s prolific wheat production. An oil boom in the early 20th century brought new wealth, followed by the birth of the aviation industry, with companies like Cessna, Beechcraft, and Stearman establishing the county’s lasting economic identity.
III. Genealogical Records and Resources
This section provides practical information for locating ancestral records specific to Sedgwick County.
- Courthouse: The Sedgwick County Courthouse is located at 525 N. Main St., Wichita, KS 67203. This is the central repository for most county-level records. The Clerk of the District Court holds marriage, probate, divorce, and civil court records. The Register of Deeds, at the same location, holds all land records.
- Vital Records:
- Birth and Death Records: Statewide registration in Kansas began on July 1, 1911. Records from that date forward are held by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Office of Vital Statistics. For births and deaths prior to 1911, researchers must rely on non-governmental sources such as church records, newspaper obituaries, and cemetery inscriptions.
- Marriage Records: Marriage records from the county’s organization in 1870 to the present are held by the Clerk of the District Court at the county courthouse.
- Libraries with Genealogy Collections:
- Wichita Public Library: The Advanced Learning Library (the main branch) has a superb Genealogy and Local History section with extensive microfilmed records, books, and databases for Sedgwick County and Kansas research.
- Midwest Historical & Genealogical Society (MHGS): Located in Wichita, this society maintains an excellent research library that is a crucial resource for anyone with ancestors in the region.
- Kansas State Historical Society: (Located in Topeka, not Sedgwick County) This is the primary state archive and a vital resource for Kansas genealogy, holding state-level records, census data, and an extensive newspaper collection.
- Bordering Jurisdictions:
- Harvey County, KS
- Butler County, KS
- Sumner County, KS
- Kingman County, KS
- Reno County, KS