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Ford County -
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Until
1875 rented buildings were used for courthouse purposes and county offices, but
during the summer of 1876, a fine brick court-house was completed at a cost of
$8,000, and all the county offices and records were moved to it.
On
May 20, 1876, the Dodge City Times made its appearance and over the
decades Ford County sported a number of other newspapers.
The Ford County Globe was
established at
Dodge City in December, 1877 and continues to exist today.
In 1880, the Santa Fe Railroad reached
Santa Fe, marking the death of the
Santa Fe Trail and the many travelers passing through
Dodge City.
With the Indians
effectively “lodged” on reservations, there was no longer a need for a military
presence and
Fort Dodge was closed in 1882.
By 1886, the cattle drives had
also stopped and the county settled down into a more peaceful existence.
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Cowboys and wagons gather in Dodge City in the late 1800's.
This
image available for photographic prints
HERE!
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By the turn of the
century Ford County sported almost 5,500 people and during the next decade would
see tremendous growth as its population doubled to more than 11,000 residents.
By this time,
Dodge City
had become a transportation hub in the area with some 90 miles of railroad
tracks situated within the county. Along with its mainstay of farming and
ranching, the county also held good sandstone, limestone and gypsum that was
quarried and sold. Area industry and services also expanded to include several
flour mills, machine shops, ice plats and more.
During the 1930’s, Ford
County, like many others in
Kansas,
was caught in the midst of the dust bowl days, especially on “Black Sunday,”
when a massive front moved across the Great Plains on April 15, 1935. Though
many hardy residents stayed, living on hope and taking the advice of the U.S.
Soil Conservation Service, a great many others gave up and left the area,
reducing the county population.
But, Ford County
recovered and diversified its interests and businesses over the next 50 years.
Today, the county supports a population of more than 33,000 people. Its rich
history lives on at its historic landmarks and museums, including the Boothill
Museum in
Dodge City.
Ironically, Ford County, with its fascinating Old West history, is the only
county of any size in
Kansas
that does not have a county museum. However, there are people that are trying to
garner enough support that one might be established.
Great Western Hotel
at the Boothill Museum in
Dodge City,
David Alexander May, 2004.
This
image available for photographic prints
HERE!
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LEGENDS
OF KANSAS
