Place:Shawnee, Kansas, United States

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source: Family History Library Catalog

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Shawnee County (county code SN) is a county located in northeast Kansas, in the central United States of America. Its most populous city, Topeka, is the state capital and county seat. The county's population was 177,934 for the 2010 census. The county along with Jackson, Jefferson, Osage, and Wabaunsee counties is included in the Topeka Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had an estimated population of 234,647 in 2011.

The county was one of the original 33 counties created by the first territorial legislature in 1855, and it was named for the Shawnee tribe of Native Americans.

History

the text in this section is copied from an article in Wikipedia

Before the treaty of 1854, the area now known as Shawnee County was inhabited by Shawnee, Kansas, and Pottowatomie Indian tribes. Westward expansion brought the country its first white settler in 1830 when Frederick Choteau opened a trading post on American Chief (now Mission) Creek. In 1855, Shawnee became one of the first counties established by the Kansas territorial legislature with a population of 250. General H. J. Strickler, of Tecumseh, who was a member of the council in 1855, and also of the joint committee on Counties, claimed Shawnee for the name of his county. At that time, Shawnee County borders were entirely south of the Kansas River and extended south to include Osage City and Carbondale. The legislature later desired to make Topeka the county seat and moved the borders of the county to their present locations to make Topeka centrally located in the county.

1855 also saw the first ever meeting of the Shawnee County Board of Commissioners. Tecumseh was the first county seat, and the first county courthouse was opened there in 1856. The building was 40x50 feet but was never finished. Topeka was made the county seat by popular vote in 1858, and a new courthouse was built at 4th Street and Kansas Avenue in 1867. In 1896, a new larger courthouse was constructed at 5th and Van Buren, with more than 50,000 residents then living in the county. That building remained in use until the current courthouse at 7th and Quincy opened in 1965.

Local etymologies

Concerning the origin of the names in this county, it is generally understood that Shawnee County receives its name from that well known tribe of Indians.

Topeka

A good place to grow potatoes (Prairie potatoes).^[1]

Wakarusa

River of big weeds.^[1]

Shunganunga

The race course.^[1]

Menoken

A fine growth.^[1]

Half-Day Creek

Named after a Pottawatomie chief.^[1]

Mission Creek

Named after an old Kaw mission on its banks.^[1]

Blacksmith Creek

Named after a Kaw blacksmith shop.^[1]

Soldier Creek

Its banks were a favorite camping ground for soldiers passing from Fort Leavenworth to Fort Riley.^[1]

Timeline

Population History

source: Source:Population of States and Counties of the United States: 1790-1990

Adjacent Counties

• Jackson county - north
• Jefferson county - northeast
• Douglas county - southeast
• Osage county - south
• Wabaunsee county - west
• Pottawatomie county - northweat

Research Tips

External links

• www.co.shawnee.ks.us/