Allen

Formed August 23, 1855 (1^st county)

Allen County (12,522), Iola (5,400)                

The Modern courthouse was built in 1958 on a square surrounded by Madison, Jefferson, Jackson, and Washington streets.  United States Highway 54 is Madison Avenue.  This facility is constructed of red brick and concrete.  The courthouse was designed by Brink & Dunwoody.  There is a memorial wall, an eternal flame, and a working clock on the side of the facility.  Allen County was organized on August 23, 1855 as one of the first counties (1^st county.)  There was a 1904 courthouse also in Iola.  Allen County is named for Ohio Senator William Allen.  Cofachique was the first county seat followed by Humboldt.  Iola became the county seat is 1865.  Iola is named for the wife of a settler. 

Allen County government consists of a sheriff, a clerk, an attorney, a treasurer, a coroner, and an appraiser (executive).  It has 3 Commissioners (legislative.)  Four District Court Judges serve Allen, Neosho, Wilson, and Woodson counties (judicial.)  The county is situated in southeast Kansas.  Wichita, Kansas is west and Kansas City, Kansas is northeast.  The county center is 5.8 miles Southeast of Iola nearer Gas.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Anderson, Linn, Bourbon, Neosho, Wilson, Woodson, and Coffey counties. 

The area of the county is 503 square miles.  It is 97 out of 105 in the state.  It ranks 36 out of 105 in population in the state.  It has a density of 24.9 persons per square mile making it 31 out of 105 in the state.  Allen County has 70.4% of its population in its incorporated areas.  United States Highway 54 crosses east to west through the county from Bourbon County to Woodson County.  United States Highway 59 goes north to south the eastern Allen County from Anderson County to Neosho County.  United States Highway 169 travels north to south from Anderson County to Neosho County.  The county is almost rectangular.  Iola is in the northwest quarter of the county.  Iola is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 43.1% of the county population.  The county seat is pronounced IE-OE-LA.