Formed August 25, 1855 (2nd county)
Anderson County (7,839), Garnett (3,245)
The cornered towers on the red brick and stone courthouse are unique to its 1901 design. It is located on Oak Street between 4th Street and 5th Street. United States Highway 59 is four blocks east of the courthouse. George P. Washburn is the Romanesque Revival building designer. An annex has been added and in 1947 the courthouse was remodeled. It features a gazebo and Statue of Liberty replica on the grounds. The county was created on August 25, 1855 and named for State Legislator Joseph Anderson. It is an original county (2nd county) with Shannon as the original county seat until 1859 when Garnett assumed the role. Garnett is named for town investor W. A. Garnett. Anderson County was the birthplace of 2 Kansas Governors, Arthur Capper and Samuel D. Brownback.
Anderson 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 Anderson, Coffey, Franklin, and Osage counties (judicial.) The county is in eastern Kansas. Kansas City, Kansas is northeast and Wichita, Kansas is west. The county center is 5.3 miles Southwest of Garnett nearer Welda. The county is surrounded clockwise by Franklin, Miami, Linn, Bourbon, Allen, Woodson, and Coffey counties.
The area of the county is 583 square miles. It is 86 out of 105 in the state. It ranks 49 out of 105 in population in the state. It has a density of 13.4 persons per square mile making it 42 out of 105 in the state. Anderson County has 53.0% of its population in its incorporated areas. United States Highway 59 travels north to south in the county from Franklin County to Allen County. United States Highway 169 goes northeast to southwest from Franklin County to Allen County. The county is overall a rectangle. Garnett is located in the northeast quarter of the county. Garnett is the county seat and the largest city. It is 41.4% of the county population.
Colony
Garnett
Greeley
Harris
Kincaid
Lone Elm
Westphalia
