Clark

Formed February 26, 1867 (43^rd county)

Clark County (1,988), Ashland (784)

The light tan brick Modern courthouse was constructed in 1950.  It is located on Highland between 9^th and 10^th streets.  An etched map of the county is on the outside of the building.  There are marble floors and stairs and half walls inside the building.  The designers were Glen H. Thomas and A. B. Harris.  United States Highway 160 is five blocks north of the location.  A classier courthouse existed in 1888 in Ashland.  Clark City was the first county seat but was soon switched to Ashland.  Clark County was created on February 26, 1867 from Ford County as the 43^rd county.  It is named for Civil War hero Captain Charles Clarke.  The county seat is named for the Kentucky estate of statesman Henry Clay. 

Clark County government consists of a sheriff and 3 Commissioners.  Six District Court Judges serve Clark, Comanche, Ford, Gray, Kiowa, and Meade counties.  Clark County is in southwest Kansas on the border with Oklahoma.  Dodge City, Kansas is immediately north of the county.  The county center is 10.6 miles North-Northwest of Ashland.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Ford, Kiowa, and Comanche counties and Oklahoma and Meade County.  

The area of the county is 975 square miles.  It is 19 out of 105 in the state.  It ranks 100 out of 105 in population in the state.  It has a density of 2.0 persons per square mile making it 102 out of 105 in the state.  Clark County has 79.5% of its population in its incorporated areas.  United States Highway 54 clips the northwest corner of the county from Ford County, north, to Meade County, west.  United States Highway 160 goes east to west from Comanche County to Meade County.  United States Highway 183 travels from east, Comanche County, to south, Oklahoma.  United States Highway 283 passes north to south from Ford County to Oklahoma.  The county is an overall rectangle.  Ashland is slightly east and south of center in the county.  Ashland is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 39.4% of the county population.