Gove

Formed March 11, 1868 (73^rd county)

Gove County (2,717), Gove (80), Quinter (929)

1885 was the construction year for the light red and tan brick structure.  It was remodeled in 1960 to its current appearance and again in 1974.  The architect is George Popes for this Federalist style building.  The county was formed on March 11, 1868 from Native American Territory as the 73^rd county with Gove as the only county seat.  The county and county seat are named for Civil War hero Captain Grenville L. Gove.  The facility is at Broad and 5^th streets.  Kansas State Highway 23 is Broad Street in the community. 

Gove County government consists of a sheriff and 3 Commissioners.  Five District Court Judges serve Gove, Ellis, Rooks, and Trego counties.  The county is in northwest Kansas.  Dodge City, Kansas is to the southeast and Salina, Kansas is east of the county.  The county center is 7 miles Southwest of Gove.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Sheridan, Graham, Trego, Ness, Lane, Scott, Logan, and Thomas counties. 

The area of the county is 1072 square miles.  It is 12 out of 105 in the state.  It ranks 87 out of 105 in population in the state.  It has a density of 2.5 persons per square mile making it 96 out of 105 in the state.  Gove County has 62.7% of its population in its incorporated areas.  Interstate Highway 70 crosses the northern part of the county east to west from Trego County to Thomas County.  United States Highway 40 enters joined with Interstate Highway 70 from Trego County, splits and continues west to Logan County.  The county is a rectangle.  Gove City is slightly north of center in the county.  Quinter is in the northeast corner of the county.  Gove is the county seat and Quinter is the largest city.  Gove is 2.9% of the county population while Quinter is 34.2% of the county population.