Harper

Formed February 26, 1867 (49^th county)

Harper County (5,484), Anthony (2,100)                

An outstanding red brick and rock Romanesque courthouse for Harper County was built in 1908 and sited on the square at Jennings, Spring, Anthony, and Steadman streets.  Kansas State Highway 44 is one block to the south of the courthouse.  The brick and tower design was provided by George P. Washburn.  Harper County was established on February 26, 1867 from Native American Territory as the 49^th county.  The county is named for Civil War hero Sergeant Marion Harper.  The county seat is named for Governor George T. Anthony.  Anthony has always been the county seat. 

Harper County government consists of a sheriff, a clerk, an attorney, a treasurer, a coroner, and an appraiser (executive).  It has 3 Commissioners (legislative.)  Five District Court Judges serve Harper, Barber, Kingman, Pratt, and Sumner counties (judicial.) The county is in southern Kansas on the border with Oklahoma.  Wichita, Kansas is immediately to the northeast of the county.  The county center is 5.7 miles North-Northwest of Anthony.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Kingman and Sumner counties and Oklahoma and Barber County. 

The area of the county is 802 square miles.  It is 45 out of 105 in the state.  It ranks 63 out of 105 in population in the state.  It has a density of 6.8 persons per square mile making it 62 out of 105 in the state.  Harper County has 73.2% of its population in its incorporated areas.  United States Highway 160 travels east to west in the county from Sumner County to Barber County.  The county is a square.  Anthony is southeast of the county’s center.  Anthony is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 38.3% of the county population.

Waldron