McPherson

Formed February 26, 1867 (55^th county)

McPherson County (30,220), McPherson (14,082)

A classic Richardsonian Romanesque stone courthouse was constructed in 1894.  It is on a square at Maple, Kansas, Walnut, and Marlin streets.  United States Highway 56 is Kansas Street in the city.  John G. Haskell and J. F. Stanton were the building designers.  The courthouse was renovated in 1980.  There was an 1868 courthouse earlier in Sveadahl.  The current courthouse features a working clock tower and wood stairs throughout.  The county was established on February 26, 1867 from Native American Territory as the 55^th county.  The county and county seat are named for Civil War General James B. McPherson. 

McPherson County government consists of a sheriff and 3 Commissioners.  Four District Court Judges serve McPherson and Harvey counties.  The county is in the central part of the state.  Salina, Kansas is north and Wichita, Kansas is south of the county.  The county center is in McPherson 1.3 miles East-Northeast of the city center.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Saline, Dickinson, Marion, Harvey, Reno, Rice, and Ellsworth counties. 

The area of the county is 900 square miles.  It is 25 out of 105 in the state.  It ranks 20 out of 105 in population in the state.  It has a density of 33.6 persons per square mile making it 21 out of 105 in the state.  McPherson County has 77.4% of its population in its incorporated areas.  Interstate Highway 135 travels north to south in the county from Saline County to Harvey County.  United States Highway 56 crosses east to west from Marion County to Rice County.  United States Highway 81 is joined with Interstate Highway 135 from Saline to Harvey counties.  The county is a square.  The City of McPherson is slightly south of center in the county.  McPherson is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 46.6% of the county population.  The county and county seat are pronounced MAC-FUR-SON.  This county is in the McPherson Micropolitan Statistical Area.