Rush

Formed February 26, 1867 (67^th county)

Rush County (2,951), La Crosse (1,259)

The unique roofs of the red brick with stone Romanesque courthouse were constructed in 1888.  It is sited on a square surrounded by Elm, 7^th, Oak, and 8^th streets.  United States Highway 183 travels one block to the east of the site.  The architects were L. L. Levering and William T. Heaps.  The building features wooden stairs, a carved eagle, and a county-wide tapestry.  Rush County was created on February 26, 1867 from Native American Territory as the 67^th county.  It gets its name from Civil War hero Captain Alexander Rush.  Walnut City and La Crosse traded off as the only county seat.  The county seat is named for La Crosse, Wisconsin. 

Rush County government consists of a sheriff, a clerk, an attorney, a treasurer, a coroner, and an appraiser (executive).  It has 3 Commissioners (legislative.)  Seven District Court Judges serve Rush, Edwards, Hodgeman, Lane, Ness, and Pawnee counties (judicial.) The county is in west central Kansas.  Dodge City, Kansas is south and Salina, Kansas is northeast of the county.  The county center is 2.3 miles East of La Crosse.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Ellis, Russell, Barton, Pawnee, and Ness counties. 

The area of the county is 718 square miles.  It is 62 out of 105 in the state.  It ranks 80 out of 105 in population in the state.  It has a density of 4.1 persons per square mile making it 78 out of 105 in the state.  Rush County has 74.8% of its population in its incorporated areas.  United States Highway 183 passes through the county north to south from Ellis County to Pawnee County.  The county is a square with La Crosse at or near the center of the county.  La Crosse is the county seat and largest city.  It is 42.7% of the county population.  The county seat is pronounced LAE CROSS.