Atchison

Formed February 14, 1845 (80^th county)

Atchison County (5,306), Rock Port (1,272), Tarkio (1,514)

The red brick Romanesque Revival structure was constructed in 1883.  It is located on a bluff overlooking the town on Washington Street between Cass and Clay streets.  United States Highway 136 is six blocks to the north of the courthouse.  Eckel and Mann were the architects.  The facility includes a tower.  There were 1848 and 1858 courthouses previously.  The county was founded on February 14, 1845 from Holt County as the 80^th county.  It is named for Senator David Rice Atchison.   The county seat name is named for Rock Creek.  Linden was the first county seat followed in 1856 by Rock Port. 

Atchison County government consists of a sheriff and 3 Commissioners.  One Circuit Court Judge serves Atchison, Gentry, Holt, Nodaway, and Worth counties and One County Court Judge serves Atchison County.  The county is in the northwest corner of Missouri.  It borders both Nebraska and Iowa.  The Missouri River forms its western border.  Kansas City, Missouri is southeast and Omaha, Nebraska is northwest of the county.  The county center is 2.6 miles Northeast of Rock Port.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Iowa and Nodaway and Holt counties and Nebraska. 

The area of the county is 545 square miles.  It is 69 out of 115 in the state.  It ranks 107 out of 115 in population in the state.  It has a density of 9.7 persons per square mile making it 107 out of 115 in the state.  Atchison County has 67.9% of its population in its incorporated areas.  Interstate Highway 29 goes north to south in the county from Iowa to Holt County.  United States Highway 59 enters from Iowa, north, and exits to Holt County.  United States Highway 136 goes east to west from Nodaway County to Nebraska.  United States Highway 275 comes from Iowa and terminates.  The county looks like a scoop turned over.  Rock Port is in the western third of the county.  Tarkio is near the county center.  Rock Port is the county seat and Tarkio is the largest city.  Rock Port is 24.0% of the county population while Tarkio is 28.5% of the county population.  The largest city is pronounced TAR-KEE-OE.