McGee County, one of the 33 counties created by the first territorial legislature in 1855, was located in the southeastern corner of the territory and was bounded as follows: "Beginning at the southeast corner of Bourbon county; thence south to the southern boundary of the territory; thence west on said boundary 24 miles; thence north to a point due west of the place of beginning; thence east 24 miles to the place of beginning." It was named in honor of Mabillon W. McGee, a member of the Kansas house of representatives in 1855. The county was attached to Bourbon for all civil and military purposes. In 1860, the name of the county was changed to Cherokee and some changes made in the boundaries. (See Cherokee County.)