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Ford County KSGenWeb is a free genealogical site about the history of the county. It is a member of KSGenWeb, which is a member of USGenWeb®. We hope you find helpful clues for your research of Ford County ancestors.

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Temporary County Coordinator: Rebecca Maloney maloneys7193@gmail.com

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COUNTY FORMATION

Ford County was authorized in 1867. The Kansas legislature allowed for the creation of western counties if and when a minimum population of 600 was verified. On April 5, 1873 the state acknowledged Ford County, named after the general who laid out Fort Dodge. The early history of the county is rich in western history. From the early traders who travelled the Santa Fe Trail, to the buffalo hunters, and the gunfighters, each group added "spice" to the history of Dodge City and Ford County. Following the Santa Fe Trail, the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe railroad worked its way toward Santa Fe and the west coast. The arrival of the railroad provided a new avenue for settlers to journey to this western Kansas community.