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Grant 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 Grant County ancestors.

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COUNTY FORMATION

Grant County was created in 1887 by an act of the Kansas legislature by taking eight townships each from Hamilton and Kearny Counties. A census was taken in August 1887, indicating a population of 2,716. The county was organized in 1886 and the governor named Ulysses the temporary county seat. After the election of October 1888 Ulysses became the permanent county seat, having received more votes than the cities of Cincinnati and Surprise. The election was contested by Cincinnati but in 1890 the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Ulysses. Because of the extended drought during the 1890s, which culminated in the panic of 1898, the population of Ulysses decreased from 1,500 to 40 and the bonded indebtedness grew to $84,000. In order to avoid financial chaos, the entire city (with the exception of the schoolhouse and courthouse) was moved 2 miles northwest and the city of New Ulysses was organized.