61-477: Ellis County is the name of several counties in the United States: Ellis County, Kansas Ellis County, Oklahoma Ellis County, Texas [REDACTED] Topics referred to by the same term This disambiguation page lists articles about distinct geographical locations with the same name. If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change
122-671: A Cheyenne military society who attacked the Campbell camp who were establishing a bridge grade across the North Fork of Big Creek at this location (pictured). Commanded by Captain George Armes , the immediate U.S. military response resulted in the Battle of the Saline River , which was followed by two years of open conflict. George Grant was a Scottish entrepreneur who had established wealth and
183-555: A clientele that counted the British nobility. In 1873, George Grant arrived in Kansas leading a party of 30 young adults and youth of Scottish and English nobility, including some remittance men sent away by their families to live on stipends. Founding the first of several organized transatlantic settlements in Ellis County, Grant intended to create a ranching community, some lesser nobles of
244-450: A dam across Big Creek to make a lake between Victoria and Hays which they then sailed across in a steamboat until the dam was broken by a flood; although at the time of the Ellis county centennial in the 1970s one local resident expressed doubts at the historical veracity of this tale, considering the geography of Big Creek in that area. However, whilst Grant himself put in great effort to start
305-489: A household in the county was $ 32,339, and the median income for a family was $ 44,498. Males had a median income of $ 29,885 versus $ 21,269 for females. The per capita income for the county was $ 18,259. About 6.50% of families and 12.90% of the population were below the poverty line , including 9.20% of those under age 18 and 10.00% of those age 65 or over. Ellis County is an anomaly in western Kansas, having voted several times for Democratic presidential candidates, even when
366-626: A party from Katherinenstadt arriving on 1878-06-20 to settle in Herzog and Pfeifer, and another party from Obermonjour in late July/early August. By this point, property prices had been depressed back in Russia by all of the sales made by the preceding emigrants, and further emigrants were now emigrating at a net loss. Another party, having had to cover the Russian emigration fees through deceit, claiming that two of their number had died to officials who only dealt with
427-423: A party of Volga Germans from villages near Saratov , Russia , seeking a place to establish traditional farming villages, were shown locations in Ellis County. The first location, the clay-soiled Ellis County "Hogback" was so disappointing that some in the party resolved to return to Russia. But after being shown locations in the eastern half of the county (the future Catherine and Schoenchen / Pfeifer sites),
488-534: Is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas . Its county seat and most populous city is Hays . As of the 2020 census , the county population was 28,934. The county was named for George Ellis, a first lieutenant of the Twelfth Kansas Infantry. Ellis County is the official German Capital of Kansas. German immigrants settled in Hays, Ellis, Victoria, and nearby villages in the 1870s and 1880s. In 1854,
549-523: Is a city in Herzog Township , Ellis County , Kansas , United States. As of the 2020 census , the population of the city was 1,129. The town site originated in the 1867 construction of the Kansas Pacific Railway into western Kansas to connect St. Louis to Denver and to open the land to settlement. The railroad's sudden rerouting and construction west of Junction City was opposed by
610-562: Is divided into nine townships . The cities of Ellis and Hays are considered governmentally independent and are excluded from the census figures for the townships. In the following table, the population center is the largest city (or cities) included in that township's population total, if it is of a significant size. At the start of the 20th century, the townships were: Big Creek, Buckeye, Catherine, Ellis, Freedom, Hamilton, Herzog, Lookout, Pleasant Hill, Saline, Smoky Hill, Victoria, Walker, and Wheatlan. Victoria, Kansas Victoria
671-576: Is in turn a tributary of the Smoky Hill River which flows across the south. The county had several salt marshes in 1886. The river banks had a lot of limestone, and around Hays City in the 19th century there was a lot of clay. Hays Regional Airport is located within the county. Used primarily for general aviation , it hosts one commercial airline United Express , which offers daily jet service to Denver, Colorado . The Hays Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Ellis County. In 1886,
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#1732852017638732-461: Is relatively low; compared to a U.S. average of 100, the cost of living index for the community is 81.5. As of 2012, the median home value in the city was $ 101,200, the median selected monthly owner cost was $ 1,042 for housing units with a mortgage and $ 428 for those without, and the median gross rent was $ 555. Victoria is a city of the third class with a mayor-council form of government. The city council consists of five members, and it meets on
793-533: The 1992 presidential election , but has been solidly in the Republican column since, giving 66 percent to Republican John McCain to 32 percent for Democrat Barack Obama in the 2008 election , higher than the 57 percent McCain won statewide. Wild Bill Hickok served as sheriff in 1870. Ellis County was a prohibition, or "dry" , county until the Kansas Constitution was amended in 1986 and voters approved
854-610: The Boeing B-29 Superfortress bomber aircraft. The military closed the base in 1946. In 1949, after the formation of the United States Air Force , that service designated the base "Victoria Auxiliary Field", but never operated the facility. Originally, the Golden Belt Road followed by U.S. Highway 40 passed through Victoria. In 1966, construction of Interstate 70 was completed to in Ellis County, bypassing
915-483: The Kansas Territory was organized, then in 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state . Ellis County was established by an act of the state legislature on 1873-02-16, which defined the original borders of the county as: Commencing where the east line of range 16 west intersects the second standard parallel, thence south to the third standard parallel, thence west to the east line of range 21 west, thence north to
976-707: The Smoky Hill River in the Smoky Hills region of the Great Plains . The city sits on the east side of the North Fork of Big Creek, part of the Smoky Hill River watershed. According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 0.59 square miles (1.53 km ), all of it land. As of the 2010 United States Census , there were 1,214 people, 496 households, and 316 families residing in
1037-565: The Union Pacific Railroad runs northeast–southwest through the southern part of the city. Water distribution, sewer maintenance, and trash removal are the responsibility of the city government. Midwest Energy, Inc. provides electric power. Local residents primarily use natural gas for heating fuel; service is provided by Kansas Gas Service . Victoria is in the Wichita-Hutchinson, Kansas television market . The Herzogfest
1098-560: The 1874-01-13 reversal of the original decree that had exempted them from conscription into the Russian military when they had settled in Russia in the first place, prompted them to look to the United States and elsewhere. Originally five delegates went on a ten day exploratory mission to Nebraska. Later in December 1874, a four-person delegation went to Topeka and Larned in Kansas, reporting unfavourably on what they found. However, in
1159-544: The 40th district of the Kansas Senate and the 111th district of the Kansas House of Representatives . The community is served by Victoria USD 432 public school district, and operates two public schools in the city: Interstate 70 and U.S. Route 40 run concurrently east-west roughly one mile north of Victoria. K-255 runs north–south from I-70 to Victoria's northern city limits. The Kansas Pacific (KP) line of
1220-569: The Lull brothers, from Salina, had in May 1867 begun a town called Rome just north of the railroad route and on the west of Big Creek, expecting that to become the county seat. It gained a general supply store, Bloomfield, Moses & Co, the following month, and a hotel run by Joseph Perry. However, the Big Creek Land Company platted a competing town named Hays City on the east of Big Creek, which gained
1281-555: The Plains," in 1911. When the German's first arrived at the station, Rev. Laing relates, there was only the station-hotel and one other building in Victoria. Herzog grew rapidly and later adopted the station's name. Herzog and the smaller Victoria merged to incorporate under the name Victoria in 1913. Such were the numbers of German-Russian settlers in Ellis County and adjoining Rush County , such
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#17328520176381342-595: The Queen, the Kansas Pacific Railroad immediately constructed a relatively elaborate stone station-hotel for the colony. At Grant's specification, the Victoria Manor had accommodations befitting gentry waiting for completion of their new homes. The ground floor held a ballroom intended for community gathering. Over 200 British arrived in the following years. Grant brought British architect Robert William Edis to
1403-632: The Victoria Colony, Sir Walter C. Maxwell had high interest in Herzog and completed a stone church for the town in 1877. This church was overcrowded almost as soon as it was finished. The Kansas Pacific Railroad donated 10 acres of land for the community's religious use in 1879. Father Anthony Mary, who had previous led the construction of many churches, arrived and in November, 1881, and began construction on the original St. Fidelis Church at Herzog. Seating 600 parishioners, construction began in 1880 and
1464-583: The Volga German settlements was Herzog, having roughly 1700 people (measured from church congregation size as accounted in the Victoria Chronicle ) in 1895, with Pfeifer and Schoenchen coming fourth and fifth. In 1942, the Walker Army Airfield was built northwest of Walker. Thousands were stationed at the airfield for training of the Boeing B-29 Superfortress during World War II . The airfield
1525-427: The age of 18 living with them, 53.4% were married couples living together, 3.8% had a male householder with no wife present, 6.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.3% were non-families. 33.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30, and the average family size was 2.93. The median age in
1586-495: The church was consecrated 1884. Even as this was soon insufficient for the town and the Catholic villages at large, the St. Fidelis Cathedral , "The Cathedral of the Plains," was constructed over 1908-1911. In 1942, the U.S. Army built Walker Army Airfield 3 miles northeast of Victoria. During World War II , thousands were stationed at the airfield, most for training in operation of
1647-409: The city was $ 22,636. About 3.2% of families and 4.1% of the population were below the poverty line , including 5.4% of those under age 18 and 6.6% of those age 65 or over. As of 2012, 61.5% of the population over the age of 16 was in the labor force. 0.0% was in the armed forces, and 61.5% was in the civilian labor force with 59.7% being employed and 1.8% unemployed. The composition, by occupation, of
1708-469: The city was 41.7 years. 22.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.8% were from 25 to 44; 24.6% were from 45 to 64; and 21.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.9% male and 49.1% female. The median income for a household in the city was $ 46,125, and the median income for a family was $ 64,000. Males had a median income of $ 35,875 versus $ 26,058 for females. The per capita income for
1769-463: The city. The population density was 2,068.1 inhabitants per square mile (798.5/km ). There were 530 housing units at an average density of 902.9 per square mile (348.6/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 98.5% White , 0.3% American Indian , 0.2% African American , 0.1% from some other race, and 0.8% from two or more races. Hispanics and Latinos of any race were 0.5% of the population. There were 496 households, of which 29.6% had children under
1830-584: The colony to design his manor house and to layout his dream town. Grant's Villa became a historic landmark, but the ultimate Victoria plat was an unprepossessing 3 by 3 grid of square blocks. Grant also directed the construction of the St. George Episcopal church, a stone building. Completed in 1877, this was the first church built in the county. Many of the colonists, however, were reputed for being more interested in sports and dancing than in raising livestock, hiring overseers to manage some estates. The home families of
1891-491: The colony, including importing Black Angus cattle and running his own cattle farm to the south of Victoria, he died in 1878 and after his death all of the British aristocrats had returned to Britain. A plague of grasshoppers in 1874 drove many away, to be replaced in 1875 by many Russian immigrants. The Russian immigrants were, more strictly speaking, Volga Germans who had settled in Russia in 1760. The Russification policies begun in 1871 by Alexander II , and especially
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1952-471: The county: Catharine, Easdale, Ellis, Hays City, Martin, Mendota, Munjor, Palatine, Stockrange, Turkville, Victoria, and Walker. List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Ellis County. † means a community is designated a Census-Designated Place (CDP) by the United States Census Bureau . In the 19th and early 20th century there were various communities that no longer exist today: Ellis County
2013-572: The employed civilian labor force was: 26.7% in management, business, science, and arts; 26.2% in sales and office occupations; 17.0% in production, transportation, and material moving; 15.9% in natural resources, construction, and maintenance; and 14.2% in service occupations. The three industries employing the largest percentages of the working civilian labor force were: educational services, and health care and social assistance (24.1%); agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining (10.7%); and Wholesale trade (8.2%). The cost of living in Victoria
2074-618: The failing British colony at Victoria on 1876-04-08, settling on the east bank of Victoria Creek just west of where Victoria now exists. Another large wave of immigrants left Russia in June 1876, and some of them arrived in Hays on 1876-07-26 and in Catherine the next day. Others took a different route and arrived and settled in Topeka. Thirteen of the families arrived in Hays on 1876-08-20 and settled in Pfeifer
2135-414: The home of Alois Dreiling after it was constructed. A typical two-story, four-room I-frame prairie farmhouse, attendance soon was too much for the flooring to withstand and a wood framed addition was built onto the home to hold church services. This addition is marked as the second church, first Catholic church, built in the county. The growing community soon overwhelmed this facility. The only Catholic in
2196-633: The immigrants to return to Russia, but they were shown further land on the Smoky Hill River and near what was to become Catherine and Herzog. This Ellis land was cheaper at US$ 2.5 (equivalent to $ 71.53 in 2023) per acre, and so on 1876-02-21 fourteen German families came to Hays and from there moved to Liebenthal in Rush County . Three families from Katherinenstadt in Russia also came to Hays on 1876-03-01 and, whilst temporarily renting accommodation therein, built their homes in Catherine to which they moved on 1876-04-08. Twenty-three families settled in
2257-707: The important support of the railroad company. Rome disappeared, with Perry's hotel and several other of its buildings being relocated to Hays City. Ellis County was named for George Ellis, first lieutenant of the Twelfth Kansas Infantry . The county's early newspapers were the Star-Sentinel , Hays City Times , and Ellis County Free Press published in Hays City; and the Ellis Head-Light and Ellis Review published in Ellis. The initial wave of settlement
2318-413: The link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ellis_County&oldid=932832341 " Category : United States county name disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages Ellis County, Kansas Ellis County
2379-675: The meantime the first Germans had been conscripted in November 1874, spurring many to emigrate anyway, which they did arriving in Baltimore on 1875-11-23 and in Topeka on the 28th. Initially deterred from homesteading by the US$ 5 (equivalent to $ 28.31 in 2023) per acre price of land in North Topeka, they were escorted on three tours of Ellis county by A. Roedelheiner of the Kansas Pacific. Their initial tour of land around Hog Back almost persuaded
2440-516: The next day. One of the largest wave of immigrants was 104 families (originally to be 108, but 4 had been held back because family members had been conscripted, which legally prevented them from emigrating from Russia) in 1876. The Mennonites in the group settled in Nebraska, with the others arrived in Victoria on 1876-08-03 and from there settled in Herzog. The settlers of Munjor stayed in Herzog for two months, before settling on Big Creek just north of
2501-480: The party established the first Volga-German village in the county one-half mile north of the tracks from the Victoria Station. The original plat registered for the town is named " Herzog or North Victoria ". As the other Volga German villages were formed, Herzog's Roman Catholic settlers built a series of churches which culminated in the construction of St. Fidelis Catholic Church , known as "The Cathedral of
Ellis County - Misplaced Pages Continue
2562-481: The party hoping to establish large estates in the frontier. Notably, this group brought a herd of thoroughbred Aberdeen Angus cattle, some from Queen Victoria's own stock. Including four bulls, this herd is credited with establishing the American Angus breed. The colony occupied a roughly 10 mile-wide swath land sections from the tracks south to the Smoky Hill River. With the settlement named Victoria to honor
2623-704: The place that they had chosen was school land that they could not afford, meaning that they could not deed enough of it to the community to erect their church, whilst at the same time land for a church had been deeded in Liebenthal. In recrimination, the Rush county settlers moved to Ellis, joining the direct immigrant party at Schoenchen in April and May 1877. Two other small waves came that year, one to Catherine on 1877-08-06 from Katherinenstadt, and one to Pfiefer from Pfiefer and Kamenka in Russia. Immigration began to wane in 1878, with
2684-630: The population was 5.842, having risen from 5,046 in 1885. In 1910, the population was 12,170. As of 2000 , there were 27,507 people, 11,193 households, and 6,771 families residing in the county. The population density was 31 people per square mile (12 people/km ). There were 12,078 housing units at an average density of 13 per square mile (5.0/km ). The racial makeup of the county was 96.10% White , 0.67% Black or African American , 0.21% Native American , 0.82% Asian , 0.02% Pacific Islander , 1.31% from other races, and 0.89% from two or more races . Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.37% of
2745-404: The population. There were 11,193 households , out of which 28.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.00% were married couples living together, 7.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.50% were non-families. 30.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size
2806-586: The present location of Munjor. A small wave of immigrants followed the first wave to Pfeifer in late September 1876, with another small wave from Katherinenstadt arriving in Catherine on 1876-09-26. The last 1876 wave of immigrants settled in Munjor. The German immigrants founded Schoenchen in 1877, some coming directly from Schoenchen in Russia, some coming from Liebenthal in Rush County. Their original plan had been to move from Liebenthal to another site in Rush, but
2867-403: The remittance men learned of this and reduced the stipends, driving these colonists to leave. Having lost his fortune, Grant's sudden death in 1878 accelerated the departure of others of the colony. Some returned to Britain ; others left for South America . Grant was buried before the steps of the St. George Church, which would never be consecrated . After Grant's death, the Victoria townsite
2928-725: The sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with a 30% food sales requirement. The food sales requirement was removed with voter approval in 1988. There were 44 school districts by 1886. Many settlements in Ellis are named after the original settlements in Russia from which the Volga Germans immigrated, including Catherine from Katherinenstatd (a.k.a. Baronsk and founded in 1765 by Baron de Beauregard), Shoenchen (a.k.a. Paninskoje and founded in 1767), Pfeifer (a.k.a. Gniluska and founded in 1766), Herzog (founded in 1764), and Munjor from Obermonjour (founded 1766) and Neo-Obermonjour (founded 1859). In 1886, there were twelve post offices in
2989-466: The second standard parallel, thence east to the place of beginning. The first settlers had been arriving since May 1867, with Fort Fletcher (later Fort Hays ) having been built in 1865. Independent county government was established in October 1867, by proclamation of Governor Samuel J. Crawford in response to a petition. Hays was chosen as the permanent seat by an election in April 1870. Early settlers
3050-646: The state highway designation and its traffic to the north of the town. While the Interstate increased traffic through the general corridor, regional centers such as Hays and Salina found greater expansion in commerce than Victoria. Victoria is located on Kansas Highway 255 (K-255) 1-mile (1.6 km) south of Interstate 70 in northwestern Kansas, Victoria is approximately 9 miles (14 km) east of Hays (the county seat ), 129 miles (208 km) northwest of Wichita , and 243 miles (391 km) west of Kansas City . The city lies roughly 9 miles (14 km) north of
3111-516: The third Monday of each month. Originally, Victoria was within the organized Victoria Township . However, Victoria Township merged into an enlarged Herzog Township , which had previously absorbed Walker Township and a portion of Saline Township. Victoria lies within Kansas's 1st U.S. Congressional District . For the purposes of representation in the Kansas Legislature , the city is located in
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#17328520176383172-419: The two people who left the train, since the party collectively had not enough money for all even though they had pooled their funds, arrived in Herzog and Munjor and was the last large wave of Volga German immigrants to Ellis. By 1903, there had been 222 immigrants to Catherine, some going thence elsewhere. Munjor grew from 130 families, 794 people, in 1897 to 156 families, 931 people, by 1900. The largest of
3233-583: The vast majority of the state's 105 counties went for the Republican nominee. This is due to the county's distinctive (in Kansas) German Catholic heritage, contrasting with the Southern “ Bible Belt ” or Yankee heritage of most rural Kansas counties. It was the solitary county in Kansas to support Catholic Al Smith over Herbert Hoover in 1928, when Kansas was Hoover's strongest state nationwide, and also
3294-425: Was Victoria named after Queen Victoria where Victoria Manor, a two story stone structure, acted as temporary housing for the immigrants and as a transport depot for the Kansas Pacific. His sales pitch to the immigrants was that it was cheaper to buy land in Kansas at US$ 11 (equivalent to $ 80.12 in 2023) per acre (Grant himself having purchased it at US$ 0.88 (equivalent to $ 6.41 in 2023) per acre) than it
3355-402: Was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.96. In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.40% under the age of 18, 18.40% from 18 to 24, 25.20% from 25 to 44, 19.60% from 45 to 64, and 14.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 95.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.60 males. The median income for
3416-440: Was abandoned and most of it razed. According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 900 square miles (2,300 km ), of which 900 square miles (2,300 km ) is land and 0.5 square miles (1.3 km ) (0.05%) is water. The county is crossed by the Saline River across the north, with its principal branch being Eagle Creek. Other rivers include Big Creek, with its principal tributary Victoria Creek, which
3477-659: Was platted in 1880 by remaining colonists, particularly Margarat Grant Dunan, niece, caretaker, and excecutor of the George Grant estate. Today, the platted church grounds are a largely unoccupied cemetery with a monument to Grant's contribution to American Angus breeds. While most of the English left, certain Scottish families remained, notably the descendants of Grant as well as the Philips, four of whom served as Mayor of Hays. In 1875,
3538-423: Was slow, with three colonies being established in 1872. George Grant, a wealthy Scottish merchant, purchased 70,000 acres (28,000 ha) of land that year, and some 300 farmers from England settled there over the next two years. Grant bought the land from the Kansas Pacific Railroad with the intention of creating a community of British aristocrats and agriculturalists in the middle of rural Kansas. His first town
3599-430: Was their adoption of western Russian farming practice and community structure, and such was their adoption of Russian dress and elements of Russian language, Kansans referred to these settlements as "Little Russia". And such was the importance of Herzog that was soon referred to a "Russia Minor". A traditional religious community, Herzog's Catholic services were first held in the open around an erected cross, then in
3660-482: Was to buy land in Britain, and that Grant would till the land and seed it with imported British stock. The first wave of young British aristocrat families set sail on 1873-04-01. Stories of the time recorded them as not becoming agriculturalists, as Grant had hoped, but mainly indulging in aristocratic pursuits whilst living off family remittances, including hunting the local wildlife. Another story recounts them placing
3721-472: Was won by John F. Kennedy in 1960 by almost thirty percent as one of only two Kansas counties to back the Massachusetts senator. Ellis County bucked the national and statewide trend by voting for Michael Dukakis over winner George H. W. Bush in the 1988 presidential election , one of only three Kansas counties to go for Dukakis. Ellis County gave a plurality to Bill Clinton over Bush and Ross Perot in
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