| Barton
County, Kansas
Barton
County, Kansas, located in the
heart of the state, is rich in scenic beauty and
the strong spirit of its citizens. It was named
for Clara Barton, who founded the Red Cross during
the Civil
War. Today the county is a leader in health
care for central Kansas,
with three area hospitals, a surgery center, and a
cancer center soon to be built.
This lovely rural
region of gently rolling hillsides is oil and gas
country, as well as an agricultural community.
Manufacturing and tourism are quickly becoming
important economic factors also. Cheyenne
Bottoms, known as the "Jewel of the
Prairie", draws nature lovers year round. One
of the most important wetlands in the world, this
64 square-mile marsh is a migratory route that
affects birds and wildlife all over North America.
Whooping cranes, peregrine falcons and piping
plovers are spotted by bird-watchers from around
the globe.
Remnants of the
legendary Santa
Fe and Chisolm
Trails wind through the region, and history buffs
scout through the Barton
County Museum and Historical Village enjoying
the memories of the Wild West years. The city of Ellinwood
draws visitors to view the unique German
architecture and underground tunnels from which
businesses operated in the past.
Hunting
remains a much-revered attraction to Barton
County. Seven designated hunting areas await
sportsmen, including the Quivira
National Wildlife Refuge and the Kanapolis
Reservoir. Barton County, Kansas is also
excellent fishing territory.
Nine cities and
towns make up Barton County. The Census 2000
listed its population at over 27,000.Great
Bend is the county seat, a vibrant community
of 15,000 that is the cultural and retail center
of the region. The Barton
County Community College provides convenient
and affordable higher education to the region.
The Barton
County Fair is a well attended event and the SRC
Dragstrip delights race fans young and old.
The city of Hoisington
is known as the "Gateway to the Cheyenne
Bottoms", and plays host to flocks of
whooping cranes on their annual migrations. Claflin,
Albert,
Olmitz
and Pawnee
Rock are other Barton
County cities.
Rural living at
its finest is offered in Barton County, Kansas.
The communities are made up of hard-working
individuals with a strongly ingrained work ethic.
Small town manners and gorgeous scenery make
Barton County a fine place to be.
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