Ellsworth, Kansas
| Ellsworth, Kansas | |
|---|---|
| City | |
Ellsworth water tower as seen from Kansas State Highway 156 (2012)
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 Location within County and Kansas |
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 KDOT map of Ellsworth County (legend) |
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| Coordinates: 38°43′55″N 98°13′45″W / 38.73194°N 98.22917°WCoordinates: 38°43′55″N 98°13′45″W / 38.73194°N 98.22917°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Kansas |
| County | Ellsworth |
| Incorporated | 1867 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor–Council |
| • Mayor | John Whitmer |
| • City Clerk | Patti Booher |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.43 sq mi (6.29 km2) |
| • Land | 2.43 sq mi (6.29 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,539 ft (469 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 3,120 |
| • Estimate (2015) | 3,057 |
| • Density | 1,300/sq mi (500/km2) |
| Time zone | Central (CST) (UTC-6) |
| • Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| ZIP code | 67439 |
| Area code | 785 |
| FIPS code | 20-20500 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0475460 |
| Website | ellsworthks.net |
Ellsworth is a city in and the county seat of Ellsworth County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 3,120. Known as a cow town in the 1870s, when the Kansas Pacific Railroad operated a stockyard here for shipping cattle to eastern markets, in the 21st century, it serves as the trading center of the rural county.
Once called "The Wickedest Cattletown in Kansas", the city is named for Fort Ellsworth, which was built in 1864. Due to speculation on imminent railroad construction, the population of Ellsworth boomed to over two thousand by the time it was incorporated in 1867. It has since been said, "Abilene, the first, Dodge City, the last, but Ellsworth the wickedest".
Ellsworth was a bustling cattle town for a time during the late 1860s, when the Kansas Pacific Railroad had a stop and stockyards there. Cattle were driven up from Texas to this point, and then shipped to major markets. Often cowboys had the run of the town. In 1875 Kansas Pacific closed its cattle pens, moving to another location. The cattle trade dwindled to almost nothing by the mid-1880s.
During the late 1860s into the 1870s, Ellsworth was known for being one of the "wickedest" cattle towns, the scene of numerous killings following shootouts between drunken cowboys. The town sported numerous saloons, brothels and gambling halls, with prostitution being rampant.Wild Bill Hickok ran for Ellsworth County Sheriff in 1868, but was defeated by veteran Union Army soldier E. W. Kingsbury. Kingsbury was an effective lawman, but relied on local marshals to patrol the town, as he also had to police the county. Violence in Ellsworth was commonplace among the cowboys and people associated with them. Ellsworth marshal Will Semans was shot and killed on September 26, 1869, while attempting to disarm a rowdy man in a dance hall.
For a time during this period, two small-time outlaws known only as Craig and Johnson began bullying people around the community, often committing armed robbery. After Semans' murder, they operated openly. Before long, citizens formed a vigilance squad and captured both men, hanging them in a lynching near the Smoky Hill River. Chauncey Whitney, a deputy to Kingsbury, took over following Sheriff Kingsbury's departure. Whitney quickly gained a reputation as being both tough and respectable, and was well liked. The scale of business is shown by construction of the Drovers Cottage in 1872. It could accommodate 175 guests, and stable 50 carriages and 100 horses.
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