Bird CIty | Jaqua | St. Francis

Homesteading in Cheyenne County

Bird City

Founded by the Northwest Town Site Company in 1885, Bird City was named for Benjamin Bird, president of the company. By 1886, the town's population was over 1500. A courthouse was built when the town was named the temporary county seat. By July 8, 1888, the railroad had been built to Bird City. On February 26, 1889, St. Francis was named the county seat after a bitter fight between BIrd City and St. Francis for the honor. In the early 1890's many settlers left because of drouth (drought) and grasshoppers. Still, there were settlers that remained through the hardships and helped the town to survive.

The ethnicity of its settlers is unknown.

Sources

Cheyenne County Historical Society, ed. "The History of Cheyenne County, Kansas" Published by the Curtis Media Corporation, 1987.