Hutchinson

Homesteading in Reno County

Hutchinson

This town was founded by C. C. Hutchinson who had settled near Cow Creek in 1871. Mr. Hutchinson had played a role in getting the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad to build a line west of Halstead, instead of going south as was the original plan. Mr. Hutchinson platted the town site and began advertising the lots in late 1871.

In January 1872 a petition with 600 signatures (with many of them most likely false) was taken to Topeka to request that the legislature organize the new county. Hutchinson was named the county seat in February.

Hutchinson grew rapidly and had 1,500 residents by the summer of 1872. There were three lumberyards, several hotels, two general stores and a drug store.

The ethnicity of its settlers is now known.

Sources

Stucky, Tim. "Reno County: The Early Years." North Newton, KS: Mennonite Press, 1985.