In order for the state of Kansas to recognize an unorganized county, a certain number of householders or legal electors from that county had to petition the governor. The governor would appoint a census taker to count the people who lived there. Initially, unorganized counties were required to document that they had at least 600 inhabitants in order to be recognized as a county by the state legislature. Over time the number of residents needed to organize a county increased to 1500 and later to 2500 residents. After a census confirmed the county's population, the governor issued proclamations, which stated that the population requirements had been met, appointed county commissioners and a county clerk, and named a county seat. Not all of these documents are available for each county. Included in this file are two proclamations from the governor. One asks for a census to be taken of Thomas County, and the other both appoints county officials and designates Colby as the temporary county seat.