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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.
Creator: Kansas. Secretary of State
Date: 1885
Item Number: 217182
Call Number: Kansas. Secretary of State's Office, County Organization files, ca. 1861-1912
KSHS Identifier: DaRT ID: 217182
Collections - State Archives - Secretary of State
Date - 1880s - 1885
Government and Politics - Local Government - County
Government and Politics - State Government - Governors - Martin, John Alexander
Objects and Artifacts - Communication Artifacts - Documentary Artifact - Proclamation
Places - Cities and towns - Colby
Places - Counties - Thomas
Thematic Time Period - Immigration and Settlement, 1854 - 1890
Type of Material - Unpublished documents - Government records - Proclamation
http://www.kansasmemory.org/item/217182