Lyons is a city in Rice County, Kansas, United States. It is also the county seat of Rice County. In 2010, 3,739 people lived there.
History
Lyons was originally called Atlanta, and it was created in 1870. Its name changed to Lyons in 1876, in honor of Freeman J. Lyons.
In 1878, Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway and people from Marion County and McPherson County started the Marion and McPherson Railway Company. In 1879, a railroad was built from Florence to McPherson. In 1880, it was extended to Lyons. In 1881, it was extended to Ellinwood. The line was controlled by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. The line from Florence to Marion, was left in 1968. In 1992, the line from Marion to McPherson was sold to Central Kansas Railway. In 1993, because of heavy flood damage, the line from Marion to McPherson was left. The original branch line connected Florence, Marion, Canada, Hillsboro, Lehigh, Canton, Galva, McPherson, Conway, Windom, Little River, Mitchell, Lyons, Chase, and Ellinwood.
Lyons was incorporated as a city in 1880, the same year the railroad was built through it.
In 1890, the Western Salt Company built its first shaft to mine salt in Lyons.
In the 1970s, the federal government was interested in using a local area to bury high-level nuclear waste.
Geography
Lyons is at (38.344962, -98.202493). The United States Census Bureau says that the city has a total area of . All of it is land.
Weather
The Köppen climate classification says that Lyons has a humid continental climate, Dfa on climate maps.
People
2010 census
The 2010 census says that there were 3,739 people, 1,503 households, and 952 families living in Lyons.