Council Grove is a city in Morris County, Kansas, United States. It is also the county seat of Morris County. This city is fifty-five miles southwest of Topeka. It was named after an agreement between European Americans and the Osage Nation about allowing settlers' wagon trains to go through the area to go West. Pioneers came together at a grove of trees so that wagons could stay together for their trip west. In 2010, 2,182 people lived there.
History
Council Grove was one of the last stops on the Santa Fe Trail when going southwest. The first European-American settler was Seth M. Hays. He came to the area in 1847 to trade with the Kaw tribe. The Kaw had a reservation created in the area in 1846. Hays was a great grandson of Daniel Boone.
On February 26, 1855, a post office was created in Council Grove.
In 1858, the town was officially incorporated by the Kansas legislature. Hays also opened a restaurant in 1857, the Hays House, which is said to be the oldest restaurant west of the Mississippi River.
In 1943, the United States government brought prisoners to Lawrence. These prisoners were war prisoners from World War II. The prisoners were mostly German people and Italian people. The government brought them because farmers needed more people. They were forced to live in camps. These camps were like prisons. Fort Riley created 12 small camps, and one was in Council Grove.
Geography
The United States Census Bureau says that the city has a total area of . Of that, is land and is water.
Weather
Council Grove has hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. The Köppen Climate Classification system says that Council Grove has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.
People
2010 census
The 2010 census says that there were 2,182 people, 991 households, and 565 families living in Council Grove.
Education
Primary and secondary education
Council Grove is part of Unified School District 417.
Related pages
Santa Fe Trail
References
More reading
The Story of Council Grove on the Santa Fe Trail; 2nd Ed; Lalla Maloy Brigham; 176 pages; 1921.
Other websites
City
City of Council Grove
Council Grove - Directory of Public Officials
Council Grove Chamber of Commerce & Tourism
Schools
USD 417, local school district
USD 417 School District Boundary Map, KDOT
Historical
, from Hatteberg's People on KAKE TV news
Historic Images of Council Grove, Special Photo Collections at Wichita State University Library Kansas Photo Tour - Council Grove Council Grove 19th Century History Historical information about Council Grove Maps Council Grove City Map, KDOT