County Seat: Iola
Founded: 1855
Population:
· 14,385 (2000)
· 14,638 (1990)
· 19,507 (1900)
Area: 505 Square Miles
Standard Abbreviation: AL

Allen County

Allen County Courthouse, in Iola

History

Organized in 1855. County Seat, Iola. Named in honor of William Allen, of Ohio, who was for many years a member of the United States Senate from that Commonwealth, and also its governor. He favored the doctrine of popular sovereignty on the opening of the Territory of Kansas to settlement.

Map and text from History of Kansas, Noble Prentis, 1899

William G. Cutler's History of Kansas, first published in 1883, tells about early Allen County.

The Special Collections of the Ablah Library at WSU contain historical Savonburg photos, Gas photos, Humboldt photos, Iola photos, & Elsmore photos.

See also the Kansas State Historical Society's Allen County history.

Cities, Towns, & Villages of Allen County
                 2000
  Year  Elev  Population Name              ZIP
  ====  ====  ========== ================ =====
         965          22 Bassett
        1020             Bayard
        1005             Carlyle          66749
        1050          73 Elsmore          66732
        1020         556 Gas              66742
        1020             Geneva
  1857   970       1,999 Humboldt         66748
  1859   965       6,302 Iola             66749
  1881  1040         706 La Harpe         66751
         992             Leanna
  1907  1064          36 Mildred          66039
        1110         562 Moran            66755
         945             Petrolia
         950          91 Savonburg        66772
Special Places in Allen County

The Northrup house in Iola is an important example of Victorian "Queen Anne" style.
Humboldt is doing well with a downtown renovation project including a new local history museum and expansion of the public schools.
Second Street in Elsmore is wide, but the only business left on that street is the Post Office. A grain elevator a few blocks away is the rest of Elsmore's business scene.
This page was created with help from Brig C. McCoy.

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Last updated on
October 7, 2014
by howell@kotn.org