History

The area in South Central Kansas known as Reno County was part of the area purchased by the United States from the French in 1803. Explorers passed through Kansas between 1803 and 1861 when Kansas became a state but settlement didn’t begin until Congress created Kansas territory and decreed that it was no longer Indian territory.
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The Kansas Legislature drew the boundaries for Reno County in 1865. The population wasn’t sufficient to necessitate self-government until December 1871. The first election for county officers was held in January of 1872. Reno County was named for Major-General Jesse Lee Reno who fought in the Civil War and died in the line of duty at the Battle of South Mountain in Maryland in 1862. Hutchinson is the county seat and the largest city in the county. Hutchinson was named after its founder, Clinton Carter Hutchinson. Mr. Hutchinson claimed to be a Baptist preacher and he stipulated that no alcoholic beverages could be sold or consumed on the property or the land would forfeit back to him. This also kept the town quiet. The early settlement of the county by Amish and Mennonites also contributed to the quiet history. The Mennonites and Amish are still strongly represented in the county. Railroads were instrumental in the development of not only Kansas but Reno County. The railroads played a significant role in the development of some of the smaller towns within the county. The arrival of the Santa Fe Railroad established Hutchinson, Partridge, Abbyville, Plevna and Sylvia. The Rock Island and Frisco Railroads established some of the other small cities in Reno County.