Riley County, Kansas
Anderson Hall
Avalon, The
Bethel A.M.E. Church
Bluemont Youth Cabin
Community House
Downtown Manhattan Historic District
Elliot, Mattie M., House
First Congregational Church
Fitz, Leslie A., House
Goodnow House
Grimes House
Hartford House
Houston and Pierre Streets Residential Historic District
Houston, Samuel D., House
Hulse-Daughters House
Ingraham, Jesse, House
Kimble, Francis Byron (Barney), House
KSAC Radio Towers
Landmark Water Tower
Lyda-Jean Apartments
Manhattan Carnegie Library Building
McFarlane-Wareham House
Persons Barn and Granary
Pioneer Log Cabin
Platt, Jeremiah, House
Riley County Courthouse
Rocky Ford School
Runyon, Damon House
Second Baptist Church
Seven Dolors Catholic Church
Strasser House
Ulrich, Robert, House
Walters, Daniel and Maude, House
Wharton, E. A. and Ura, House
Wolf House Historic District
Woman's Club House
Amanda Arnold Arch
Carnegie Library
Change & Growth
Chris Barr's Cabin
Civil War Memorial
Civil War Memorial
Civil War Memorial
Colorado Street
Damon Runyon
Dobřichovice, Czech Republic Manhattan, Kansas
Ft. Leavenworth - Ft. Riley Military Road
Geology at Konza
Harahey
Konza Prairie
Manhattan's Union Pacific Depot - Revived
Millstones
Ogden
Osage Street
Riley Centennial
Riley County Courthouse
Spanish American War Veterans Memorial
The American Veteran
The Hartford House
The Tallgrass Prairie
Veteran's Memorial
War Memorial
World War II Memorial
Yuma Street
In 1853, the United States government created Riley County as part of the Kansas Territory. The county was named after General Bennett Riley, who served as a military governor in the area during the Mexican-American War. The discovery of limestone in the Flint Hills drove early industry and attracted settlers to the region.
Riley County played a pivotal role during the American Civil War. The county was divided between those supporting the Confederacy and those supporting the Union, leading to conflict and tensions between neighbors. Several military engagements took place in the area, including the Battle of Middle Creek and the Burning of the Courthouse in Manhattan.
As the 20th century dawned, Riley County experienced growth and development. Manhattan, the county seat and largest city, became home to Kansas State Agricultural College (now Kansas State University) in 1863, which stimulated growth and helped shape the county's future as an education and research center. Today, Riley County is a vibrant community known for its strong agricultural heritage, education institutions, and military ties, with Fort Riley, one of the largest military bases in the United States, located in the county.
Brief timeline of the history of Riley County, Kansas:
- 1855: Riley County established as one of the original 33 counties in the Kansas Territory
- 1857: Manhattan, the county seat, officially incorporated
- 1858: Kansas State Agricultural College, now known as Kansas State University, is founded in Manhattan
- 1861-1865: Riley County residents actively participate in the American Civil War
- 1864: "Wild Bill" Hickok, notorious Wild West lawman, becomes a constable in Riley County
- 1922: The famous Claflin Drug Store shooting, involving prohibition agents, takes place in Manhattan
- 1930s: Riley County, like the rest of the United States, is deeply affected by the Great Depression
- 1951: Fort Riley, a major U.S. Army installation, is reactivated after World War II
- 1986: Tuttle Creek Dam is completed, creating Tuttle Creek Lake and offering recreational opportunities in the county
This timeline provides a condensed summary of the historical journey of Riley County, Kansas.