Records from Shawnee County

Abstract: The records from Shawnee County include materials from the probate and district courts, the Register of Deeds, the County Clerk, the health and fire departments, school districts, and the Board of Commissioners, though the majority of the records come from the courts. There are also numerous series of records from Topeka's city government, particularly the City Clerk; and there are a few records from some cities that were absorbed into Topeka, such as Oakland and Potwin Place, and some township governments, such as Silver Lake.

Records from the county, city, and township level concern the finances of the local governments. City records particularly focus on raising the funds for civic improvements. County records, including those from the courts, focus on estate administration and appointing guardians for underage wards or other individuals not considered fit enough to take care of themselves and their finances; vital statistics and information concerning communicable diseases; voter registration and elections; marriage records; tax rolls; recording deeds and mortgages; individuals wishing to become naturalized as United States citizens; and other records related to local government and individuals who resided in the county. The records run from the territorial era through the end of the twentieth century. Most of these records are located in volumes or on microfilm.

Administrative History: The area now known as Shawnee County was inhabited by American Indians, mainly of the Kansas and Pottowatomie tribes, until the mid-1800s. Westward expansion brought the country its first white settler in 1830 when Frederick Choteau opened a trading post on American Chief (now Mission) Creek. In 1855, Shawnee became one of the first counties established by the Kansas territorial legislature, with a population of 250. That year also saw the first ever meeting of the Shawnee County Board of Commissioners. Tecumseh was the first county seat, and the first county courthouse was opened there in 1856. The building was 40x50 feet, but it was never finished.

Topeka was made the county seat by popular vote in 1858, and a new courthouse was built at 4th Street and Kansas Avenue in 1867. In 1896, a larger courthouse was constructed at 5th and Van Buren, when more than 50,000 residents lived in the county. That building remained in use until the current courthouse at 7th and Quincy opened in 1965. Topeka also became the state capital in 1861.

Shawnee County is comprised of 12 townships. The townships are governed by three-member elected boards consisting of a trustee, a treasurer, and a clerk. The townships in Shawnee County are Auburn, Dover, Grove, Menoken, Mission, Monmouth, Rossville, Silver Lake, Soldier, Tecumseh, Topeka, and Williamsport.

[Shawnee County. "Visitor Information: Home." http://www.snco.us/visitinfo/ (accessed 8 May 2009).]

General Note: Records from the various agencies in Shawnee County found on microfilm are sometimes grouped together in large series, such as for the register of deeds or the Probate court. Other times these records are broken down into smaller series. A variety of searches may therefore be necessary in order to find all pertinent records.