Cowley County

Cowley County is an administrative county in Kansas that includes the cities of Winfield and Arkansas City as its main population centers. The county functions as a local governance area providing services and infrastructure to its residents across the region.

Kansas created Cowley County in 1867, first calling it Hunter County before renaming it in 1870 after First Lieutenant Matthew Cowley. The name change reflected the importance of Cowley's contributions to the region's early development.

The county maintains two higher education institutions, Cowley College and Southwestern College, which provide educational opportunities to the local population.

The County Election Office handles voter registration and manages elections, with registration required about three weeks before any election date. Visitors should contact local offices for current information about services, facilities, and specific locations throughout the county.

A major pipeline was constructed through the county in 2010 and received a special property tax exemption for its first decade of operation. This arrangement significantly affected local government revenues during that period.

Location: Kansas

Inception: February 26, 1867

Capital city: Winfield

Shares border with: Butler County, Kay County, Elk County, Chautauqua County, Osage County, Sedgwick County, Sumner County

Website: http://cowleycounty.org

GPS coordinates: 37.25000,-96.98000

Latest update: December 7, 2025 20:23