Bourbon County

Bourbon County is an administrative area in southeastern Kansas with Fort Scott as its seat, set amid rural farmland and small towns. The region spreads across open landscapes with a mix of grassland and scattered communities connected by country roads.

The county was established in 1855 from lands acquired through the Louisiana Purchase during America's westward expansion into the Great Plains. This period brought settlers who developed farms and built communities across the previously open prairie.

Fort Scott, the county seat, shows how local traditions remain woven into community life through schools, shops, and gatherings that reflect pioneer heritage.

Fort Scott serves as the main hub for services and is the best place to start exploring the county. The area is best explored by car, as towns and attractions are spread across rural roads throughout the region.

Fort Scott contains preserved military buildings from the 1800s that once defended the western frontier. Walking through these structures gives visitors a chance to see how soldiers lived and worked during territorial times.

Location: Kansas

Inception: August 30, 1855

Capital city: Fort Scott

Shares border with: Linn County, Crawford County, Anderson County, Allen County, Neosho County, Vernon County

Website: http://BourbonCountyKS.org

GPS coordinates: 37.85000,-94.85000

Latest update: December 8, 2025 13:40