Crawford County

Crawford County is an administrative division in southeastern Kansas with Girard as its county seat and Pittsburg as the largest population center. The region is home to Pittsburg State University, which serves as a major educational hub for the area.

The area was created in 1867 from Cherokee and Bourbon territories, established on the Cherokee Neutral Lands between Missouri and Osage territory. This formation reflected the major boundary changes reshaping the region during that era.

Miners from the Balkans arrived in the early 1900s and built communities centered on coal extraction. Their presence shaped local identity and traditions that residents still recognize today.

Pittsburg serves as the main hub for exploring the region and accessing local services. Most destinations in the county require a vehicle since communities are spread across the landscape.

A powerful tornado struck the county in a year that reshaped how several communities approached rebuilding and disaster preparedness. The event remains part of local memory and shapes how residents discuss resilience.

Location: Kansas

Inception: February 13, 1867

Capital city: Girard

Shares border with: Bourbon County, Cherokee County, Neosho County, Labette County, Jasper County, Barton County, Vernon County

Website: http://CrawfordCountyKansas.org

GPS coordinates: 37.51670,-94.85000

Latest update: December 7, 2025 19:29