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Stafford County, Kansas

40 topographic sheets cover 9 settlements here, and 8 properties are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Research this county

From the record

8 National Register listings published here.

Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service

Kansas within the United States
Stafford County within Kansas

What the record shows

  • 129 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
  • 8 properties here are on the National Register of Historic Places: 7 buildings and 1 site.
  • The Geographic Names Information System records 9 populated places in this county; 9 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.

Places on the National Register

8

Every property in this county listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with the year it was listed and the federal nomination document.

Photograph PropertyType ListedReference
Convenanter Churchbuilding200505000544
Farmers National Bankbuilding200606000392
First Methodist Episcopal Churchbuilding200202001264
William R. Gray Photography Studio and Residencebuilding201312001121
Sarah L. Henderson Housebuilding199696000763
Nora E. Larabee Memorial Librarybuilding200606000391
Martin Cemeterysite201515000692
Joseph L. Spickard Housebuilding200505000546

Wildfire, 1992 to 2020

209 fires

Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 209 of them, burning about 18,880 acres. 47 started naturally and 6 were recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.

Reported cause Fires
Missing data/not specified/undetermined81
Natural47
Debris and open burning37
Equipment and vehicle use19
Power generation/transmission/distribution10
Arson/incendiarism6
Fireworks3
Smoking2
Recreation and ceremony2
Other causes1
Railroad operations and maintenance1

The five largest, by the area the report gives. None of them was recorded as arson.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
3 April 2010Missing data/not specified/undetermined3,664 acresQuivira National Wildlife RefugeBIG SALT MARSH
31 March 2015Debris and open burning3,000 acresKansas Forest Service29
25 September 1998Natural2,620 acresQuivira National Wildlife RefugeGATTON
3 May 2011Debris and open burning1,897 acresQuivira National Wildlife RefugeSALT CREEK
22 March 2018Natural1,508 acresQuivira National Wildlife RefugeCOTTONWOOD
18 February 2016Missing data/not specified/undetermined1,000 acresMontgomery CountyHEMPLE
1 July 1994Debris and open burning800 acresQuivira National Wildlife RefugeHORNBAKER
3 November 2010Missing data/not specified/undetermined700 acresKansas CountiesSTAFFORD/PRATT COUNTY LINE

Every settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it - see the settlement index below.

Storms, 1952 to 2026

60 of 703 shown

The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 703 reports for this county, causing 3 deaths, 8 injuries and about $2,511,550 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.

Kind of event Reports
Hail437
Thunderstorm Wind159
Tornado72
Heavy Rain22
Flash Flood6
Flood6
Funnel Cloud1

The most serious of them, by death, then injury, then recorded damage. The accounts are quoted exactly as the forecast office filed them.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
May 2011Tornado (EF2)Hudson2 killed, 1 hurtThis tornado moved north/northwest and unfortunately claimed two lives. The tornado hit a house (among trees, outbuildings, fences) and the persons involved were parked under a tree in the drive way of the home. Tragically, the very large tree was uprooted and landed on the vehicle. A female (age 21) that was in the back seat was severely injured. A female (age 56) and her son (age 17) in the front seat were crushed and apparently killed instantly. The tornado moved on into Barton county at 606 PM. The house received EF2 damage and the occupant of the home was in the basement, but arrived there less than 30 seconds before the tornado hit.
May 2007Tornado (EF3)Macksville1 killedThis killer tornado formed just east of another large but dissipating tornado that was approaching Macksville. Unfortunately a law officer watching the dissipating tornado was unaware that this one was rapidly forming and could not get out of harms way. His car was thrown at least 1/4 of a mile and was found in a field. He died several days later from catastrophic injuries received in the crushed vehicle. EF3 damage was done to over a dozen farms, trees, machinery, vehicles, pivot irrigation sprinklers and power poles.
August 1985Hailnot stated2 hurtno account filed
April 1964Tornado (F3)not stated2 hurtno account filed
June 1999Thunderstorm WindSt John1 hurt, $300,000One trailer home was completely destroyed and the occupant received minor cuts and bruises, but lucky to be alive according to the Emergency Manager. Trees were down all over the place and several roofs received quite a bit of damage. Several pivot sprinklers overturned or damaged and a patrol car window pushed out. The same patrol car was blown into a ditch, after sitting idle with the driver pressing on the brake, powerless to the high wind.
May 1965Tornado (F3)not stated1 hurt, $250,000no account filed
May 2007Tornado (EF3)Macksville1 hurtThis tornado moved out of northwest Pratt county and dissipated just south of Macksville. It did strong EF3 damage to farms, trees, machinery and vehicles. A Blazer was carried over 3/4 of a mile and was barely recognizable as a vehicle. Several dozen head of cattle were killed along with wildlife in the area. One well built home was completely swept off it's foundation.
May 1993Tornado (F2)Byers$500,000The tornado moved into Stafford County from Pratt County. The tornado was 1/4 of a mile wide as it moved into Stafford County. The tornado destroyed or damaged six buildings at a farmstead 13 miles southwest of St. John. Buildings at an abandoned farmstead 9.5 miles southwest of St. KANSAS Cont'd John were also destroyed or damaged. Large cottonwood trees were snapped or uprooted along the path of the tornado. Two center pivot irrigation systems were also destroyed. Telephone poles were knocked down on the east side of St. John.
April 1991Tornado (F1)not stated$250,000no account filed
July 1979Tornado (F0)not stated$250,000no account filed
November 1973Tornado (F1)not stated$250,000no account filed
July 1999Thunderstorm WindHudson$100,000A microburst that lasted three minutes caused tremendous damage in the small community. Every building in the town had damage. 15 Homes had major structural damage. An ammonia tank was damaged causing a 2 to 3 block area to be evacuated.
June 2008Thunderstorm WindSt John$75,000The winds blew a pivot irrigation sprinkler into a ditch.
May 2008Tornado (EF1)Macksville$65,000EF1 damage was done to trees and a pivot irrigation sprinkler.
May 2011Thunderstorm WindLeesburg$60,000Trees up to 2 feet in diameter were blown down and several irrigation sprinklers were rolled over. Also, hail up to 3/4 of an inch in diameter covered the ground.
June 2002Thunderstorm WindStafford$53,000A pivot sprinkler was blown down along with 6 to 7 power poles.
May 2004Thunderstorm WindMacksville$50,000A pivot irrigation center was blown over
March 2002Thunderstorm WindHudson$50,000Pivot sprinkler was completely destroyed by the wind.
August 2007Thunderstorm WindBedford Station$45,000Nine power poles were blown down.
July 1979Tornado (F0)not stated$25,000no account filed
June 1977Tornado (F1)not stated$25,000no account filed
November 1973Tornado (F1)not stated$25,000no account filed
May 1964Tornado (F3)not stated$25,000no account filed
June 1955Tornado (F1)not stated$25,000no account filed
June 1955Tornado (F3)not stated$25,000no account filed
May 2008FloodSt John$15,000One house in town was flooded and two more had water up their porches.
May 1996Thunderstorm WindStafford$10,000no account filed
May 1995Tornado (F1)St. John$10,000no account filed
June 2002Thunderstorm WindStafford$8,000The wind damaged the roof of a local restaurant and broken numerous three to five inch diameter tree limbs.
August 2009Thunderstorm WindHudson$7,000Multiple power poles were blown down by the high wind.
August 2009Thunderstorm WindStafford$5,000Multiple power poles were blown down.
August 2007Thunderstorm WindBedford Station$4,000Eight power poles were blown down.
August 2007Thunderstorm WindStafford$3,000Six power poles were snapped off near the ground.
June 2008Thunderstorm WindSeward$1,500Two power poles were blown down and there were numerous tree branches broken.
July 1994Thunderstorm WindGorham$50no account filed
April 2026HailDillwyn-A public report of 1 inch hail.
April 2026Thunderstorm WindMacksville Smith Arp-Personal Ambient Weather Station Nutrients_ag reported maximum wind gust of 65 mph.
April 2025HailSeward-Received a mPING report of 1 inch hail.
April 2025Thunderstorm WindMacksville-A public report of a 62 mph wind gust.
June 2025Thunderstorm WindMacksville-A report of an estimated 67 mph winds came from the Public.
July 2025Thunderstorm WindNeola-Measured wind gusts.
September 2025HailQuivira Refuge-A public report of 1.25 inch hail.
September 2025HailNeola-A 1 inch hail report from the public.
September 2025HailHudson-A public report of 1.75 inch hail.
September 2025HailHudson-A public report of 1.75 inch hail.
August 2024HailRadium-Hail was estimated the sized of quarters by the public.
August 2024HailSt John-Hail the size of quarters was reported by the Public.
May 2024Heavy RainStafford-A 24 hour rainfall report of 1.18 inches.
June 2024Flash FloodSt John-Road closed with water over road.
May 2024Heavy RainLeesburg-A 24 hour rainfall report of 1.00 inches.
May 2024Heavy RainMacksville-Rainfall report of 1.87 inches.
August 2024Thunderstorm WindQuivira Refuge-Thunderstorm wind damage cause resulted in a downed power pole at the intersection of NW 80th Avenue and 90th Street.
March 2023Thunderstorm WindSt John-Report form Mping.
July 2023Thunderstorm WindRadium-Law enforcement reported multiple power poles blown down.
June 2022Thunderstorm WindStafford-A shed was flipped over by the high wind gusts.
September 2021Thunderstorm WindDillwyn-There was damage to a door and roof to a hay shed and 3 to 4 inch diameter tree branches were broken by the high wind.
July 2020Heavy RainMacksville-Rainfall of 2.95 inches was observed with the majority of the rain falling in a 3 hour period.
June 2020Thunderstorm WindMacksville-A grain cart was overturned by the high wind.
May 2019Tornado (EF0)Leesburg-This QLCS tornado moved in from Pratt County at 2310. Due to very muddy roads and conditions, the end point was estimated but could have very well been farther into the county.
May 2019Thunderstorm WindSt John-Sections of a roof were blown off a 50 x 150 foot pole barn and deposited 1 to 2 blocks north of the building.

Mines and quarries

1 recorded

The Survey's mineral resources record lists 1 working inside this county. It still produces. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.

Commodity Workings
Sand and Gravel, Construction1

The least common of them first, because a county's hundredth gravel pit says nothing its first ten did not.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Partin Sand and Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer

Every populated place in the county

9

Named settlements recorded in the Geographic Names Information System, each with the topographic sheets covering it. Villages, hamlets and abandoned places alike. Each is shown with the nearest named watercourse or landform and the survey quadrangle it falls on.

Provenance

  • Topographic sheets. USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection, county index, measured from the bulk metadata.
  • Fire insurance maps. Library of Congress Sanborn collection, faceted to this county.
  • Photographs. Each place queried individually against the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs search.
  • Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
  • Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
  • Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.