Kiowa County Colorado

Court House Hours

Monday-Friday 8am-4pm closed from 12-1 for lunch

-------

Landfill Hours Wed-Thurs-Sat 8:00-4:30

----

CLOSED until further notice Sunday 1:00-4:30 closed from 12-12:30 for lunch

--------

Landfill will NOT be open if wind is 20 MPH or more

County Holidays

Prairie Pines Assisted Living Community

Kiowa County Transit Van

Kiowa County Extension

Kiowa County Combined Court

Kiowa County Press

Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment

Welcome to the unofficial site of Kiowa County-Colorado.

Kiowa County was created on May 3 1889, taking its name for the Kiowa Indians, is located on the eastern edge of Colorado. To the north borders Cheyenne Co; west is Lincoln Co and Crowley Co; Otero Co, Bent Co and Prowers Co on the south. Kiowa Co shares the east border with the state of Kansas.

The Missouri Pacific Railroad cross the Kansas border in 1887 during the Colorado Gold Rush.

Several small camps for railroad workers were establish. Though over a dozen started only three incorporated towns remain today, Sheridan Lake, Eads and Haswell. Towner, Brandon, Chivington and Arlington still support citizens without the vantage of city government.

Kiowa County is considered a frontier because of its population density. There are 1786 Square miles with a .8 person per square mile. Population census of 2010 showed the county had 1398 living here.

The wide open spaces makes Kiowa County a perfect place for outdoor activity. From camping to hunting to wildlife watching. To the south of Eads lies the Great Plains Reservoirs bearing Cheyenne Indian names. Neesopah, Neegronda, Neenoshe, and Neeskah. These are part of the Queens State Wildlife Area. South of Haswell is Adobe Creek Reservoir or "Blue Lake". All are excellent areas for wildlife watching- from prairie dogs to eagles.

Being considered a 'Frontier' does not mean things aren't happening here or you can't get the services offered in more populated areas.

The top of the list of what is here is health care. Weisbrod Memorial County Hospital and Nursing Home has above average rating of health inspections and staffing. There is also a Medical Clinic, Health Nurses and Ambulance Service. When the need for Assisted Living, the county residences agreed to build Prairie Pines. A very modern complex that has a indoor swimming pool and hot tub. They also offer a full service dinning, beauty salon and exercise room.

Need the internet to work? No Problem. In 2001 local residence introduce dial-up internet service and shortly after higher speed wireless service. They sold in early 2008 when the demand for service area became more than 2 could handle. During that tenure Eastern Slope Rural Telephone as well as Fair Point Communication, also became aware of the need for high speed internet service and started offering DSL.

There is a on going county wide effort to preserve the history and to up date services at the same time.

The following is from Janet Frederick, Administrative Technician, National Park Service.

The Town of Eads and the Murdock Building Rehabilitation - Sand Creek Massacre Site Visitor and Archival Center, and Eads Senior Citizens Center

The Town of Eads was once the economic and social mainstay for the ranching and farming community of Kiowa County, but like many other small communities on Colorado's Eastern Plains, Eads experienced economic and population decline. As a result, many of its buildings, especially on its main street, fell into disuse and disrepair. Recognizing the importance of a healthy downtown, the community has been steadfast in working towards revitalization with an emphasis on preserving its historic commercial center. This is being accomplished through intergovernmental efforts between the Town of Eads and Kiowa County in partnership with the National Park Service, the Colorado Historical Society, the Colorado Department of Local Affairs, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Colorado Preservation, Inc., the local senior citizens, a local theater group, and the Governor's Energy Office, to name a few. Starting with the purchase and rehabilitation of the Bransgrove Building*, which is successfully completed, the community is now focused on projects like the Murdock Building (the Slater, Whitelaw and Schoggen building combination), the Crow Luther Cultural Events Center, and the American Legion Hall, with the goal to adaptively reuse the community's few remaining historic buildings. Greater community needs will be met with a cultural arts center, senior center, theater, community gathering hall, and visitor center for the nearby nationally significant Sand Creek Massacre Site. With the help of their partners, the community supports these projects through various fundraising efforts with the hope of preserving the historic downtown and creating a vehicle to bring new social activity and sustainable employment to Eads.

Northeast of Chivington is the location of the Sand Creek Massacre atrocities. A dedication on April 28,2007 officially established the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site as the nations 391st national park.

A bicycle tour across the United State in 1976, establishing what is now know as the TransAmerica Bicycle Trail.(http://www.adventurecycling.org/routes/transamerica.cfm)

This route started in Astoria, OR and ended in Yorktown, VA consisting of 4250 miles (6840 km) In Kiowa County this route follows state highway 96 and is known as the Prairie Horizons Trail prairiehorizonstrail.pdf .

Many cyclist from the United States and all over the world have traveled this route.

Eads Web cam

On the web cam, you can see the following, from left to right -

Slater Building-built in 1908. Future site of the National Park Service visitor's center and research center. Plaster is almost removed, revealing the original brick facade.

Murdock Building Rehabilitation

Whitelaw Building-built 1908-1910. Future site of Eads Senior Citizen's Center on lower floor, National Park Service on second floor.

Schoggen Building-built 1930-1931. Future site of Eads Senior Citizen's Center on lower floor, National Park Service on second floor.

*Bransgrove Building. Previous historic restoration project which now houses a variety of offices, retail and Little Sprouts Daycare

Kiowa County Colorado