Marshall County is a county in Kansas, United States, in the northeastern corner of the state along the Nebraska line. It had a population of 10,038 at the 2020 census and covers 905 square miles (2,340 km2) centred near 39°48′N 96°33′W.
Marysville is the county seat and its postal code is 66508. The county has nine incorporated cities, three census-designated places and a scatter of small unincorporated communities, and it sits in the Central time zone.
Towns & Villages in Marshall County
Marshall County has nine incorporated cities, three census-designated places (Bremen, Herkimer and Home), and a number of small unincorporated communities and rural post-office names, several dating to the county’s Oregon Trail-era settlement. "CDP" below is a census-designated place with no city government; "Unincorp." is an unincorporated community.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marysville | City · seat | — | 66508 |
| Axtell | City | — | 66403 |
| Beattie | City | — | 66406 |
| Blue Rapids | City | — | 66411 |
| Frankfort | City | — | 66427 |
| Oketo | City | — | 66518 |
| Summerfield | City | — | 66541 |
| Vermillion | City | — | 66544 |
| Waterville | City | — | 66548 |
| Bremen | CDP | — | 66412 |
| Herkimer | CDP | — | — |
| Home | CDP | — | 66438 |
| Bestwall | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Black Squirrel | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Carden | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Cottage Hill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hermansberg | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lillis | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lone Elm | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Marietta | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Nolan | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Reedsville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Saint Bridget | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Shroyer | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sullivan | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Summit | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Upland | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Vliets | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Winifred | Unincorp. | — | — |
Alcove Springs, the Oregon Trail campsite and pioneer burial ground outside Marysville, is a historic site rather than a settlement and is described under History below, not listed as a town.
ZIP Codes
- 66508 — Marysville
- 66403 — Axtell
- 66406 — Beattie
- 66411 — Blue Rapids
- 66412 — Bremen
- 66427 — Frankfort
- 66438 — Home
- 66518 — Oketo
- 66541 — Summerfield
- 66544 — Vermillion
- 66548 — Waterville
Herkimer and the county’s unincorporated communities have no post office of their own and are served by the ZIP code of the nearest listed town.
Geography
Marshall County lies in the rolling glaciated plains of northeastern Kansas, drained by the Big Blue River and the Black Vermillion River. The Big Blue crosses the county roughly north to south through Marysville and Blue Rapids, and Tuttle Creek Lake’s watershed reaches into the county’s southern townships.
Washington County lies to the west. Riley and Pottawatomie Counties lie to the south and southeast. Nemaha County lies to the east. Gage County, Nebraska, lies to the northwest, and Pawnee County, Nebraska, lies to the northeast.
Demographics
Marshall County had 10,038 residents at the 2020 census, giving it a density of about 11 people per square mile on its 900 square miles of land. Marysville and Blue Rapids are the county’s two largest communities. Household income runs below the Kansas median of $70,333, typical of the county’s rural, agricultural economy; the population has declined steadily from a peak of roughly 24,000 residents around 1900.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture — corn, soybeans and wheat, alongside cattle operations — anchors the county economy, supplemented by grain handling and light manufacturing based in Marysville. Marysville is nicknamed the "Black Squirrel City" for its population of black squirrels, a local landmark and small annual attraction, and the town’s restored 1859 Pony Express Home Station No. 1 draws Oregon Trail history visitors.
History
Marshall County was organized in 1855 and named for Frank J. Marshall, a territorial legislator who ran the county’s first ferry across the Big Blue River at what became Marysville. The Oregon Trail and, later, the Pony Express crossed the county along the Big Blue; Sarah Keyes of the ill-fated Donner-Reed Party died and was buried near Alcove Springs in 1846, and the site still preserves pioneer wagon-wheel ruts and grave markers. On May 30, 1879, an F4 tornado tore an 800-yard-wide path roughly 100 miles across the region, killing 18 people, one of the deadliest tornadoes in Kansas history.
Getting There
US-36 crosses the county east-west through Marysville and Frankfort, and US-77 runs north-south through Marysville toward the Nebraska line.
- Manhattan — about 55 miles south
- Topeka — about 75 miles south
- Lincoln, Nebraska — about 65 miles north
- Beatrice, Nebraska — about 25 miles north
The nearest commercial airport is Manhattan Regional Airport, roughly an hour’s drive south of Marysville.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Marshall County, Kansas?
It is in the northeastern corner of Kansas, bordering Nebraska, centred near 39°48′N 96°33′W.
What is the population of Marshall County?
10,038 people at the 2020 census.
How big is Marshall County?
905 square miles (2,340 km2), of which about 900 square miles is land.
What is the county seat of Marshall County?
Marysville is the county seat.
How many towns are in Marshall County?
Nine incorporated cities and three census-designated places, plus a number of small unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Marshall County?
Eleven ZIP codes serve the county, including 66508 (Marysville), 66427 (Frankfort) and 66411 (Blue Rapids).
What is Alcove Springs?
A historic Oregon Trail campsite and pioneer burial ground just outside Marysville, where Donner-Reed Party member Sarah Keyes was buried in 1846.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Kansas.