Trego County is a county in Kansas, United States, on the high plains of the west-central part of the state along Interstate 70. It had a population of 2,808 at the 2020 census and covers 899 square miles (2,328 km2) centred near 38°55′N 99°53′W.
WaKeeney is the county seat and largest city, and its postal code is 67672. The county has 2 incorporated cities, 3 unincorporated communities, and several historic sites once settled but now abandoned, organized across seven townships. Trego County sits in the Central Time zone.
Towns & Villages in Trego County
Trego County’s population is concentrated in two incorporated cities, with a handful of small unincorporated communities and a few 19th-century sites now classed as ghost towns. CDP = census-designated place; Unincorp. = unincorporated community.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| WaKeeney | City · seat | 1,799 | 67672 |
| Collyer | City | 97 | 67631 |
| Ogallah | Unincorp. | — | 67656 |
| Riga | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Voda | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Trego Center | Unincorp. (historic) | — | — |
| Fort Downer | Unincorp. (historic) | — | — |
| Banner | Unincorp. (ghost town) | — | — |
| Bosna | Unincorp. (ghost town) | — | — |
| Cyrus | Unincorp. (ghost town) | — | — |
| Wilcox | Unincorp. (ghost town) | — | — |
Townships
Trego County is divided into seven civil townships for local administrative purposes; 2020 populations by township are not separately published.
| Township | Pop. (2020) | Main settlements |
|---|---|---|
| WaKeeney | — | WaKeeney |
| Collyer | — | Collyer |
| Ogallah | — | Ogallah |
| Wilcox | — | Wilcox (ghost town) |
| Franklin | — | — |
| Glencoe | — | — |
| Riverside | — | — |
ZIP Codes
- 67672 — WaKeeney (also serves surrounding rural Trego County)
- 67631 — Collyer
- 67656 — Ogallah
Riga, Voda, and the county’s historic sites have no ZIP code of their own and are served by the nearest post office town listed above.
Geography
Trego County lies on the mixed-grass high plains of west-central Kansas, drained by the North Fork and South Fork of the Smoky Hill River, which cross the county from west to east. The terrain is gently rolling upland prairie with the river valleys cutting shallow breaks; the county covers 889 square miles of land and 10 square miles of water. Trego County borders Graham County to the north, Rooks County to the northeast, Ellis County to the east, Ness County to the south, and Gove County to the west.
Demographics
Trego County had 2,808 residents at the 2020 census. WaKeeney is by far the largest community, followed by Collyer. Median household income in Trego County runs below the Kansas median of $70,333, typical of the state’s sparsely populated wheat-belt counties. Population density is roughly 3 people per square mile, among the lowest in the state.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture drives the county economy, chiefly wheat, grain sorghum, and cattle ranching on the surrounding rangeland. Interstate 70 traffic supports a cluster of truck stops, motels, and restaurants at WaKeeney, which markets itself as the “Christmas City of the High Plains” for its holiday lighting display each December. County government, the local school district (USD 208), and a critical-access hospital are among the largest employers in WaKeeney.
History
Trego County was organized on June 21, 1879, following Kansas statehood, and named for Edgar Trego, a soldier killed in an 1867 skirmish with Native American forces near the site that would become the county. WaKeeney was founded in 1878 by land speculators Albert Warren and James Keeney, whose names were combined to form the town’s name, and it won the county-seat fight over the rival town of Trego Center. Like much of western Kansas, the county’s smaller settlements — Banner, Bosna, Cyrus, and Wilcox among them — declined and were abandoned over the 20th century as farms consolidated and rail traffic shifted to the highway.
Getting There
Interstate 70 (with parallel US-40) runs east–west across the county, and US-283 and K-147 provide the main north–south routes. Distances from WaKeeney:
- Hays — 34 miles east
- Colby — 61 miles west
- Russell — 62 miles east
- Great Bend — 76 miles southeast
The nearest commercial airport is Hays Regional Airport (HYS), about 35 miles east of WaKeeney.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Trego County?
Trego County is in west-central Kansas, on Interstate 70 between Hays and Colby.
What is the population of Trego County?
Trego County had a population of 2,808 at the 2020 census.
How big is Trego County?
The county covers 899 square miles (2,328 km2), of which 889 square miles are land.
What is the county seat of Trego County?
WaKeeney is the county seat and largest city.
How many towns are in Trego County?
The county has two incorporated cities, WaKeeney and Collyer, plus several small unincorporated communities and historic sites.
What ZIP codes are in Trego County?
The main ZIP codes are 67672 (WaKeeney), 67631 (Collyer), and 67656 (Ogallah).
Why is WaKeeney called the “Christmas City of the High Plains”?
WaKeeney has staged an elaborate holiday lighting display each December since 1957, drawing travelers off Interstate 70.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Kansas.