Wallace County is a county in Kansas, United States, on the state’s western border with Colorado. It had a population of 1,512 at the 2020 census, making it the second-least-populous county in Kansas after neighboring Greeley County. The county covers 914 square miles (2,370 km2), of which nearly all is land, centred near 38°46′N 101°35′W on the high plains of the Smoky Hill River valley.
Sharon Springs is the county seat, and its postal code is 67758. Wallace County has one other incorporated city, Wallace, plus one unincorporated community, Weskan. It is one of only four Kansas counties on Mountain Time, and it was the last “dry” county in Kansas until local liquor sales were approved in 2023. The Kansas Department of Transportation lists the whole county in Wallace County FIPS code 20199.
Towns & Villages in Wallace County
Every town in Wallace County sits along U.S. Route 40 or the old Union Pacific main line, strung out roughly east to west across the county.
| Place | Type | Township | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sharon Springs | City · seat | Sharon Springs Township | 751 | 67758 |
| Wallace | City | Wallace Township | 41 | 67761 |
| Weskan | CDP | Weskan Township | — | 67762 |
Townships
| Township | Pop. (2020) | Main settlements |
|---|---|---|
| Sharon Springs Township | 1,096 | Sharon Springs |
| Wallace Township | 175 | Wallace, Fort Wallace Museum site |
| Weskan Township | 393 | Weskan |
ZIP Codes
- 67758 — Sharon Springs (also serves the surrounding ranch country north and south of U.S. 40)
- 67761 — Wallace (also serves the Fort Wallace Museum area and nearby farms)
- 67762 — Weskan (also serves the far western strip of the county along the Colorado line)
No other place in the county has its own ZIP code; scattered farmsteads use whichever of the three is nearest.
Geography
Wallace County lies on the flat-to-gently-rolling high plains of far western Kansas, drained by the Smoky Hill River, which crosses the county from west to east. Mount Sunflower, the highest point in Kansas at 4,039 feet, sits near the Colorado line in the county’s northwest corner. The climate is semi-arid, with hot summers, cold winters and frequent wind. Wallace County borders:
- Sherman County to the north
- Logan County to the east
- Wichita County to the southeast, via Wichita County
- Greeley County to the south
- Cheyenne County, Colorado, to the west
- Kit Carson County, Colorado, to the northwest
Demographics
The county’s population was 1,512 at the 2020 census, down from earlier decades as the county’s ranching and farming economy has shed jobs. Sharon Springs (751) and Weskan’s surrounding township (393 combined) are the two largest population centers; Wallace itself has just 41 residents. Median household income in Wallace County runs close to the Kansas state figure of $70,333, reflecting a mostly agricultural income base. Population density is about 1.7 people per square mile, among the lowest in the state.
Economy & Local Life
Wheat and cattle ranching drive the Wallace County economy, with grain elevators and feedlots the largest local employers alongside the Wallace County school district and county government offices in Sharon Springs. The Fort Wallace Museum in Wallace draws regional visitors with exhibits on the 1860s frontier army post. The county’s biggest annual event is the Wallace County Fair, held each July in Sharon Springs.
History
Wallace County was created by the Kansas legislature in 1868 and organized soon after, named for Union Brigadier General W.H.L. Wallace, mortally wounded at the Battle of Shiloh in 1862. Fort Wallace, built in 1865 near the present town of Wallace, protected railroad construction crews and stagecoach travelers on the Smoky Hill Trail during the Indian Wars of the 1860s. Sharon Springs grew up as a Union Pacific railroad stop originally called Eagle Tail before its 1886 renaming. Wallace County remained a “dry” county under Kansas liquor law longer than any other in the state, ending that status only in 2023.
Getting There
U.S. Route 40 runs east–west through the county, linking all three of its towns; Interstate 70 crosses the county’s north end just south of the Sherman County line.
- Goodland — 30 miles north
- Colby — 55 miles northeast
- Oakley — 50 miles east
- Burlington, Colorado — 40 miles west
The nearest commercial airport is Renner Field/Goodland Municipal Airport, about 30 miles north. Amtrak does not serve Wallace County; the nearest station is in Lamar, Colorado, roughly 90 miles southwest.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Sharon Springs postcode?
67758.
How many people live in Wallace County?
The 2020 census counted 1,512 residents, the second-lowest total of any Kansas county.
Which town is the county seat?
Sharon Springs is the county seat.
What time zone is Wallace County in?
Mountain Time — one of only four Kansas counties on Mountain rather than Central Time.
How big is Wallace County?
914 square miles (2,370 km2), almost entirely land.
What is the highest point in the county?
Mount Sunflower, at 4,039 feet, is both the county’s highest point and the highest point in Kansas.
Was Wallace County ever a dry county?
Yes. It was the last county in Kansas to prohibit local liquor sales, a status that ended in 2023.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Kansas.