Editing Pratt County, Kansas (section)

==History==
{{See also|History of Kansas}}

'''Pratt County''' was established in 1867. The county's first attempt at organization, termed the "fraudulent organization," occurred in 1873. A group from Hutchinson traveled through various counties, organizing them as they went. However, since there were no genuine settlers in Pratt County at the time, this organization required the submission of false statements to the governor. This fraudulent attempt was not recognized, and the Pratt County was legitimately organized in 1879.<ref name=":0" />

The county's first bona fide settler, A. J. Johnson, arrived in the fall of 1873 near Springvale in the southwest corner, where he cultivated the county's first crops. The county saw significant settlement in 1877, primarily from Iowa, and further in 1878 from all sections of the United States, keeping land office officials busy with pre-emption claims. Despite a prosperous period for crops in 1879 and 1880, many settlers departed in subsequent years, while others arrived in large numbers, especially in 1882. During the county's early years, owing to the scarcity of lumber, many constructed sod houses or dugouts.<ref name=":0" />

The special election of September 2, 1879, focused on the choice of a county seat, was disputed due to irregularities. After a lawsuit second election was scheduled for August 19, 1880. In the lead-up to that election, a proponent of Saratoga named W. F. Gibbons made a deal with W. H. Weidner from Medicine Lodge, agreeing to pay him $40 to bring about fifteen cowboys into Pratt County thirty days before the election to vote for Saratoga. Each cowboy was promised $5, free whisky, and a free dance at Saratoga on the night of the election. Weidner located the cowboys and provided Gibbons with a list of names as agreed, receiving $25 as part payment. However, due to a contract dispute, all the cowboys left Pratt County before the election, causing Saratoga to lose their intended votes. Iuka was ultimately declared the county seat with a significant majority.<ref name=":0" />

Efforts to relocate the county seat to Pratt commenced in 1885 and succeeded in 1888 over the objections of Saratoga. An 1888 blizzard killed over 80% of the county's cattle, causing widespread hardship.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" />

In 1887, the [[Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway]] extended its main line from [[Herington, Kansas|Herington]] to [[Pratt, Kansas|Pratt]].<ref name="Rock Island Rail History">{{cite web|url=http://home.covad.net/~scicoatnsew/rihist4.htm|title=Rock Island's Family Tree - Page 4|website=home.covad.net|access-date=April 18, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110619230000/http://home.covad.net/~scicoatnsew/rihist4.htm|archive-date=June 19, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>  This main line connected Herington, [[Ramona, Kansas|Ramona]], [[Tampa, Kansas|Tampa]], [[Durham, Kansas|Durham]], [[Waldeck, Kansas|Waldeck]], [[Canton, Kansas|Canton]], [[Galva, Kansas|Galva]], [[McPherson, Kansas|McPherson]], [[Groveland, Kansas|Groveland]], [[Inman, Kansas|Inman]], [[Medora, Kansas|Medora]], [[Hutchinson, Kansas|Hutchinson]], [[Whiteside, Kansas|Whiteside]], [[Partridge, Kansas|Partridge]], [[Arlington, Kansas|Arlington]],  [[Langdon, Kansas|Langdon]], [[Turon, Kansas|Turon]], [[Preston, Kansas|Preston]], [[Natrona, Kansas|Natrona]] and Pratt. In 1888, this main line was extended to [[Liberal, Kansas|Liberal]]. Later, this line was extended to [[Tucumcari, New Mexico]] and [[El Paso, Texas]]. This line is called the "Golden State Limited".

During World War II, Pratt Army Airfield trained, processed, and housed [[Boeing B-29 Superfortress|B-29s]] and their crews before they were sent to war.<ref name=":1" />