Hillsboro

History

For many millennia, the Great Plains of North America was inhabited by nomadic Native Americans. From the 16th century to 18th century, the Kingdom of France claimed ownership of large parts of North America. In 1762, after the French and Indian War, France secretly ceded New France to Spain, per the Treaty of Fontainebleau. In 1802, Spain returned most of the land to France. In 1803, most of the land for modern day Kansas was acquired by the United States from France as part of the 828,000 square mile Louisiana Purchase for 2.83 cents per acre. In 1854, the Kansas Territory was organized, then in 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state. In 1855, Marion County was established within the Kansas Territory, which included the land for modern day Hillsboro. Hillsboro was named after John Gillespie Hill, who homesteaded in the area in 1871. Originally Hill City was the city name; since another city in Kansas already bore that name, it was changed to Hillsboro on June 20, 1879. As early as 1875, city leaders of Marion held a meeting to consider a branch railroad from Florence. In 1878, Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway and parties from Marion and McPherson counties chartered the Marion and McPherson Railway Company. In 1879, a branch line was built from Florence to McPherson; in 1880 it was extended to Lyons and in 1881 was extended to Ellinwood. The line was leased and operated by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. The line from Florence to Marion was abandoned in 1968. In 1992, the line from Marion to McPherson was sold to Central Kansas Railway. In 1993, after heavy flood damage, the line from Marion through Hillsboro to McPherson was abandoned and removed. The original branch line connected Florence, Marion, Canada, Hillsboro, Lehigh, Canton,…

Geography

Hillsboro is located in the Flint Hills and Great Plains of the state of Kansas. The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Hillsboro has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  768
• Mourning Dove

  Zenaida macroura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  632
• Blue Jay

  Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  621
• Red-bellied Woodpecker

  Melanerpes carolinus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  596
• American Crow

  Corvus brachyrhynchos C.L.Brehm, 1822 · Aves
  529
• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  529
• Black-capped Chickadee

  Poecile atricapillus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  507
• Canada Goose (canadensis Group)

  Branta canadensis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  410

Largest nearby schools

• Hillsboro Middle/High School
  High · Hillsboro · 327 students · 17.2:1 ratio
• Hillsboro Elem
  Elementary · Hillsboro · 313 students · 16.5:1 ratio