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The Homestead Act was enacted by President Abraham Lincoln in 1862. The first homestead in Smith County was in 1871 and there were 3,800 inhabitants by 1875. The county grew to 15,000 people by 1889. Corn was the main crop at first but drought and grasshopper plagues severely hurt the crops. When hardy Winter wheat was introduced to Kansas by Russian settlers, it eventually became the predominant crop in Smith County. The population of the county has slowly declined since 1900 due in large part because of advanced farming techniques that require less human labor. Dr. Brewster Higley wrote the song "Home on the Range" in the early 1870s. It later became the Kansas State song. Smith County is divided into twenty-five townships. None of the cities within the county are considered governmentally independent. If you have an Obit you'd like to submit for this county or any Kansas County? Submit here! Don't know where your ancestors were? Just click on the Search Engine link below and it'll take you to Genealogy Trails NEW SEARCH ENGINE This search engine will let you search all of Genealogy Trails or limit your search to a single state! Join Our Mailing Lists Genealogy Trails Mailing Lists This Month's Featured Data Smith Centre 1889 Business Directory

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