[3] The initial settlement began in 1854 with individuals like Valentine Gerth and Francis Meyer staking claims near what would become Greeley.

[4] The early years were fraught with conflict during "Bleeding Kansas," with Anderson County men engaging in battles like the one at Osawatomie, where the clash over slavery was intense.

[3] The agrarian economy suffered from natural disasters, including the severe drought of 1860, which left the county in distress.

[4] Subsequent years brought the infamous grasshopper plagues of 1874-1875, which devastated crops, yet the resolve of the settlers saw them through these hardships.

Post-war, the county experienced a resurgence in agricultural development, with the arrival of the railroad playing a crucial role in economic growth by opening up markets.

As Anderson County moved towards the 20th century, its economy was based on farming, with some coal mining activities due to local deposits.

This era marked the beginning of a transition period, where traditional farming practices would soon give way to technological advancements in agriculture.

[17] † means a community is designated a Census-Designated Place (CDP) by the United States Census Bureau.

The city of Garnett is considered governmentally independent and is excluded from the census figures for the townships.