Hillsboro is a city in Marion County, Kansas, United States.

For many millennia, the Great Plains of North America was inhabited by nomadic Native Americans.

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 1855, Marion County was established within the Kansas Territory, which included the land for modern day Hillsboro.

[7] A post office was established in Risley on April 10, 1873, then moved to Hillsboro on August 29, 1879.

[9] As early as 1875, city leaders of Marion held a meeting to consider a branch railroad from Florence.

[11] The line was leased and operated by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe 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, Galva, McPherson, Conway, Windom, Little River, Mitchell, Lyons, Chase, Ellinwood.

[13] The National Old Trails Road, also known as the Ocean-to-Ocean Highway, was established in 1912, and was routed through Lehigh, Hillsboro, Marion, Lost Springs.

Hillsboro is located in the Flint Hills and Great Plains of the state of Kansas.

[14] The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters.

[15] Hillsboro has two buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP).

The 2020 United States census counted 2,732 people, 1,003 households, and 625 families in Hillsboro.

The largest employers in Hillsboro are education related, Tabor College and Unified School District 410, which have been in the community for over 100 years.

[43] In September 2014, Wal-Mart announced plans to build a Walmart Neighborhood Market store in Hillsboro and will open in spring 2015.

[44][45][46] There is also employment found in the agricultural sector, with Circle D Manufacturing, Hillsboro Industries, Ag Service, Cooperative Grain and Supply, and Country Side Feed.

In 2009, Tabor College built a new football complex that is shared with Hillsboro High School.

[51] The city is served by the Hillsboro Public Library at 120 East Grand Avenue.

Alfred Schroeder Field airport, FAA:M66,[57] is located immediately adjacent to the west of the fair grounds.