Established and
garrisoned by the US Army from 1842-1853, soldiers at Fort
Scott assisted with the protection from Indians until the army
abandoned the fort in 1853. The buildings were purchased by
settlers in 1855, and became the center of one of the largest
towns in Kansas Territory.
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Between 1855 and 1861, the citizens of
Fort Scott experienced the violent unrest that preceded the Civil War
on the Kansas and Missouri border. In 1861, Kansas entered the union
as a free state, but the turmoil of "Bleeding Kansas" continued
throughout the Civil War. During that time, Fort Scott became a US
Army district headquarters, quartermaster supply depot, training
center and recruitment station. After the Civil War, Fort Scott was a
premier city of the frontier, one of the largest cities in eastern
Kansas. On 3 different occasions between 1870 and 1900, Fort Scott was
in competition with Kansas City to become the largest railroad center
west of the Mississippi. During the first half of the 20th century,
Fort Scott became the agricultural, small industrial and insurance
center, which it continues to be today. |
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