Bourbon County, Kansas: History
=== Early history ===
In 1855, Bourbon County was established and named after Bourbon County, Kentucky, due to the significant number of settlers from that region. Its early history is tied to the establishment of Fort Scott in 1842 to manage relations with Indian tribes in the region, in particular with the Osage. The county's first settlers, many of whom were proslavery, faced opposition from free-state advocates, leading to violent confrontations during the Bleeding Kansas era and later during the Civil War, such the Battle of Mine Creek in 1864.
The aftermath of the Civil War brought economic and demographic changes; many ex-soldiers settled in the area, contributing to its agricultural growth. Postwar years saw the railroad's arrival, connecting Bourbon County to broader markets and facilitating the expansion of coalmining and agriculture, particularly wheat, corn, and later, grain sorghum.
Bourbon virus, a new strain of thogotovirus, was first discovered in Bourbon County. In the spring of 2014, an otherwise healthy man was bitten by a tick, contracting the virus and dying 11 days later from organ failure.