Marysville / Marshall Co.

Marysville is the county seat of Marshall County with a population of 3,271.

In 1851, Francis J. (Frank) Marshall of Weston, Missouri arrived on the bank of the Big Blue River, and established a trading post. He also started a rope powered ferry across the Big Blue River, for which he charged up to $5.00 per wagon and 25 cents per head of livestock. The ferry operated until replaced by a bridge in 1864.

On November 11, 1854 Marshall opened the first civilian Post Office in the Territory of Kansas, and Marysville was named to honor Marshal'’s wife Mary.

Marysville is located on the Oregon Trail, the Mormon Trail, and is the first home station on the Pony Express route west of St. Joseph, Missouri. The barn where the ponies were stabled is still standing and is now a museum, and a large bronze statue of a Pony Express horse and rider can be seen in the Pony Express Plaza which is located between Broadway and Highway 36 on 7th Street. You'll also find 2 Lifetiles Murals in the Pony Express Plaza, which are the only ones of their kind in Kansas. The murals are a rare art form that appear as a fixed image when viewed from a stationary position. However, the images appear to depict motion as the viewer moves. Several other trails passed through Marysville including the St. Joe Road, the Overland Stage, The Military Road, and the Otoe-Missouria Trail.

Much of Marysville's prosperity is due to the Union Pacific Railroad. It has been a major employer in the town for nearly 100 years. Over 60 trains still pass through the town daily.

Marysville is also known as the "Black Squirrel City" because of an isolated community of all-black squirrels that make their homes in the town. This profusion of black squirrels in Marysville is a curious phenomenon. The most likely explanation involves a traveling carnival which passed through town in the 1920's and stayed for a few days in the City's park. Among the carnival exhibits was a cage full of black squirrels. One night a child opened the cage and the squirrels escaped. Since then, the squirrels have increased their ranks. Today about 1/5th of Marysville's squirrel population is now black, and the Governing Body of Marysville has passed legislation protecting the black squirrel and making it the Official Town Mascot. It has the freedom to trespass on all City property, immunity from traffic regulations and the first pick of all black walnuts growing within the city. The fine is $25 for harming one.

Helpful websites: expand

Lodging expand

Dining expand

Transportation expand

 

The information listed above has been supplied by other entities. It has not been verified by the website developers, Manhattan Regional Airport, the City of Manhattan, or the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce. This information is provided as a service to the website users. Manhattan Regional Airport, the City of Manhattan, the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce, and the developers of this site cannot be held liable for any inaccuracies found on this site.

 

 

 

Receive news and special offers
Terms & Conditions

www.flyMHK.com was created by:

ImagemakersS&N DesignManhattan Advertising