Larned is the county seat of Pawnee County, Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 4,054. The town of Larned was laid out in 1873 with the first post office established in 1872. The city drew its name from nearby Fort Larned, which operated from 1859 to 1878, and named for Colonel Benjamin F. Larned, U.S. Army Paymaster from July 1854 to his death September 6, 1862.
A Little Bit Of History....
The county seat of Pawnee County Larned was built on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad at the confluence of the Pawnee and the Arkansas Rivers. Named for nearby Fort Larned, it was laid out in December, 1873 on land granted by Jerry Toles and John W. and Mary Adams. John Adams became the president of the Larned Town Company. Soon, his wife's parents, Reverend and Mrs. Charles Sturdevant, joined them. The pastor would later become one of the first ministers of Larned's Presbyterian Church. The first home in Larned was constructed by Captain Henry Booth who had been serving as the postmaster at Fort Larned since 1869. When Larned was formed, he resigned his position as postmaster and with several other people, was instrumental in establishing the new settlement. The first newspaper was established by W. C. Tompkinson called the Larned Press. 
(Picture of Broadway Street in Larned Kansas around 1900)
A number of new additions in the next five years marked the growth of the town. In less than ten years it was an incorporated city of the third class with about 50 business establishments. Several churches were established including two Baptist Churches (one for African-Americans and one for whites,) a Methodist Church, two Presbyterian organizations and others.
In the meantime, several other newspapers were established including the Larned Republican in 1876, which was published for about a year, the Pawnee County Herald, beginning in January, 1877, which lasted until November, 1878 when it was merged with the Larned Optic. In April, 1878, the Larned Press was merged into the Enterprise, with Henry Inman, one of the most best journalists of the state as its editor. By 1883, it had changed its name to the Chronoscope.
In the 1880s, Larned had several good hotels, four grain dealers, five dry-goods houses, four grocery stores, three druggists, two hardware stores, three jewelry establishments, two boot and shoe dealers, two blacksmiths, two wagon makers, two meat markets, two lumber dealers, three livery stables, two harness and saddle makers, six confectioners and bakers, two banks, two barbers, three coal dealers, five physicians, four attorneys, two tailors, two millinery establishments, and three real estate and insurance agents. Several larger enterprises also existed including the Larned Broom Factory and the Larned Pottery Company.
Please visit our City Website and Larned Area Chamber of Commerce. We will glad to answer any questions you may have.