The City of Cherokee, Kansas was incorporated as a 3rd class city on March 2 , 1874. Cherokee was founded in 1870 by the Missouri River, Fort Scott and Gulf Railroad Company when they extended their line from Fort Scott to Baxter Springs, KS.
The railroad first tried to name the town Colchester and others called it Litchfield until 1874 when Cherokee was incorporated. Cherokee was named due to people believing the town was in Cherokee County. Cherokee became home to many of the Railroad employees and it grew to a population of 800.
The Coal fields surrounding Cherokee covered 300 square miles so many more people came to settle in Cherokee to work the Coal fields. The current population is near 800. The city is located in Crawford County just north of the Cherokee-Crawford County Line and at the intersection of Hwy 7 and Hwy 400.
Cherokee has a Mayor and a 5 member Council . The City Council meets on the 2nd Tuesday of every month at 6:30pm in the Cherokee City Hall and meetings are open to the public.
Cherokee Municipal Court meets on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 6:00pm at the City Hall, 210 S. Vine
Cherokee has a Police Chief and 2 Police officers and Crawford County Fire District #3 Sheridan .
Cherokee is home to Southeast Junior High School , Southeast High School and the USD #247 School Board Office. It has three churches: United Methodist Church, First Baptist Church and the Cherokee Holiness Church.
Cherokee ‘s businesses and amenities are: U.S. Post Office, Labette Bank, Cherokee (Girard Hospital) Clinic, Idle-A-While Bar & Grill, Dollar General, Malle’s Disposal and Petes Convenient Store.
Cherokee also has a Ruritan Club and the American Legion. The City, the Ruritan Club and the American Legion help sponsor activities and events throughout the year.
Cherokee has an annual Homecoming/Fall Festival in September, Friday Night Car Show and Car Cruise during the summer months, City Wide Clean-up and Garage Sale in April & October, Free Community Thanksgiving dinner in November and a Christmas Party for kids in December.
Commodity Food Boxes are distributed on the 3rd Wednesday of each month at the Senior Citizen’s Center, 208 S. Vine (next door to City Hall)
Senior Citizen’s Lunch & meeting is the 3rd Thursday of each month at 11:30am at the Sr. Center (potluck lunch)
Ruritan Club meets on the 4th Wednesday at 6:30pm at the Sr. Center (potluck dinner)