Founded: 1870, Pop.: (2000) 17190, Elev.: 1,450 Ft.
Named by a group of Santa Fe Railroad stockholders after their hometown of Newton, MA. Located on the Chisholm Trail in Harvey County, (County Seat) and among the smallest counties in the state. Situated southeast of Salina along Hwy 15 near Hutchinson and north of Wichita. Newton is part of the Wichita, Kansas metro area.
Two branches of the Arkansas River run through the county.
With the completion of the railroad line in 1871, came a shift in the cattle trade from Abilene to Newton. Newton became the West's newest cowtown and soon became known as "Bloody and lawless - the wickedest city in the west" enjoying the cowboy reign from June 1871 to January 1873. Completion of the Santa Fe R.R. to Dodge City and a branch to Wichita drew the cowboys to these places, ushering in more peaceful and prosperous times. In 1874 Mennonites came to Newton, bringing Turkey Red hard winter wheat to the area on a large scale.