Founded: 1872, Population: (2000) 3,012, Elevation: 2,300 ft.
Norton is located in Norton County (of which it is the county seat), between Oberlin and Phillipsburg and along US-Hwy 36 near Keith Sebelius Lake. A railroad still serves Norton as well. Norton County and the city of Norton were named in memory of Orloff Norton, Civil War Captain of Company L, Fifteenth Kansas Cavalry, killed by guerillas at Cane Hill, Ark., October 29, 1865.
The Norton Wildlife Area, (6,500 acres), offers a variety of outdoor recreation around the lake including swimming, boating, camping, hunting, and wildlife watching. Prairie Dog State Park near Norton has an adobe house and the 1886 Hillmon school in addition to lots of Prairie Dogs. This community also hosts a daily newspaper, the Norton Daily Telegram, a fine museum, The Norton County Historical Society, and is home to the Northwest Kansas Library System.