Cowley County, Kansas, USA
County or equivalent
Location overview
Cowley County is in south-central Kansas, with Winfield as its county seat. Its landscape includes the Flint Hills Uplands and the Arkansas River Lowlands. Established in 1867 and organized in 1870, the county was named for Civil War soldier Matthew Cowley. Rail connections helped Winfield develop into a regional junction, while helium discovered near Dexter in 1903 supplied military and industrial uses. Strother Army Airfield operated in the county during World War II, supporting aircraft training, testing and delivery.