Ellis, Kansas, USA

Ellis County is a county in north-central Kansas with Hays as its seat and largest city. Established in 1867, it developed along rail routes that drew settlers to the central High Plains. Immigrants from the Russian Empire founded several communities in the 1870s, leaving a Volga German heritage visible in local churches and festivals. Prairie and wheat fields surround Hays and smaller towns, including Ellis and Victoria. Fort Hays State University and historic sites add educational and cultural activity to the county’s agricultural setting.