Rooks County, Kansas, is nestled halfway between Denver and Kansas City. Of the seven communities in Rooks County, I call Stockton home, with a population of around 1,300. I’m proud to be from Rooks County, where generations of my family have worked the land, raised their families and made impressions for years to come.
A huge piece of history sits in the middle of Stockton, the county seat, the Rooks County Courthouse, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Imported marble is located throughout the courthouse that was completed and opened in 1923.
Webster Reservoir and State Park, located 7 miles west of Stockton is a great weekend destination for water lovers, boaters and fishing enthusiast.
The town of Codell was in the news recently. Family members, including me, went to school in Codell, which is close to our family farm. This little town in the southeastern part of the county is famous for a tornado touching down on the same date, May 20, three years in a row, 1916, 1917 and 1918. This year, on the 100th anniversary, a statue was dedicated to Codell that endured so much destruction and loss.
If you had to pick one time of the year to visit Stockton, the second week in August is by far the best! The Rooks County Free Fair, “Fair of Champions,” is one of the longest-running county fairs in the state. For nearly 140 years the fair has brought thousands of people to Stockton for the best entertainment, including livestock shows, motorcycle races, stock car races, demo derby, music, food, exhibits and displays, along with a week long carnival on the midway.
Always home to me…Stockton and Rooks County!
Tammy Cork can be reached at [email protected].
