 thumb|right|1915-1918 railroad map of rice county thumb|right|samuel allen rice in 1864  rice county (standard abbreviation: rc) is a county located in the u.s. state of kansas. as of the 2010 census, the county population was 10,083. the largest city and county seat is lyons. the county was named in memory of samuel allen rice, brigadier-general, united states volunteers, killed april 30, 1864, at jenkins ferry, arkansas. ==history== ===19th century=== for millennia, the land now known as kansas was inhabited by native americans. in 1803, most of modern kansas was secured by the united states as part of the louisiana purchase. in 1854, the kansas territory was organized, then in 1861 kansas became the 34th u.s. state. in 1867, rice county was founded. the santa fe trail followed the route of present day u.s. route 56. ruts in the earth from the trail are still visible in several locations. (ralph's ruts are visible in aerial photos at .) in 1878, atchison, topeka and santa fe railway and parties from marion county and mcpherson county chartered the marion and mcpherson railway company.marion county kansas : past and present; sondra van meter; mb publishing house; lccn 72-92041; 344 pages; 1972. in 1879, a branch line was built from florence to mcpherson, in 1880 it was extended to lyons, i
1867_establishments_in_Kansas Kansas_counties Populated_places_established_in_1867 Rice_County,_Kansas