Coronado, Kansas

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Coronado, now a siding on the Union Pacific railroad in Wichita County, Kansas, was once a thriving community. Platted in 1885, Coronado was involved in the bloodiest county seat fight in the history of the American West. The shoot-out on February 27, 1887, with boosters—some would say hired gunmen—from nearby Leoti left several people dead and wounded. Afterwards numerous famous lawmen from Dodge City gathered to calm the storm that ensued after the bloody fight. A small town called Farmer City which was located between Coronado and Leoti, was hoped by some to become the county seat--which would end the fighting. Leoti later won the right to become the county seat and now the other two towns consist mainly of farmland.

The Lawmen of Dodge City in Coronado after the county seat fight. Standing, LtoR: Luke Short, Ed Masterson, J.C. Ford,?,?, Doc Holliday, Bat Masterson, Bill Tilghman, Red Loomis, Wyatt Earp, Virgil Earp, and James Earp. Seated, LtoR: W.S. Place,?,?,?,?.