Halstead Map
Halstead is a city in Harvey County, Kansas, United States. Halstead was named in honor of Murat Halstead, a respected Civil War correspondent and newspaper editor. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 2,085.
Founded largely by Russian Mennonite immigrants, the city of Halstead was incorporated in 1877. With the hard red winter wheat (Turkey Red) they brought from Russia, the Mennonites established Halstead as a farming community, and built the Bernard Warkentine Mill at the confluence of the Little Arkansas River and Black Kettle Creek.
Dr. Arthur Hertzler, the "Horse-and-Buggy Doctor," devoted much of his life and energies to the medical environment of Halstead, founding a clinic and hospital for the area residents. An urban legend claims that Dr. Hertzler performed the first appendectomy in town upon himself. The Congregation of the Sisters of St Joseph of Wichita, Kansas, operated the hospital for many years following Dr. Hertzler's death.
Nearby cities include North Newton, Hesston, Moundridge, Valley Center, Colwich.