Herington, Kansas is located in the southeast corner of Dickinson County and is associated in history with Father Juan de Padilla, Kansas' first Christian martyr who accompanied the Coronado expedition of 1541. He lost his life in this area trying to convert the local Indians. A monument was erected in the North City Park of Herington to commemorate the tragic event. The park was later named Father Padilla Park.

The City of Herington was named after it's founder, Monroe Davis Herington; who was born April 23, 1843 in Lenawee County, Michigan. His name at birth was Davis Monroe Herrington, however,  he always wanted to be a doctor so he called himself M.D. and dropped the second "r" in his last name, Herington.  Mr. Herington received a warranty deed from the Alioths on August 2, 1880.

Mr. Herington, a widower, had married Jan Waters Parkin, a widow, on June 17, 1880 who had a daughter, Drusilla, and his three children were Monroe Davis Jr., Diana (also called Ena), and Alice.

M. D. Herington was a shrewd businessman. He knew that to build up the virgin land into a city, he would need a railroad running through the town he envisioned. He acquired 30,000 more acres of land and at one time owned 100,000 acres. He gave money for a depot and right-of-way land to the Topeka, Salina and Western Railroad in 1884. In 1885, it became the Missouri Pacific Railroad and was the first railroad to cross near the ranch. The small wooden depot was torn down after passenger service stopped.
 

In World War II, Herington Army Air Field was one of only two fields that processed heavy bombardment crews and equipment staging to the coasts for overseas duty. The field was later turned over to the City of Herington and is currently used as a municipal airport. Also, the City rents or leases several of the buildings at the former base for private industry.

On April 13, 1932 M.D. Herington passed away in Herington, Kansas.

Herington is the hub of the Tri-County area for Dickinson, Morris and Marion Counties. It lies on the Dickinson County side of intersecting lines drawing people from the farming communities, to railroading, agriculture, business and industry.

Flash Forward to the future.  Every July, for the past 68 years, Herington, KS has been the home for the events of the Tri County Free Fair. This fair features; the PRCA Rodeo, a parade, games, food, and carnival rides.

This year, Avid Visual Imagery will have the pleasure of capturing the memories of this Fair, we hope to see you there!