Broderick County, one of the counties of Kansas territory, was created Feb. 7, 1859, and named in honor of David Broderick, United States senator from California. It included territory now within the State of Colorado, and was bounded as follows: "Commencing at the point where the 104th meridian of longitude crosses the thirty-eighth parallel of latitude, and running from thence due west to a point 20 miles west of the 105th meridian of longitude; thence due north to a point 20 miles south of the thirty-ninth parallel of latitude; thence due east to the 104th meridian of longitude; thence due south to the place of beginning." Simon G. Gephart, W. Walter and Charles Nichols were appointed commissioners with authority to locate the seat of justice near the center of the county.