Sedan, the judicial seat and largest town of Chautauqua county, is located southeast of the center of the county on the Missouri Pacific R. R. and on the Middle Caney river in Sedan township. It has a weekly newspaper (the Times-Star), 2 banks, an ice and cold storage plant, a foundry, machine shops, cigar factory, natural gas for lighting, heating and commercial purposes, all lines of mercantile endeavor, express and telegraph offices, and an international money order postoffice with three rural routes. The population according to the census report of 1910 is 1,211.

A postoffice called Sedan was established at this point in 1871, but was later discontinued for lack of patronage. In 1873 Capt. Ferris established a small store, which proved unprofitable and was discontinued. He was followed by M. C. Webb and C. Tiffin, who started a general merchandise business. At the time the county seat was brought to Sedan in 1875 there was only a store, a postoffice, a blacksmith shop, a district school, and one or two residences. There had been a newspaper called the Wide Awake, published by Joseph Mount, but it was suspended at this time. Immediately upon the location of the county seat at this point, people began pouring in. Business enterprises were moved in from other towns, and tradesmen and professional people came in numbers, so that in a short time the population was several hundred. Kelly & Turner moved the Chautauqua Journal from Elk Falls to Sedan and Mr. Kelly was largely instrumental in keeping the county seat there through promoting the building of a court-house at the expense of those who wished to donate to the purpose. The town was platted by a town company of which L. L. Turner was president.

Sedan became a city of the third class in 1876, and at the election held April 3 of that year, the following officers were chosen: Mayor, A. H. King; clerk, F. P. Addleman; treasurer, J. I. Crouse; attorney, W. H. Tibbits; police judge, G. W. Mullinix; marshal, W. D. Jolley; councilmen, R. S. Turner, J. P. Rhoades, J. W. Sitton, C. S. Tiffin and J. I. Crouse.