The City of Russell, which is the county seat of Russell County, was incorporated in 1872. Russell is a city of the second class and is the largest city in the county with a population of 4280 as of July 2006. City government is a Mayor-Council-Manager form consisting of a Mayor elected at large, and eight Council members elected from four wards within the City, and a City Manager. Russell is located approximately 60 miles west of Salina, 35 miles north of Great Bend, and 25 miles east of Hays. The City has excellent transportation facilities provided by. Highway 40, 281 and Interstate 70. Rail service is provided by Union Pacific Railroads, and the City maintains a modern airport with a 5,500 ft. concrete surfaced and lighted runway, taxiway and parking apron.  The City owns and operates an electric generating and distribution system for a fifty square mile area, water transmission, distribution and treatment systems and sanitary sewer distribution and treatment system, approximately 48 miles of paved streets, a library, the Deines Cultural Center and 160 acres of city parks, which includes the Municipal Golf Course.  The economy of Russell and Russell County is primarily agriculture with some wheat gluten and ethanol manufacturing facilities in the Industrial Park. Russell County is one of the leading counties in the production of oil in the state of Kansas.