In Observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday, Reno County Offices will be closed Jan. 19, 2026

All Reno County Offices including the Landfill will be closed for the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday on Monday, January 19, 2026.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a U.S. federal holiday created to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (1929–1968), a leader of the modern civil rights movement and a Nobel Peace Prize laureate. It’s observed on the third Monday in January, close to King’s birthday (January 15).

• After King was assassinated on April 4, 1968, supporters quickly began pushing for a national holiday in his honor.

• Over the years, many states and cities began recognizing King in various ways (through state holidays or commemorations), but there was not yet a single federal holiday.

• After years of debate in Congress, legislation creating the holiday was passed. President Ronald Reagan signed the bill into law on November 2, 1983, establishing Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a federal holiday.

• The first official federal observance took place on January 20, 1986.

• Although states varied in their observance, by 2000, all 50 states observed Martin Luther King Jr. Day in some form.

• MLK Day is widely marked with speeches, educational events, marches, and community programs highlighting civil rights history and ongoing equality issues.

• A major modern emphasis is service: it’s often promoted as a “day on, not a day off,” encouraging volunteer work and community improvement efforts.