Gray County, Kansas

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Gray County
County
Former Gray County courthouse in Cimarron (2015)
Former Gray County courthouse in Cimarron (2015)
Map of Kansas highlighting Gray County
Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
Map of the United States highlighting Kansas
Kansas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°44′00″N 100°25′59″W / 37.7333°N 100.433°W / 37.7333; -100.433
Country United States
State Kansas
FoundedMarch 13, 1881
Named forAlfred Gray
SeatCimarron
Largest cityCimarron
Area
 • Total869 sq mi (2,250 km2)
 • Land869 sq mi (2,250 km2)
 • Water0.4 sq mi (1 km2)  0.05%%
Population
 (2020)[1]
 • Total5,653
 • Density6.5/sq mi (2.5/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district1st
WebsiteGrayCo.org

Gray County (county code GY) is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 5,653.[1] Its county seat and most populous city is Cimarron.[2]

History[]

Gray County was founded in 1881 and named for Alfred Gray.[3] Between 1887 and 1893, a county seat war took place in Gray County that involved several notable Old West figures, such as Bat Masterson, Bill Tilghman, and Ben Daniels. As a result of the dispute, Cimarron became the permanent county seat of Gray County.[4]

Geography[]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 869 square miles (2,250 km2), of which 869 square miles (2,250 km2) is land and 0.4 square miles (1.0 km2) (0.05%) is water.[5]

Since 2001, NextEra Energy Resources has operated the largest wind farm in Kansas—170 turbines with a generating capacity of 110 megawatts—on a 12,000-acre (49 km2) site near Montezuma.[6]

Adjacent counties[]

Demographics[]

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18902,415—
19001,264−47.7%
19103,121146.9%
19204,71150.9%
19306,21131.8%
19404,773−23.2%
19504,8942.5%
19604,380−10.5%
19704,5163.1%
19805,13813.8%
19905,3965.0%
20005,9049.4%
20106,0061.7%
20205,653−5.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790–1960[8] 1900–1990[9]
1990–2000[10] 2010–2020[1]
Population pyramid

As of the 2000 census,[11] there were 5,904 people, 2,045 households, and 1,556 families residing in the county. The population density was 7 people per square mile (3/km2). There were 2,181 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile (1/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 92.31% White, 0.46% Native American, 0.19% Black or African American, 0.10% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 5.42% from other races, and 1.46% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.81% of the population.

There were 2,045 households, out of which 42.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.70% were married couples living together, 5.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.90% were non-families. 21.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.82 and the average family size was 3.31.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 31.60% under the age of 18, 8.30% from 18 to 24, 27.30% from 25 to 44, 20.20% from 45 to 64, and 12.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 100.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $40,000, and the median income for a family was $45,299. Males had a median income of $31,519 versus $21,563 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,632. About 6.50% of families and 9.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.80% of those under age 18 and 8.00% of those age 65 or over.

Religion[]

Gray County has by far the highest percentage of adherents of the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite in the US. There were 1,032 members of the Church in Gray County in 2010, which is 17.18% of the population. It is the largest Church in the county.[12]

Government[]

Presidential elections[]

Gray county is often carried easily by Republican candidates. The last time a Democratic candidate carried this county was in 1976 by Jimmy Carter.

Presidential Elections Results

Laws[]

Although the Kansas Constitution was amended in 1986 to allow the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with the approval of voters, Gray County has remained a prohibition, or "dry", county.[14]

Education[]

Unified school districts[]

Communities[]

2005 KDOT Map of Gray County (map legend)

Cities and Towns[]

Unincorporated communities[]

Townships[]

Gray County is divided into seven townships. None of the cities within the county are considered governmentally independent, and all figures for the townships include those of the cities. In the following table, the population center is the largest city (or cities) included in that township's population total, if it is of a significant size.

Township FIPS Population
center 		Population Population
density
/km2 (/sq mi) 		Land area
km2 (sq mi)		 Water area
km2 (sq mi)		 Water % Geographic coordinates
Cimarron 13300 Cimarron 2,379 9 (24) 254 (98) 0 (0) 0.03% 37°48′22″N 100°20′52″W / 37.80611°N 100.34778°W / 37.80611; -100.34778
Copeland 15500 Copeland 540 2 (6) 233 (90) 0 (0) 0.15% 37°33′57″N 100°37′14″W / 37.56583°N 100.62056°W / 37.56583; -100.62056
East Hess 19525 372 1 (3) 281 (108) 0 (0) 0.03% 37°37′45″N 100°15′39″W / 37.62917°N 100.26083°W / 37.62917; -100.26083
Foote 23675 126 0 (1) 310 (120) 0 (0) 0.02% 37°55′44″N 100°20′46″W / 37.92889°N 100.34611°W / 37.92889; -100.34611
Ingalls 34250 646 2 (5) 349 (135) 0 (0) 0.03% 37°47′43″N 100°30′23″W / 37.79528°N 100.50639°W / 37.79528; -100.50639
Logan 41900 216 1 (2) 309 (119) 0 (0) 0.04% 37°55′20″N 100°33′52″W / 37.92222°N 100.56444°W / 37.92222; -100.56444
Montezuma 47900 Montezuma 1,625 3 (8) 514 (198) 0 (0) 0.07% 37°35′56″N 100°26′11″W / 37.59889°N 100.43639°W / 37.59889; -100.43639
Sources: "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files". U.S. Census Bureau, Geography Division. Archived from the original on 2002-08-02.

See also[]

  • Dry counties

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c "QuickFacts; Gray County, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 16, 2021. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 142.
  4. ^ "Feudin' and Fightin' Friday: County Seat Wars – Diggin' History". Archived from the original on 2014-04-07. Retrieved 2014-04-06.
  5. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  6. ^ "Gray County Wind Farm". Aquila, Inc. Archived from the original on 2007-06-13. Retrieved 2007-06-02.
  7. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  8. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  9. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  10. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  11. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  12. ^ Association of Religious Data Archives: Church of God in Christ, Mennonite Counties (2010) Retrieved May 2, 2015
  13. ^ http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS
  14. ^ "Map of Wet and Dry Counties". Alcoholic Beverage Control, Kansas Department of Revenue. November 2004. Archived from the original on 2007-10-08. Retrieved 2007-01-21.

Further reading[]

See also: List of books about Kansas, including historical information about its counties and cities
See also: List of books about Santa Fe Trail

External links[]

County
Other
Maps

Coordinates: 37°44′N 100°26′W / 37.733°N 100.433°W / 37.733; -100.433

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