Jefferson County, Kansas

Jefferson County
Jefferson County
County
	Jefferson County Courthouse in Oskaloosa (1971)
	Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
	Kansas's location within the U.S.
	Coordinates: 39°13′00″N 95°24′00″W / 39.2167°N 95.4°W
Country	United States
State	Kansas
Founded	August 25, 1855
Named for	Thomas Jefferson
Seat	Oskaloosa
Largest city	Valley Falls
Area
• Total	557 sq mi (1,440 km2)
• Land	533 sq mi (1,380 km2)
• Water	24 sq mi (60 km2) 4.3%%
Population (2020)
• Total	18,368
• Density	34.5/sq mi (13.3/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	2nd
Website	jfcountyks.com

Jefferson County (county code JF) is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. At the 2020 census, the county population was 18,368.^[1] Its county seat is Oskaloosa,^[2] and its most populous city is Valley Falls.

History[]

Early history[]

For many millennia, the Great Plains of North America was inhabited by nomadic Native Americans. From the 16th century to 18th century, the Kingdom of France claimed ownership of large parts of North America. In 1762, after the French and Indian War, France secretly ceded New France to Spain, per the Treaty of Fontainebleau.

19th century[]

In 1802, Spain returned most of the land to France, but keeping title to about 7,500 square miles. In 1803, most of the land for modern day Kansas was acquired by the United States from France as part of the 828,000 square mile Louisiana Purchase for 2.83 cents per acre.

In 1854, the Kansas Territory was organized, then in 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state. In 1855, Jefferson County was established, and was named for President Thomas Jefferson.^[3] Settlement of the county was slowed by events prior to and during the Civil War, but the present day unincorporated community of Thompsonville (3 miles northwest of Perry on the Delaware River) was the first established in 1851 by Mormon settlers who initially refused to accompany the main group led by Brigham Young to the Salt Lake Valley. The settlement was first abandoned due to the violence resulting from the border wars, but was re-established when the Civil War ended.^{[citation needed]}

Geography[]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 557 square miles (1,440 km²), of which 533 square miles (1,380 km²) is land and 2.4 square miles (6.2 km²) (4.3%) is water.^[4]

Adjacent counties[]

Atchison County (north)
Leavenworth County (east)
Douglas County (south)
Shawnee County (southwest)
Jackson County (northwest)

Demographics[]

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1860	4,459	—
1870	12,526	180.9%
1880	15,563	24.2%
1890	16,620	6.8%
1900	17,533	5.5%
1910	15,826	−9.7%
1920	14,750	−6.8%
1930	14,129	−4.2%
1940	12,718	−10.0%
1950	11,084	−12.8%
1960	11,252	1.5%
1970	11,945	6.2%
1980	15,207	27.3%
1990	15,905	4.6%
2000	18,426	15.9%
2010	19,126	3.8%
2020	18,368	−4.0%
U.S. Decennial Census^[5] 1790-1960^[6] 1900-1990^[7] 1990-2000^[8] 2010-2020^[1]

Population pyramid

Jefferson County is included in the Topeka, KS Metropolitan Statistical Area.

At the 2000 Census, there were 18,426 people, 6,830 households and 5,190 families residing in the county. The population density was 34 per square mile (13/km²). There were 7,491 housing units at an average density of 14 per square mile (5/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 96.70% White, 0.92% Native American, 0.37% Black or African American, 0.17% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.42% from other races, and 1.41% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.28% of the population.

There were 6,830 households, of which 35.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.20% were married couples living together, 7.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.00% were non-families. 20.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.07.

27.40% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.00% from 18 to 24, 28.00% from 25 to 44, 24.90% from 45 to 64, and 12.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.90 males.

The median household income was $45,535 and the median family income was $50,557. Males had a median income of $36,174 compared with $25,468 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,373. About 5.30% of families and 6.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.90% of those under age 18 and 7.70% of those age 65 or over.

Government[]

Presidential elections[]

show

Presidential Elections Results

Like all of Kansas outside the eastern cities, Jefferson County is a Republican stronghold, having not been won by a Democrat since Lyndon Johnson’s 1964 landslide – although it was one of three Kansas counties to give a plurality to Ross Perot in 1992.

Laws[]

Jefferson County was a prohibition, or "dry", county until the Kansas Constitution was amended in 1986 and voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with a 30% food sales requirement.^[10]

Education[]

Unified school districts[]

Communities[]

2005 KDOT Map of Jefferson County (map legend)

Cities[]

Census-designated place[]

Grantville

Other unincorporated communities[]

Townships[]

Jefferson County is divided into twelve 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
Delaware	17425	Valley Falls	2,034	9 (23)	229 (88)	0 (0)	0.11%	39°21′6″N 95°28′31��W / 39.35167°N 95.47528°W / 39.35167; -95.47528
Fairview	22525	Rural Ozawkie	1,510	22 (56)	70 (27)	20 (8)	22.20%	39°10′49″N 95°26′50″W / 39.18028°N 95.44722°W / 39.18028; -95.44722
Jefferson	35250	Winchester	1,240	8 (21)	151 (58)	0 (0)	0.24%	39°19′37″N 95°16′11″W / 39.32694°N 95.26972°W / 39.32694; -95.26972
Kaw	36125	Grantville	1,409	16 (43)	86 (33)	2 (1)	1.78%	39°5′41″N 95°32′55″W / 39.09472°N 95.54861°W / 39.09472; -95.54861
Kentucky	36575	Perry	1,576	17 (44)	93 (36)	14 (5)	13.18%	39°5′18″N 95°24′42″W / 39.08833°N 95.41167°W / 39.08833; -95.41167
Norton	51475	Nortonville	955	9 (25)	101 (39)	0 (0)	0.30%	39°24′13″N 95°18′47″W / 39.40361°N 95.31306°W / 39.40361; -95.31306
Oskaloosa	53400	Oskaloosa	2,142	14 (37)	149 (58)	0 (0)	0.17%	39°13′12″N 95°18′58″W / 39.22000°N 95.31611°W / 39.22000; -95.31611
Ozawkie	53950	Ozawkie	1,408	15 (38)	97 (37)	14 (5)	12.74%	39°14′32″N 95°26′3″W / 39.24222°N 95.43417°W / 39.24222; -95.43417
Rock Creek	60575	Meriden	2,718	19 (50)	140 (54)	1 (1)	0.92%	39°12′52″N 95°32′58″W / 39.21444°N 95.54944°W / 39.21444; -95.54944
Rural	61700	Williamstown	804	10 (25)	82 (32)	1 (0)	1.14%	39°4′31″N 95°18′52″W / 39.07528°N 95.31444°W / 39.07528; -95.31444
Sarcoxie	63100	Rural Lawrence	958	12 (31)	80 (31)	0 (0)	0.45%	39°5′13″N 95°14′50″W / 39.08694°N 95.24722°W / 39.08694; -95.24722
Union	72150	McLouth	1,672	15 (39)	111 (43)	0 (0)	0.30%	39°12′41″N 95°12′26″W / 39.21139°N 95.20722°W / 39.21139; -95.20722
Sources: "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files". U.S. Census Bureau, Geography Division. Archived from the original on 2002-08-02.

Notable people[]

Roger Barker (1903-1990), American environmental psychologist
John Curry (1897–1946), painter
Mary Lowman (1842-1912), first woman in Kansas to be elected mayor with a city council composed entirely of women.
Charles Roberts (1936-), American politician

References[]

^ Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c "QuickFacts; Jefferson County, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 16, 2021. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 168.
^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Archived from the original on 2002-05-27. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on April 26, 2015. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
^ http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS
^ "Map of Wet and Dry Counties". Alcoholic Beverage Control, Kansas Department of Revenue. November 2006. Archived from the original on 2007-10-08. Retrieved 2007-12-28.

Notes

^ This comprises 1,973 votes (48.6%) were for Populist James B. Weaver (who was supported by the state’s Democrats) and 57 votes (1.4%) for Prohibition Party candidate John Bidwell.

External links[]

County

Maps

Jefferson County Maps: Current, Historic, KDOT
Kansas Highway Maps: Current, Historic, KDOT
Kansas Railroad Maps: Current, 1996, 1915, KDOT and Kansas Historical Society

Coordinates: 39°13′N 95°24′W / 39.217°N 95.400°W / 39.217; -95.400

[QF-1] Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c "QuickFacts; Jefferson County, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 16, 2021. Retrieved August 16, 2021.

[GR6-2] "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. 168.

[GR1-4] "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Archived from the original on 2002-05-27. Retrieved 2011-04-23.

[5] "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on April 26, 2015. Retrieved July 26, 2014.

[6] "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 26, 2014.

[7] "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 26, 2014.

[8] "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 26, 2014.

[9] ttp://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS

[11] "Map of Wet and Dry Counties". Alcoholic Beverage Control, Kansas Department of Revenue. November 2006. Archived from the original on 2007-10-08. Retrieved 2007-12-28.

[10] This comprises 1,973 votes (48.6%) were for Populist James B. Weaver (who was supported by the state’s Democrats) and 57 votes (1.4%) for Prohibition Party candidate John Bidwell.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[a]

[10]

Year	Republican	Democratic	Third Parties
2020	64.8% 6,334	32.7% 3,194	2.6% 254
2016	62.5% 5,213	30.2% 2,518	7.3% 606
2012	60.2% 4,827	37.2% 2,977	2.6% 209
2008	58.3% 5,220	39.6% 3,542	2.1% 188
2004	61.5% 5,408	37.0% 3,253	1.5% 132
2000	56.2% 4,423	38.1% 3,000	5.8% 454
1996	49.3% 3,781	36.0% 2,757	14.7% 1,130
1992	33.0% 2,569	32.6% 2,538	34.4% 2,673
1988	55.5% 3,605	43.3% 2,810	1.2% 77
1984	68.9% 4,524	30.3% 1,990	0.8% 49
1980	64.6% 4,046	28.4% 1,776	7.0% 441
1976	55.1% 3,225	42.2% 2,470	2.7% 156
1972	72.7% 3,679	24.4% 1,237	2.9% 145
1968	56.6% 2,781	27.6% 1,355	15.9% 779
1964	53.1% 2,380	46.1% 2,066	0.9% 39
1960	65.7% 3,353	34.1% 1,739	0.2% 9
1956	70.2% 3,677	29.3% 1,536	0.4% 22
1952	73.5% 3,980	26.1% 1,411	0.5% 26
1948	59.0% 2,986	39.7% 2,010	1.2% 62
1944	68.7% 3,504	30.9% 1,575	0.4% 19
1940	65.8% 4,330	33.6% 2,212	0.6% 38
1936	54.3% 3,711	45.4% 3,105	0.4% 25
1932	47.4% 2,974	50.8% 3,185	1.8% 112
1928	74.8% 4,810	24.9% 1,601	0.3% 22
1924	72.7% 4,422	21.7% 1,320	5.6% 340
1920	68.9% 3,463	30.5% 1,535	0.6% 31
1916	50.5% 3,174	46.4% 2,919	3.1% 193
1912	29.8% 1,155	39.6% 1,537	30.7% 1,190
1908	55.6% 2,270	42.1% 1,720	2.3% 95
1904	65.3% 2,568	30.5% 1,199	4.3% 168
1900	54.7% 2,374	44.0% 1,912	1.3% 57
1896	50.0% 2,322	49.0% 2,276	1.0% 47
1892	50.0% 2,026		50.0% 2,030^[a]
1888	57.0% 2,268	40.2% 1,601	2.8% 110

hide v t Municipalities and communities of Jefferson County, Kansas, United States
County seat: Oskaloosa
Cities	McLouth Meriden Nortonville Oskaloosa Ozawkie Perry Valley Falls Winchester
Unincorporated communities	Boyle Buck Creek Dunavant Grantville† Half Mound Lakeside Village Medina Mooney Creek Newman Rock Creek Thompsonville Williamstown†
Townships	Delaware Fairview Jefferson Kaw Kentucky Norton Oskaloosa Ozawkie Rock Creek Rural Sarcoxie Union
Footnotes	†This populated place is designated a Census-Designated Place (CDP) by the United States Census Bureau
Kansas portal United States portal

show v t State of Kansas
Topeka (capital)
Topics	Index Geography History Bleeding Kansas Constitutions Timeline Governors Delegations Landmarks People Places Symbols Tourist attractions	Seal of Kansas
Society	Culture Crime Demographics Economy Education Politics
Regions	Cherokee Strip Cross Timbers Dissected Till Plains East Central Four State Area Flint Hills High Plains North Central Osage Plains Ozarks Red Hills Santa Fe Trail Region Smoky Hills Southeast
Largest cities	(1) Wichita (2) Overland Park (3) Kansas City (4) Olathe (5) Topeka (6) Lawrence (7) Shawnee (8) Manhattan (9) Lenexa (10) Salina (11) Hutchinson (12) Leavenworth (13) Leawood (14) Dodge City (15) Garden City (16) Junction City (17) Emporia (18) Derby (19) Prairie Village (20) Liberal (21) Hays (22) Pittsburg (23) Gardner (24) Newton (25) Great Bend (26) McPherson (27) El Dorado (28) Ottawa (29) Winfield (30) Arkansas City (31) Andover (32) Lansing (33) Merriam (34) Atchison (35) Haysville (36) Parsons (37) Coffeyville (38) Mission (39) Independence (40) Augusta (41) Chanute (42) Wellington (43) Fort Scott (44) Park City (45) Bonner Springs (46) Valley Center (47) Pratt (48) Bel Aire (49) Roeland Park (50) Abilene
Counties	Allen Anderson Atchison Barber Barton Bourbon Brown Butler Chase Chautauqua Cherokee Cheyenne Clark Clay Cloud Coffey Comanche Cowley Crawford Decatur Dickinson Doniphan Douglas Edwards Elk Ellis Ellsworth Finney Ford Franklin Geary Gove Graham Grant Gray Greeley Greenwood Hamilton Harper Harvey Haskell Hodgeman Jackson Jefferson Jewell Johnson Kearny Kingman Kiowa Labette Lane Leavenworth Lincoln Linn Logan Lyon Marion Marshall McPherson Meade Miami Mitchell Montgomery Morris Morton Nemaha Neosho Ness Norton Osage Osborne Ottawa Pawnee Phillips Pottawatomie Pratt Rawlins Reno Republic Rice Riley Rooks Rush Russell Saline Scott Sedgwick Seward Shawnee Sheridan Sherman Smith Stafford Stanton Stevens Sumner Thomas Trego Wabaunsee Wallace Washington Wichita Wilson Woodson Wyandotte
Lists	List of counties in Kansas List of townships in Kansas List of cities in Kansas List of unincorporated communities in Kansas List of ghost towns in Kansas Lists of people from Kansas
Kansas portal

show Authority control
General	VIAF 1 WorldCat
National libraries	United States