Washington County, Kansas

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Not to be confused with Washington, Kansas.
Washington County
County
Washington County Courthouse in Washington (2015)
Washington County Courthouse in Washington (2015)
Map of Kansas highlighting Washington County
Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
Map of the United States highlighting Kansas
Kansas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 39°48′N 97°06′W / 39.8°N 97.1°W / 39.8; -97.1
Country United States
State Kansas
FoundedFebruary 20, 1857
Named forGeorge Washington
SeatWashington
Largest cityWashington
Area
 • Total899 sq mi (2,330 km2)
 • Land895 sq mi (2,320 km2)
 • Water3.9 sq mi (10 km2)  0.4%
Population
 (2020)[1]
 • Total5,530
 • Density6.2/sq mi (2.4/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district1st
WebsiteWashingtonCountyKS.gov

Washington County (standard abbreviation: WS) is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 5,530.[1] Its county seat and largest city is Washington.[2]

History[]

Early history[]

See also: History of Kansas

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 1857, Washington County was established.

21st century[]

In 2010, the Keystone-Cushing Pipeline (Phase II) was constructed north to south through Washington County, with much controversy over tax exemption and environmental concerns (if a leak ever does occur).[3][4]

Geography[]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 899 square miles (2,330 km2), of which 895 square miles (2,320 km2) is land and 3.9 square miles (10 km2) (0.4%) is water.[5]

Adjacent counties[]

Demographics[]

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1860383—
18704,081965.5%
188014,910265.4%
189022,89453.5%
190021,963−4.1%
191020,229−7.9%
192017,984−11.1%
193017,112−4.8%
194015,921−7.0%
195012,977−18.5%
196010,739−17.2%
19709,249−13.9%
19808,543−7.6%
19907,073−17.2%
20006,483−8.3%
20105,799−10.6%
20205,530−4.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2020[1]
Age pyramid

As of the census[10] of 2000, there were 6,483 people, 2,673 households, and 1,780 families residing in the county. The population density was 7 people per square mile (3/km2). There were 3,142 housing units at an average density of 4 per square mile (1/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.90% White, 0.11% Black or African American, 0.34% Native American, 0.05% Asian, 0.09% from other races, and 0.51% from two or more races. 0.65% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,673 households, out of which 26.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.40% were married couples living together, 4.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.40% were non-families. 31.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.70% under the age of 18, 5.40% from 18 to 24, 22.90% from 25 to 44, 23.00% from 45 to 64, and 25.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 100.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,363, and the median income for a family was $37,260. Males had a median income of $25,074 versus $18,000 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,515. About 7.30% of families and 10.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.20% of those under age 18 and 12.40% of those age 65 or over.

Government[]

Presidential elections[]

Presidential Elections Results

Washington County is overwhelmingly Republican. No Democratic presidential candidate has won Washington County since Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1932, and Roosevelt remains the solitary Democrat to ever win a majority in the county. Since 1940 only Lyndon Johnson in 1964 has reached forty percent of Washington County's vote for the Democratic Party.

Laws[]

Washington 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 percent food sales requirement.[12]

Education[]

The county is served by:

School district office in neighboring county
  • Clifton-Clyde USD 224

Communities[]

2005 KDOT Map of Washington County from KDOT (map legend)

Cities[]

Unincorporated community[]

Townships[]

Washington County is divided into twenty-five townships. The city of Washington is considered governmentally independent and is excluded from the census figures for the townships. 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.

Sources: 2000 U.S. Gazetteer from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Township FIPS Population
center 		Population Population
density
/km2 (/sq mi) 		Land area
km2 (sq mi)		 Water area
km2 (sq mi)		 Water % Geographic coordinates
Barnes 04275 233 3 (6) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0% 39°41′59″N 96°51′41″W / 39.69972°N 96.86139°W / 39.69972; -96.86139
Brantford 08250 91 1 (3) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0% 39°42′0″N 97°19′19″W / 39.70000°N 97.32194°W / 39.70000; -97.32194
Charleston 12625 99 1 (3) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0.03% 39°52′36″N 96°58′54″W / 39.87667°N 96.98167°W / 39.87667; -96.98167
Clifton 14225 459 5 (13) 94 (36) 0 (0) 0% 39°35′19″N 97°18′11″W / 39.58861°N 97.30306°W / 39.58861; -97.30306
Coleman 14750 64 1 (2) 94 (36) 0 (0) 0% 39°46′39″N 97°11′24″W / 39.77750°N 97.19000°W / 39.77750; -97.19000
Farmington 23275 192 2 (5) 94 (36) 0 (0) 0% 39°51′52″N 97°6′1″W / 39.86444°N 97.10028°W / 39.86444; -97.10028
Franklin 24525 139 2 (4) 92 (36) 0 (0) 0.24% 39°57′33″N 96°59′20″W / 39.95917°N 96.98889°W / 39.95917; -96.98889
Grant 28175 25 0 (1) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0% 39°46′24″N 97°19′21″W / 39.77333°N 97.32250°W / 39.77333; -97.32250
Greenleaf 28650 450 5 (13) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0% 39°42′33″N 96°59′5″W / 39.70917°N 96.98472°W / 39.70917; -96.98472
Haddam 29425 246 3 (7) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0% 39°51′51″N 97°18′28″W / 39.86417°N 97.30778°W / 39.86417; -97.30778
Hanover 29900 884 9 (25) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0.05% 39°52′54″N 96°52′10″W / 39.88167°N 96.86944°W / 39.88167; -96.86944
Highland 32025 22 0 (1) 92 (36) 0 (0) 0.45% 39°57′16″N 97°5′30″W / 39.95444°N 97.09167°W / 39.95444; -97.09167
Independence 33950 169 2 (5) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0.03% 39°57′28″N 96°51′50″W / 39.95778°N 96.86389°W / 39.95778; -96.86389
Kimeo 36850 75 1 (2) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0% 39°36′11″N 96°57′57″W / 39.60306°N 96.96583°W / 39.60306; -96.96583
Lincoln 41250 84 1 (2) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0% 39°37′2″N 96°51′12″W / 39.61722°N 96.85333°W / 39.61722; -96.85333
Linn 41450 599 6 (17) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0.03% 39°41′5″N 97°5′16″W / 39.68472°N 97.08778°W / 39.68472; -97.08778
Little Blue 41500 93 1 (3) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0.09% 39°46′38″N 96°51′59″W / 39.77722°N 96.86639°W / 39.77722; -96.86639
Logan 42300 109 1 (3) 92 (36) 0 (0) 0.05% 39°47′11″N 96°57′56″W / 39.78639°N 96.96556°W / 39.78639; -96.96556
Lowe 43025 76 1 (2) 92 (36) 0 (0) 0% 39°57′29″N 97°12′5″W / 39.95806°N 97.20139°W / 39.95806; -97.20139
Mill Creek 46750 274 3 (8) 94 (36) 0 (0) 0% 39°52′4″N 97°11′20″W / 39.86778°N 97.18889°W / 39.86778; -97.18889
Sheridan 64775 119 1 (3) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0% 39°37′3″N 97°11′19″W / 39.61750°N 97.18861°W / 39.61750; -97.18861
Sherman 65125 249 3 (7) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0% 39°37′2″N 97°6′3″W / 39.61722°N 97.10083°W / 39.61722; -97.10083
Strawberry 68550 130 1 (4) 94 (36) 0 (0) 0% 39°41′32″N 97°12′30″W / 39.69222°N 97.20833°W / 39.69222; -97.20833
Union 72475 161 2 (5) 92 (36) 0 (0) 0.04% 39°57′58″N 97°19′30″W / 39.96611°N 97.32500°W / 39.96611; -97.32500
Washington 75850 218 2 (6) 91 (35) 0 (0) 0.04% 39°47′12″N 97°4′38″W / 39.78667°N 97.07722°W / 39.78667; -97.07722

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c "QuickFacts; Washington County, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 21, 2021. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ^ Keystone Pipeline - Marion County Commission calls out Legislative Leadership on Pipeline Deal; April 18, 2010. Archived October 22, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ Keystone Pipeline - TransCanada inspecting pipeline; December 10, 2010.
  5. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  6. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  7. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  8. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  9. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  10. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  11. ^ http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS
  12. ^ "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.

Further reading[]

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

External links[]

County
Maps

Coordinates: 39°48′N 97°06′W / 39.800°N 97.100°W / 39.800; -97.100

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