Woodson County, Kansas

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Woodson County
County
Woodson County Courthouse in Yates Center
Woodson County Courthouse in Yates Center
Map of Kansas highlighting Woodson 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°50′34″N 95°43′28″W / 37.8428°N 95.7244°W / 37.8428; -95.7244
Country United States
State Kansas
Founded1855
Named forDaniel Woodson
SeatYates Center
Largest cityYates Center
Area
 • Total505 sq mi (1,310 km2)
 • Land498 sq mi (1,290 km2)
 • Water7.4 sq mi (19 km2)  1.5%
Population
 (2020)[1]
 • Total3,115
 • Density6.3/sq mi (2.4/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district2nd
WebsiteWoodsonCounty.net

Woodson County (standard abbreviation: WO) is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 3,115.[1] Its county seat is Yates Center.[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 1855, Woodson County was established. Fort Belmont was used during the Civil War and had received refugees from the Trail of Blood on Ice. Opothleyahola is buried in an unmarked grave next to his daughter who died at the fort.

Geography[]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 505 square miles (1,310 km2), of which 498 square miles (1,290 km2) is land and 7.4 square miles (19 km2) (1.5%) is water.[3]

Adjacent counties[]

Demographics[]

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18601,488—
18703,827157.2%
18806,53570.8%
18909,02138.0%
190010,02211.1%
19109,450−5.7%
19208,984−4.9%
19308,526−5.1%
19408,014−6.0%
19506,711−16.3%
19605,423−19.2%
19704,789−11.7%
19804,600−3.9%
19904,116−10.5%
20003,788−8.0%
20103,309−12.6%
20203,115−5.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[4]
1790-1960[5] 1900-1990[6]
1990-2000[7] 2010-2020[1]
Age pyramid

As of the census[8] of 2000, there were 3,788 people, 1,642 households, and 1,052 families residing in the county. The population density was 8 people per square mile (3/km2). There were 2,076 housing units at an average density of 4 per square mile (2/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 96.96% White, 0.82% Black or African American, 0.87% Native American, 0.05% Asian, 0.24% from other races, and 1.06% from two or more races. 1.37% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,642 households, out of which 25.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.80% were married couples living together, 7.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.90% were non-families. 33.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.83.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 21.70% under the age of 18, 7.40% from 18 to 24, 22.10% from 25 to 44, 23.90% from 45 to 64, and 24.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 96.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $25,335, and the median income for a family was $31,369. Males had a median income of $23,950 versus $16,135 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,283. About 10.20% of families and 13.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.20% of those under age 18 and 13.20% of those age 65 or over.

Government[]

Presidential elections[]

Presidential election results

Woodson County is powerfully Republican. The only Democrat to win a majority in the county was Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1932, although Woodrow Wilson won a plurality in 1912. In contrast, Charles Evans Hughes in 1916 & George H.W. Bush in 1992 are the only Republican winners of the county who only managed to win a plurality of its votes.

Education[]

Unified school districts[]

Communities[]

Cities[]

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

Census-designated place[]

Other unincorporated communities[]

Ghost towns[]

  • Defiance - located six miles east of Yates Center, its population moved to Yates Center after it was selected as the permanent county seat in 1876[10]
  • Kalida - located two miles south of Yates Center, its population moved to Yates Center after it was selected as the permanent county seat in 1876[10]

Townships[]

Woodson County is divided into six townships. The city of Yates Center 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
Center 12250 594 1 (4) 410 (158) 1 (0) 0.23% 37°50′35″N 95°43′29″W / 37.84306°N 95.72472°W / 37.84306; -95.72472
Liberty 40375 200 1 (2) 223 (86) 1 (0) 0.26% 37°59′18″N 95°43′47″W / 37.98833°N 95.72972°W / 37.98833; -95.72972
Neosho Falls 49850 537 3 (7) 196 (76) 1 (0) 0.38% 37°57′30″N 95°33′54″W / 37.95833°N 95.56500°W / 37.95833; -95.56500
North 51025 71 0 (1) 167 (64) 0 (0) 0.11% 37°59′50″N 95°53′19″W / 37.99722°N 95.88861°W / 37.99722; -95.88861
Perry 55475 103 1 (2) 127 (49) 0 (0) 0.08% 37°46′18″N 95°35′24″W / 37.77167°N 95.59000°W / 37.77167; -95.59000
Toronto 71075 684 4 (11) 167 (64) 10 (4) 5.40% 37°47′52″N 95°55′37″W / 37.79778°N 95.92694°W / 37.79778; -95.92694

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c "QuickFacts; Woodson 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. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  4. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  5. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  6. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  7. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  8. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  9. ^ http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS
  10. ^ Jump up to: a b "WOODSON COUNTY, KANSAS COUNTY HISTORY". genealogytrails.com. Retrieved 18 September 2017.

Further reading[]

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

External links[]

County
Maps

Coordinates: 37°53′N 95°44′W / 37.883°N 95.733°W / 37.883; -95.733

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