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Kearny County, Kansas

Coordinates: 37°59′N 101°19′W / 37.983°N 101.317°W / 37.983; -101.317
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Kearny County
County
Kearny County Courthouse in Lakin (2015)
Kearny County Courthouse in Lakin (2015)
Map of Kansas highlighting Kearny County
Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
Map of the United States highlighting Kansas
Kansas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 38°00′29″N 101°08′54″W / 38.0081°N 101.1483°W / 38.0081; -101.1483
Country United States
State Kansas
FoundedMarch 20, 1873
Named forPhilip Kearny
SeatLakin
Largest cityLakin
Area
 • Total
871 sq mi (2,260 km2)
 • Land871 sq mi (2,260 km2)
 • Water0.4 sq mi (1 km2)  0.05%
Population
 (2020)[1]
 • Total
3,983
 • Density4.6/sq mi (1.8/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district1st
WebsiteKearnyCountyKansas.com
1893 map of Kansas showing Kearney County spelled with an extra "e"

Kearny County (/ˈkɑːrni/ KAR-nee) is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat and most populous city is Lakin.[2] As of the 2020 census, the county population was 3,983.[1] The county is named in honor of Philip Kearny, a general during the American Civil War that died during the Battle of Chantilly.

History

[edit]
See also: History of Kansas

The original Kearney County was established on March 6, 1873, and was dissolved in 1883, with the land area being split between Hamilton and Finney counties. It was reestablished with its original borders in 1887, and organized on March 27, 1888. The county is named in honor of Philip Kearny,[3] a U.S. Army officer in the Mexican–American War and a Union army general in the American Civil War. In 1889, the name was corrected to Kearny County.[4]

Prior to settlement, Kearny County was unorganized territory that was entirely "cow country," undeveloped and with no agricultural activity except for cattlemen grazing their herds. The region was part of the vast open range found in the American West at that time.[5]

In the mid-1880s, homesteaders began pouring into the area, initiating conflicts with the existing cattle ranching industry as they claimed land and fenced off the open range.[5][6] Towns like Leeser, established in 1885, and Pierceville, est. 1886, were built to service the cattle industry, but disappeared as homesteading displaced the great cattle herds.[6]

The arrival of homesteaders was seen as both an opportunity for development but also a threat to the cattle industry's way of life, with numerous allegations of ranchers trying to drive settlers out by destroying crops and setting prairie fires appearing in local newspapers.[5]

In the 1930s, the prosperity of the area was severely affected by its location within the Dust Bowl. This catastrophe intensified the economic impact of the Great Depression in the region.

Geography

[edit]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 871 square miles (2,260 km2), of which 871 square miles (2,260 km2) is land and 0.4 square miles (1.0 km2) (0.05%) is water.[7]

Major highways

[edit]

Time zones

[edit]
Further information: Time in Kansas

The west half of Kearny County observed Mountain Standard Time until October 28, 1990, when the Kansas Department of Transportation moved the entire county into the Central Time Zone, which 100 of the state's other 104 counties observe. Only four counties (Hamilton, Greeley, Wallace, and Sherman), all of which border Colorado, observe Mountain Time.[8]

Adjacent counties

[edit]

Demographics

[edit]
Population pyramid based on 2000 census age data
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1880159—
18901,571888.1%
19001,107−29.5%
19103,206189.6%
19202,617−18.4%
19303,19622.1%
19402,525−21.0%
19503,49238.3%
19603,108−11.0%
19703,047−2.0%
19803,43512.7%
19904,02717.2%
20004,53112.5%
20103,977−12.2%
20203,9830.2%
2023 (est.)3,823[9]−4.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]
1790-1960[11] 1900-1990[12]
1990-2000[13] 2010-2020[1]

Kearny County is included in the Garden City, KS Micropolitan Statistical Area.

As of the 2000 census,[14] there were 4,531 people, 1,542 households, and 1,199 families residing in the county. The population density was 5 people per square mile (1.9 people/km2). There were 1,657 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile (0.77/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 80.34% White, 0.55% Black or African American, 0.86% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 15.71% from other races, and 2.14% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 26.55% of the population.

There were 1,542 households, out of which 43.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.10% were married couples living together, 8.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.20% were non-families. 20.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.91 and the average family size was 3.35.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 34.30% under the age of 18, 8.30% from 18 to 24, 27.10% from 25 to 44, 19.20% from 45 to 64, and 11.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 104.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $40,149, and the median income for a family was $43,703. Males had a median income of $30,117 versus $20,179 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,708. About 8.40% of families and 11.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.90% of those under age 18 and 4.80% of those age 65 or over.

Government

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Presidential elections

[edit]
Presidential election results
United States presidential election results for Kearny County, Kansas[15]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 1,082 83.17% 192 14.76% 27 2.08%
2020 1,164 80.00% 267 18.35% 24 1.65%
2016 1,075 81.69% 174 13.22% 67 5.09%
2012 1,097 79.15% 268 19.34% 21 1.52%
2008 1,159 78.21% 309 20.85% 14 0.94%
2004 1,177 80.89% 272 18.69% 6 0.41%
2000 1,084 75.54% 320 22.30% 31 2.16%
1996 1,041 70.05% 335 22.54% 110 7.40%
1992 943 55.18% 384 22.47% 382 22.35%
1988 1,073 66.03% 524 32.25% 28 1.72%
1984 1,214 78.42% 321 20.74% 13 0.84%
1980 924 66.38% 375 26.94% 93 6.68%
1976 674 48.95% 658 47.79% 45 3.27%
1972 876 70.87% 325 26.29% 35 2.83%
1968 721 58.00% 423 34.03% 99 7.96%
1964 563 42.81% 737 56.05% 15 1.14%
1960 846 62.11% 513 37.67% 3 0.22%
1956 854 66.98% 418 32.78% 3 0.24%
1952 1,012 72.81% 362 26.04% 16 1.15%
1948 676 54.43% 541 43.56% 25 2.01%
1944 612 62.45% 365 37.24% 3 0.31%
1940 721 58.00% 519 41.75% 3 0.24%
1936 586 44.63% 716 54.53% 11 0.84%
1932 529 38.93% 771 56.73% 59 4.34%
1928 854 77.22% 229 20.71% 23 2.08%
1924 635 57.57% 199 18.04% 269 24.39%
1920 617 63.74% 266 27.48% 85 8.78%
1916 538 45.29% 490 41.25% 160 13.47%
1912 113 17.02% 236 35.54% 315 47.44%
1908 435 56.64% 304 39.58% 29 3.78%
1904 234 70.69% 94 28.40% 3 0.91%
1900 164 53.77% 137 44.92% 4 1.31%
1896 172 49.43% 175 50.29% 1 0.29%
1892 219 60.83% 0 0.00% 141 39.17%
1888 367 59.39% 248 40.13% 3 0.49%

Laws

[edit]

Following amendment to the Kansas Constitution in 1986, the county remained a prohibition, or "dry", county until 1988, when voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with a 30 percent food sales requirement.[16]

Education

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Unified school districts

[edit]

Communities

[edit]
2005 map of Kearny County[17] (map legend)

List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Kearny County.[17]

Cities

[edit]

Townships

[edit]
Area affected by 1930s Dust Bowl

Kearny 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
Deerfield 17250 Deerfield 1,104 9 (24) 120 (46) 1 (0) 0.66% 38°0′30″N 101°8′55″W / 38.00833°N 101.14861°W / 38.00833; -101.14861
East Hibbard 19550 131 0 (1) 403 (156) 0 (0) 0% 38°9′19″N 101°12′14″W / 38.15528°N 101.20389°W / 38.15528; -101.20389
Hartland 30500 128 0 (1) 388 (150) 0 (0) 0.03% 38°0′44″N 101°24′49″W / 38.01222°N 101.41361°W / 38.01222; -101.41361
Kendall 36450 157 0 (1) 494 (191) 0 (0) 0% 37°46′56″N 101°18′32″W / 37.78222°N 101.30889°W / 37.78222; -101.30889
Lakin 38200 Lakin 2,587 16 (41) 164 (63) 0 (0) 0.04% 37°57′16″N 101°15′45″W / 37.95444°N 101.26250°W / 37.95444; -101.26250
Southside 67025 359 1 (3) 286 (110) 0 (0) 0.06% 37°55′9″N 101°12′12″W / 37.91917°N 101.20333°W / 37.91917; -101.20333
West Hibbard 77050 65 0 (0) 402 (155) 0 (0) 0% 38°10′10″N 101°25′23″W / 38.16944°N 101.42306°W / 38.16944; -101.42306
Sources: "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files". U.S. Census Bureau, Geography Division. Archived from the original on August 2, 2002.

See also

[edit]
Community information for Kansas

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c "QuickFacts; Kearny County, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 18, 2021. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 172.
  4. ^ Hicks, Virginia Pierce (February 1938). "Sketches of Early Days in Kearny County". Kansas Historical Quarterly. VII (1): 54–80. Retrieved January 4, 2007.
  5. ^ a b c Blanchard, Leola Howard (July 18, 2017). Conquest of Southwest Kansas: A History of Thrilling Stories of Frontier Life in the State of Kansas (Classic Reprint). Fb&c Limited. ISBN 978-0-282-38556-9.
  6. ^ a b Hicks, Virginia Pierce; Eskelund, Foster; Smith, Mary Gibson; Hurst, Margaret O'Loughlin; Gropp, Olivia Tate Ramsey; Naomi Davis Burrows; Hazel Rinehart Stullken; Helen Brown Rarden; Maybelle James (January 1, 1964). History of Kearny County Kansas. Kearny County Historical Society.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  8. ^ "TIME DEFINITELY CHANGING FOR KANSAS COUNTY - The Washington Post". The Washington Post.
  9. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  10. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
  11. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
  12. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
  13. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
  14. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  15. ^ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
  16. ^ "Map of Wet and Dry Counties". Alcoholic Beverage Control, Kansas Department of Revenue. November 2006. Archived from the original on October 8, 2007. Retrieved December 26, 2007.
  17. ^ a b "General Highway Map of Kearny County, Kansas" (PDF). Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT). December 2009. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 24, 2024.
Notes

Further reading

[edit]
See also: List of books about Kansas, including historical information about its counties and cities
See also: List of books about Santa Fe Trail
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kearny County, Kansas.
County
Maps

37°59′N 101°19′W / 37.983°N 101.317°W / 37.983; -101.317

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