Ford County, Kansas

Ford County (county code FO) is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2010 census, its population was 33,848.[1] Its county seat and most populous city is Dodge City.[2] The county is named in honor of Colonel James Hobart Ford.[3]

Ford County
County
Ford County Courthouse in Dodge City (2009)
Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
Kansas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°42′N 99°54′W
Country United States
State Kansas
FoundedFebruary 26, 1867
Named forJames Ford
SeatDodge City
Largest cityDodge City
Area
 • Total1,099 sq mi (2,850 km2)
 • Land1,098 sq mi (2,840 km2)
 • Water0.8 sq mi (2 km2)  0.07%%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2018)
33,888
 • Density31/sq mi (12/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district1st
Websitefordcounty.net
Railroad crew works on the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe tracks near Bellefont, 1974. Photo by Charles O'Rear.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,099 square miles (2,850 km2), of which 1,098 sq mi (2,840 km2) are land and 0.8 square miles (2.1 km2) (0.07%) is covered by water.[4]

Adjacent counties

Major highways

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1870427—
18803,122631.1%
18905,30870.0%
19005,4973.6%
191011,393107.3%
192014,27325.3%
193020,64744.7%
194017,254−16.4%
195019,67014.0%
196020,9386.4%
197022,5877.9%
198024,3157.7%
199027,46312.9%
200032,45818.2%
201033,8484.3%
2018 (est.)33,888[5]0.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2016[1]
Population pyramid

The Dodge City Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Ford County.

As of the 2000 census,[10] 33,848 people, 10,852 households, and 7,856 families were residing in the county. The population density was 30 people/sq mi (11/km2). The 11,650 housing units averaged 11/sq mi (4/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 75.3% White, 2.1% African American, 1.0% Native American, 1.4% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 17.8% from other races, and 2.7% from two or more races. Hispanic and Latino Americans of any race were 51.2% of the population.

Of the 10,852 households, 40.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.90% were married couples living together, 9.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.60% were not families. About 22.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.92, and the average family size was 3.42.

In the county, the age distribution was 31.10% under 18, 11.20% from 18 to 24, 29.40% from 25 to 44, 17.30% from 45 to 64, and 11.00% who were 65 or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females, there were 107.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,860, and for a family was $42,734. Males had a median income of $27,189 versus $22,165 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,721. About 9.90% of families and 12.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.40% of those under age 18 and 8.40% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Presidential elections

Ford County has been strongly Republican for most of its history, especially in recent elections. Only eight Democratic presidential candidates from 1888 to 2016 have carried the county, the most recent being Jimmy Carter in 1976.

Presidential election results
Presidential election results[11]
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2020 65.1% 5,803 33.1% 2,947 1.85% 165
2016 66.3% 5,114 27.8% 2,149 5.9% 455
2012 67.0% 5,602 31.1% 2,600 1.9% 160
2008 64.6% 5,730 33.7% 2,991 1.6% 143
2004 73.6% 6,632 25.4% 2,286 1.1% 98
2000 67.9% 6,050 28.8% 2,566 3.4% 301
1996 61.3% 5,681 28.4% 2,628 10.3% 958
1992 41.9% 4,342 25.4% 2,635 32.6% 3,379
1988 58.6% 5,685 39.4% 3,817 2.0% 195
1984 69.7% 6,935 29.3% 2,914 1.0% 98
1980 58.9% 5,686 33.1% 3,194 8.1% 781
1976 47.6% 4,679 50.2% 4,934 2.2% 214
1972 67.1% 6,232 30.2% 2,804 2.7% 249
1968 52.8% 4,645 36.3% 3,191 10.9% 961
1964 39.7% 3,481 59.6% 5,221 0.7% 59
1960 57.7% 5,200 42.1% 3,792 0.3% 25
1956 66.8% 5,561 32.6% 2,710 0.6% 49
1952 69.0% 6,359 29.8% 2,748 1.2% 114
1948 47.2% 4,089 50.8% 4,396 2.0% 177
1944 57.2% 4,110 41.7% 2,994 1.1% 77
1940 52.0% 4,356 47.2% 3,954 0.9% 72
1936 38.7% 3,378 61.1% 5,335 0.2% 17
1932 41.6% 3,335 55.4% 4,442 3.0% 238
1928 71.6% 4,893 27.4% 1,870 1.1% 72
1924 58.0% 3,449 26.1% 1,551 15.9% 948
1920 61.9% 3,305 35.2% 1,879 2.9% 155
1916 40.3% 2,337 52.5% 3,044 7.2% 420
1912 19.2% 529 40.8% 1,125 40.0% 1,104
1908 53.3% 1,333 43.5% 1,089 3.2% 80
1904 64.8% 1,148 29.7% 526 5.5% 98
1900 50.5% 653 47.1% 610 2.4% 31
1896 45.8% 555 53.0% 643 1.2% 15
1892 53.4% 648 46.6% 565
1888 52.5% 882 37.5% 630 10.1% 169

Laws

Ford 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.[12]

Education

Colleges

Unified school districts

Communities
2005 Kansas Department of Transportation map of Ford County (map legend)

Cities

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated places

Townships

Ford County is divided into 14 townships. The city of Dodge City 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.

TownshipFIPSPopulation
center		 PopulationPopulation
density
/km2 (/sq mi)		 Land area
km2 (sq mi)		Water area
km2 (sq mi)		Water % Geographic coordinates
Bloom073751131 (2)144 (55)0 (0)0%37°30′23″N 99°55′4″W
Bucklin090259003 (8)285 (110)0 (0)0.02%37°34′44″N 99°37′9″W
Concord151501171 (2)187 (72)0 (0)0.11%37°36′36″N 100°5′52″W
Dodge1822589913 (33)70 (27)0 (0)0.21%37°47′0″N 100°0′52″W
Enterprise214501,1136 (17)175 (67)0 (0)0.19%37°40′47″N 99°57′8″W
Fairview225003462 (5)188 (73)0 (0)0.06%37°45′11″N 100°8′57″W
Ford237504562 (5)249 (96)0 (0)0.01%37°36′58″N 99°46′27″W
Grandview273507843 (9)226 (87)0 (0)0.20%37°47′10″N 99°55′54″W
Richland593009319 (24)99 (38)0 (0)0.17%37°42′10″N 100°2′19″W
Royal615751051 (1)185 (72)0 (0)0.06%37°51′51″N 100°6′44″W
Sodville661501101 (2)145 (56)0 (0)0.01%37°31′16″N 99°45′6″W
Spearville671501,1502 (6)479 (185)0 (0)0.03%37°47′58″N 99°45′4″W
Wheatland776751701 (2)193 (74)0 (0)0%37°48′58″N 99°37′22″W
Wilburn79100880 (1)187 (72)0 (0)0%37°31′22″N 100°7′10″W
Sources: "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files". U.S. Census Bureau, Geography Division. Archived from the original on 2002-08-02.

Notable people
See also: List of Dodge City Community College people and Dodge_City_Community_College § Notable_alumni

Numerous figures of the American Old West lived in Dodge City during its period as a frontier cowtown. These included, most notably, lawmen Wyatt Earp and Bat Masterson, and gunfighter Doc Holliday.[13]

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 6, 2011. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2015-05-09. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 128.
  4. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  5. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved December 20, 2019.
  6. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  7. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  8. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  9. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  10. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2018-10-19.
  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.
  13. "More Dodge City History". Dodge City Convention and Visitors Bureau. Retrieved 2011-09-23.

Further reading
See also: List of books about State of Kansas (which includes historical information about its counties and cities too)
See also: List of books about Santa Fe Trail
County
Historical
Maps

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