Gove County, Kansas

Gove County (county code GO) is a county in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 2,695.[1] Its county seat is Gove City,[2] and its most populous city is Quinter.

Not to be confused with Gove City, Kansas.
Gove County
County
Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
Kansas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 38°55′12″N 100°29′48″W
Country United States
State Kansas
FoundedMarch 11, 1868
Named forGrenville L. Gove
SeatGove City
Largest cityQuinter
Area
 • Total1,072 sq mi (2,780 km2)
 • Land1,072 sq mi (2,780 km2)
 • Water0.1 sq mi (0.3 km2)  0.01%%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2018)
2,612
 • Density2.5/sq mi (1.0/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district1st
Websitegovecountyks.org

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 1868, Gove County was established and named for Granville Llewellyn Gove, member of the 11th Regiment Kansas Volunteer Cavalry, and son of Moses Gove, a former mayor of Manhattan, Kansas.[3][4]

21st century
Main article: COVID-19 pandemic in Kansas

In 2020, USA Today profiled Gove County during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States and called it the "deadliest place in America" due to it having the highest death rate from COVID-19 compared to any other county in the nation: 1 out of every 132 people. The first deaths were reported on October 7; as of November 2020, 20 residents died from the virus, and 314 other positive cases were reported. The article attributed the high death rate to predominant public opposition towards wearing face masks, doubts over the pandemic's severity, and the county's high median age, all of which left residents highly vulnerable.[5]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 1,072 square miles (2,780 km2), of which 1,072 square miles (2,780 km2) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2) (0.01%) is water.[6]

Adjacent counties

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18801,196—
18902,994150.3%
19002,441−18.5%
19106,044147.6%
19204,748−21.4%
19305,64318.9%
19404,793−15.1%
19504,447−7.2%
19604,107−7.6%
19703,940−4.1%
19803,726−5.4%
19903,231−13.3%
20003,068−5.0%
20102,695−12.2%
2018 (est.)2,612[7]−3.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010-2016[1]
Population pyramid

As of the 2000 census,[12] there were 3,068 people, 1,245 households, and 861 families residing in the county. The population density was 3 people per square mile (1/km2). There were 1,423 housing units at an average density of 1 per square mile (1/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.95% White, 0.10% Black or African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.10% Asian, 0.72% from other races, and 0.98% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.24% of the population.

There were 1,245 households, out of which 28.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.50% were married couples living together, 3.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.80% were non-families. 29.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.20% under the age of 18, 5.40% from 18 to 24, 22.10% from 25 to 44, 23.70% from 45 to 64, and 22.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 95.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,510, and the median income for a family was $40,438. Males had a median income of $26,863 versus $21,357 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,852. About 8.00% of families and 10.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.90% of those under age 18 and 6.90% of those age 65 or over.

In 2020, Gove County had 2,600 residents, and the median age was about 50, a decade older than the national average.[5]

Government

Presidential elections
Presidential Elections Results
Presidential Elections Results[13]
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2020 87.6% 1,256 11.4% 163 1.0% 14
2016 84.9% 1,140 11.1% 149 4.0% 54
2012 84.5% 1,168 12.7% 176 2.8% 39
2008 80.1% 1,136 18.4% 261 1.5% 21
2004 81.5% 1,196 16.8% 247 1.6% 24
2000 75.1% 1,122 19.8% 296 5.2% 77
1996 69.2% 1,123 21.6% 351 9.2% 149
1992 46.4% 792 22.2% 379 31.4% 535
1988 57.4% 966 39.4% 663 3.3% 55
1984 73.4% 1,310 23.9% 426 2.7% 48
1980 71.1% 1,263 22.3% 396 6.6% 117
1976 49.0% 860 48.3% 848 2.8% 49
1972 69.9% 1,226 26.6% 466 3.6% 63
1968 59.1% 1,018 31.2% 538 9.7% 168
1964 42.7% 774 56.4% 1,022 0.9% 17
1960 55.9% 1,065 43.4% 828 0.7% 14
1956 72.3% 1,315 27.1% 492 0.7% 12
1952 75.8% 1,453 23.6% 453 0.5% 10
1948 57.5% 1,030 40.1% 719 2.4% 43
1944 72.0% 1,125 26.9% 420 1.1% 17
1940 66.3% 1,352 32.3% 659 1.4% 28
1936 49.8% 1,107 49.0% 1,090 1.3% 28
1932 45.8% 1,043 52.0% 1,186 2.2% 51
1928 71.0% 1,470 28.5% 590 0.6% 12
1924 67.8% 1,211 22.4% 400 9.9% 176
1920 74.9% 950 22.5% 285 2.6% 33
1916 40.1% 642 53.8% 862 6.1% 98
1912 18.6% 170 38.8% 355 42.7% 391[lower-alpha 1]
1908 55.2% 632 39.8% 456 5.1% 58
1904 63.2% 470 27.4% 204 9.4% 70
1900 58.4% 368 40.2% 253 1.4% 9
1896 55.4% 279 40.5% 204 4.2% 21
1892 56.9% 327 43.1% 248
1888 65.8% 586 31.2% 278 2.9% 26

Laws

Although the Kansas Constitution was amended in 1986 to allow the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with the approval of voters, Gove County has remained a prohibition, or "dry", county.[14]

Education

Unified school districts

Attractions

Communities
2005 KDOT Map of Gove County (map legend)

Cities

Unincorporated community
  • Campus

Ghost towns
  • Alanthus
  • Jerome
  • Orion

Townships

Gove County is divided into nine 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.

TownshipFIPSPopulation
center		 PopulationPopulation
density
/km2 (/sq mi)		 Land area
km2 (sq mi)		Water area
km2 (sq mi)		Water % Geographic coordinates
Baker03775Quinter1,3574 (11)324 (125)0 (0)0%39°2′18″N 100°13′56″W
Gaeland25000460 (1)208 (80)0 (0)0%38°56′21″N 100°44′30″W
Gove270752151 (2)301 (116)0 (0)0%38°57′19″N 100°31′44″W
Grainfield27225Grainfield4302 (6)184 (71)0 (0)0%39°5′41″N 100°28′28″W
Grinnell28925Grinnell4802 (4)320 (123)0 (0)0.04%39°5′50″N 100°41′41″W
Jerome354251320 (1)370 (143)0 (0)0.01%38°48′3″N 100°28′45″W
Larrabee38750800 (1)371 (143)0 (0)0.01%38°47′24″N 100°15′14″W
Lewis39750130 (0)372 (144)0 (0)0%38°46′23″N 100°43′39″W
Payne550503151 (3)324 (125)0 (0)0%39°3′4″N 100°20′42″W
Sources: "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files". U.S. Census Bureau, Geography Division. Archived from the original on 2002-08-02.

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 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. 140.
  4. Blackmar, Frank Wilson (1912). Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, Embracing Events, Institutions, Industries, Counties, Cities, Towns, Prominent Persons, Etc. Standard Publishing Company. pp. 768.
  5. Hughes, Trevor (December 12, 2020). "Deadliest place in America: They shrugged off the pandemic, then their family and friends started dying". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
  6. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  7. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved December 23, 2019.
  8. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  9. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  10. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  11. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  12. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  13. http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS
  14. "Map of Wet and Dry Counties". Alcoholic Beverage Control, Kansas Department of Revenue. November 2004. Archived from the original on 2007-10-08. Retrieved 2007-01-21.
Notes
  1. This total comprises 356 votes (38.86 percent) for Progressive Theodore Roosevelt (who carried the county) and 35 votes (3.82 percent) for Socialist Eugene V. Debs.

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

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