Graham County, Kansas

Graham County (county code GH) is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 2,597.[1] Its county seat and most populous city is Hill City.[2] The county is home to Nicodemus, founded 1877, which is the only remaining western town established by African Americans during the Reconstruction Period following the American Civil War.

Graham County
County
Antelope Lake Park near Moreland
Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
Kansas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 39°21′N 99°53′W
Country United States
State Kansas
FoundedFebruary 26, 1887
Named forJohn L. Graham
SeatHill City
Largest cityHill City
Area
 • Total899 sq mi (2,330 km2)
 • Land899 sq mi (2,330 km2)
 • Water0.2 sq mi (0.5 km2)  0.03%%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2018)
2,492
 • Density2.9/sq mi (1.1/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district1st
Websitegrahamcountyks.com

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. Graham County was organized in 1880.[3] In 1887, Graham County was established and named for Captain John L. Graham,[4] a Union soldier killed in action at the Battle of Chickamauga in Tennessee on September 19, 1863.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 899 square miles (2,330 km2), of which 899 square miles (2,330 km2) is land and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km2) (0.03%) is water.[5]

Graham County roughly contains 3600 quarter sections, and is the fourth county east of Colorado line and the second county south of the Nebraska line. The 100th meridian west passes nearly through its center. The average elevation in the county is 2,700 feet (820 m) above sea level. It is intersected by the south fork of Solomon River, and drained by Saline River.[6]

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18804,258—
18905,02918.1%
19005,1732.9%
19108,70068.2%
19207,624−12.4%
19307,7721.9%
19406,071−21.9%
19505,020−17.3%
19605,58611.3%
19704,751−14.9%
19803,995−15.9%
19903,543−11.3%
20002,946−16.9%
20102,597−11.8%
2018 (est.)2,492[7]−4.0%
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 2,946 people, 1,263 households, and 847 families residing in the county. The population density was 3 people per square mile (1/km2). There were 1,553 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile (1/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 94.91% White, 3.22% Black or African American, 0.34% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.41% from other races, and 0.81% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.78% of the population.

There were 1,263 households, out of which 27.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.50% were married couples living together, 5.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.90% were non-families. 30.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.84.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.50% under the age of 18, 5.30% from 18 to 24, 23.10% from 25 to 44, 25.40% from 45 to 64, and 23.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 95.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,286, and the median income for a family was $38,036. Males had a median income of $26,642 versus $18,222 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,050. About 8.60% of families and 11.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.60% of those under age 18 and 10.40% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Presidential elections
Presidential Elections Results
Presidential Elections Results[13]
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2016 79.8% 1,025 14.6% 188 5.5% 71
2012 78.8% 1,056 19.1% 256 2.1% 28
2008 74.5% 1,060 22.8% 325 2.7% 38
2004 75.1% 1,082 23.2% 334 1.7% 24
2000 71.8% 1,058 23.5% 346 4.8% 70
1996 63.4% 1,031 26.6% 432 10.0% 163
1992 39.3% 752 29.0% 554 31.7% 606
1988 61.0% 1,139 37.6% 702 1.5% 27
1984 74.0% 1,423 25.0% 480 1.0% 20
1980 70.9% 1,450 23.1% 473 6.0% 122
1976 53.3% 1,112 44.8% 936 1.9% 40
1972 73.3% 1,440 24.9% 488 1.8% 36
1968 60.7% 1,308 27.7% 597 11.6% 249
1964 49.6% 1,194 49.5% 1,193 0.9% 21
1960 63.0% 1,572 36.8% 918 0.3% 7
1956 69.5% 1,676 30.1% 725 0.5% 11
1952 72.6% 1,859 26.8% 686 0.6% 15
1948 59.3% 1,380 39.2% 913 1.5% 35
1944 66.5% 1,651 32.8% 814 0.7% 17
1940 61.0% 1,804 38.4% 1,135 0.7% 20
1936 45.7% 1,462 54.2% 1,734 0.2% 6
1932 37.1% 1,284 60.1% 2,082 2.8% 98
1928 61.7% 1,832 36.6% 1,087 1.7% 51
1924 53.8% 1,631 20.7% 629 25.5% 773
1920 64.1% 1,658 29.4% 762 6.5% 168
1916 35.6% 1,150 55.8% 1,801 8.6% 277
1912 20.3% 327 39.4% 636 40.3% 650[lower-alpha 1]
1908 52.2% 911 41.5% 723 6.3% 110
1904 64.7% 921 17.2% 244 18.1% 258
1900 44.0% 561 54.5% 694 1.5% 19
1896 34.3% 343 64.9% 648 0.8% 8
1892 44.4% 436 55.6% 546
1888 49.4% 797 21.2% 342 29.5% 476

Laws

Following amendment to the Kansas Constitution in 1986, Graham County remained a prohibition, or "dry", county until 1992, when voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink without a food sales requirement.[14]

Education

Unified school districts

Communities
2005 KDOT Map of Graham County (map legend)

Cities

Unincorporated communities

Ghost towns

Townships

Graham County is divided into thirteen 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
Allodium01325460 (1)175 (67)0 (0)0.06%39°29′23″N 100°4′42″W
Bryant088501150 (1)233 (90)0 (0)0.04%39°11′22″N 100°5′7″W
Gettysburg26175830 (1)227 (88)0 (0)0.04%39°23′11″N 100°1′50″W
Graham27175530 (1)186 (72)0 (0)0.02%39°31′3″N 99°47′51″W
Happy29950720 (1)233 (90)0 (0)0.05%39°12′17″N 99°53′7″W
Hill City32200Hill City1,74716 (41)112 (43)0 (0)0.15%39°22′17″N 99°50′29″W
Indiana34000420 (1)174 (67)0 (0)0.01%39°29′28″N 99°57′59″W
Millbrook466251501 (2)159 (62)0 (0)0.04%39°19′1″N 99°55′2″W
Morland48250680 (1)286 (111)0 (0)0.05%39°13′46″N 99°41′15″W
Nicodemus50575521 (2)84 (32)0 (0)0.03%39°24′40″N 99°38′55″W
Pioneer55900570 (1)161 (62)0 (0)0.02%39°31′1″N 99°40′2″W
Solomon66300Morland2091 (3)159 (61)0 (0)0.01%39°18′57″N 100°4′44″W
Wildhorse79225Bogue2522 (5)137 (53)0 (0)0.06%39°20′45″N 99°40′13″W
Sources: "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files". U.S. Census Bureau, Geography Division. Archived from the original on 2002-08-02.

In art

Noted regional artist Birger Sandzén frequently painted landscapes in Graham County, where his wife's parents moved in 1906.[15] Examples include Still Water currently profiled in the collection at Kansas State University's Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art which depicts Wild Horse Creek in the county.[15]

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. Blackmar, Frank Wilson (1912). Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, Embracing Events, Institutions, Industries, Counties, Cities, Towns, Prominent Persons, Etc. Standard Publishing Company. p. 771. ISBN 9780722249055.
  4. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 140.
  5. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  6. Ripley, George; Dana, Charles A., eds. (1879). "Graham. II. A N. W. unsettled county of Kansas" . The American Cyclopædia.
  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 2006. Archived from the original on 2007-10-08. Retrieved 2007-12-28.
  15. North, 24-27
Notes
  1. This total comprises 481 votes (29.8%) for Progressive Theodore Roosevelt and 169 votes (10.5%) 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
Historical
Maps

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