Seward County, Kansas

Seward County (standard abbreviation: SW) is a county of the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 22,952.[1] The largest city and county seat is Liberal.[2] The county was formed on March 20, 1873 and named after William Henry Seward, an American politician and Secretary of State under Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson.

Not to be confused with Seward, Kansas.
Seward County
County
Seward County Courthouse in Liberal
Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
Kansas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°12′N 100°48′W
Country United States
State Kansas
FoundedMarch 20, 1873
Named forWilliam H. Seward
SeatLiberal
Largest cityLiberal
Area
 • Total640 sq mi (1,700 km2)
 • Land639 sq mi (1,660 km2)
 • Water1.0 sq mi (3 km2)  0.2%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total22,952
 • Estimate 
(2018)
21,780
 • Density36/sq mi (14/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district1st
WebsiteSewardCountyKS.org

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 640 square miles (1,700 km2), of which 639 square miles (1,660 km2) is land and 1.0 square mile (2.6 km2) (0.2%) is water.[3] It borders Oklahoma to the south.

Adjacent counties

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18805—
18901,50329,960.0%
1900822−45.3%
19104,091397.7%
19206,22052.0%
19308,07529.8%
19406,540−19.0%
19509,97252.5%
196015,93059.7%
197015,744−1.2%
198017,0718.4%
199018,7439.8%
200022,51020.1%
201022,9522.0%
2018 (est.)21,780[4]−5.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
1790-1960[6] 1900-1990[7]
1990-2000[8] 2010-2016[1]
Age pyramid

The Liberal, KS Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Seward County.

As of the census[9] of 2000, there were 22,510 people, 7,419 households, and 5,504 families residing in the county. The population density was 35 people per square mile (14/km2). There were 8,027 housing units at an average density of 13 per square mile (5/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 65.44% White, 3.78% Black or African American, 0.77% Native American, 2.86% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 23.81% from other races, and 3.27% from two or more races. 42.14% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 7,419 households, out of which 43.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.60% were married couples living together, 10.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.80% were non-families. 20.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.98 and the average family size was 3.46.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 32.00% under the age of 18, 11.70% from 18 to 24, 30.50% from 25 to 44, 16.90% from 45 to 64, and 8.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females, there were 105.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,752, and the median income for a family was $41,134. Males had a median income of $29,765 versus $21,889 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,059. About 13.90% of families and 16.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.00% of those under age 18 and 7.30% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Presidential elections
Presidential Elections Results
Presidential Elections Results[10]
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2020 63.5% 3,372 34.5% 1,833 2.0% 102
2016 62.7% 3,159 32.3% 1,628 5.0% 251
2012 69.9% 3,617 28.8% 1,490 1.3% 69
2008 71.1% 3,791 28.0% 1,493 1.0% 52
2004 78.5% 4,272 20.6% 1,122 0.8% 45
2000 75.9% 3,869 22.1% 1,126 2.0% 101
1996 68.4% 3,812 23.5% 1,309 8.1% 452
1992 51.1% 3,477 21.9% 1,488 27.1% 1,841
1988 70.5% 4,089 28.6% 1,655 0.9% 53
1984 80.5% 5,222 18.5% 1,198 1.0% 64
1980 70.8% 4,385 23.6% 1,460 5.6% 346
1976 64.2% 3,604 34.0% 1,907 1.9% 104
1972 77.3% 3,866 19.8% 989 3.0% 148
1968 62.3% 3,065 26.3% 1,291 11.4% 562
1964 53.3% 2,910 46.1% 2,520 0.6% 32
1960 70.4% 3,974 29.3% 1,654 0.3% 14
1956 71.0% 2,885 28.6% 1,162 0.5% 19
1952 72.8% 3,136 26.6% 1,146 0.6% 26
1948 52.0% 1,829 45.9% 1,614 2.1% 74
1944 53.9% 1,590 45.5% 1,342 0.6% 17
1940 49.7% 1,503 48.7% 1,474 1.7% 50
1936 35.6% 1,108 64.2% 1,997 0.1% 4
1932 43.6% 1,297 53.0% 1,576 3.3% 99
1928 77.0% 1,873 22.1% 538 0.9% 22
1924 52.0% 1,184 29.7% 676 18.3% 417
1920 61.5% 1,290 34.4% 722 4.1% 85
1916 34.5% 678 56.3% 1,105 9.2% 181
1912 15.0% 155 38.1% 394 47.0% 486[lower-alpha 1]
1908 48.1% 427 46.5% 413 5.4% 48
1904 65.5% 152 26.7% 62 7.8% 18
1900 60.4% 122 38.1% 77 1.5% 3
1896 55.9% 100 43.6% 78 0.6% 1
1892 57.1% 156 42.9% 117
1888 61.2% 400 31.7% 207 7.2% 47

Seward County has voted Republican since 1940.[11] The last time Seward County voted for a Democratic candidate for President was when it favored incumbent Democrat Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1936 over Kansas Governor Alf Landon.[12] In the Kansas Senate it is currently represented by Republican Garrett Love. In the Kansas House of Representatives it is represented by Republicans Bill Light and Carl Holmes.[13]

In 2016, Hillary Clinton became the first Democrat to break 30% in Seward County since Jimmy Carter in 1976.

Laws

Following amendment to the Kansas Constitution in 1986, the county remained a prohibition, or "dry", county until 1996, when voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with a 30% food sales requirement.[14]

Education

Unified school districts

Communities
2005 KDOT Map of Seward County (map legend)

Cities

Unincorporated communities

Townships

Seward County is divided into three townships. The city of Liberal 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.
TownshipFIPSPopulation
center		 PopulationPopulation
density
/km2 (/sq mi)		 Land area
km2 (sq mi)		Water area
km2 (sq mi)		Water % Geographic coordinates
Fargo230001,6843 (8)570 (220)2 (1)0.29%37°9′1″N 100°45′3″W
Liberal398508032 (4)502 (194)0 (0)0.03%37°5′52″N 100°56′58″W
Seward640753571 (2)556 (215)0 (0)0.06%37°18′55″N 100°50′34″W

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  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. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved December 13, 2019.
  5. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  6. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  7. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  8. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  9. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  10. http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS
  11. David Leip's Atlas of US Elections
  12. Geographie Electorale
  13. Institute for Policy and Social Research Archived 2010-06-16 at the Wayback Machine
  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 2007-12-26.
Notes
  1. This total comprises 355 votes (34.3%) for Progressive Theodore Roosevelt and 131 votes (12.7%) 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 railroad trestle - "Samson of the Cimarron"
Maps

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