Washington County, Kansas

Washington County (standard abbreviation: WS) is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 5,799 with a 2018 estimate of 5,420.[1][2] Its county seat and largest city is Washington.[3]

Not to be confused with Washington, Kansas.
Washington County
County
Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
Kansas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 39°48′N 97°06′W
Country United States
State Kansas
FoundedFebruary 20, 1857
Named forGeorge Washington
SeatWashington
Largest cityWashington
Area
 • Total899 sq mi (2,330 km2)
 • Land895 sq mi (2,320 km2)
 • Water3.9 sq mi (10 km2)  0.4%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total5,799
 • Estimate 
(2018)
5,420
 • Density6.5/sq mi (2.5/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district1st
WebsiteWashingtonCountyKS.gov

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 1857, Washington County was established.

21st century

In 2010, the Keystone-Cushing Pipeline (Phase II) was constructed north to south through Washington County, with much controversy over tax exemption and environmental concerns (if a leak ever does occur).[4][5]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 899 square miles (2,330 km2), of which 895 square miles (2,320 km2) is land and 3.9 square miles (10 km2) (0.4%) is water.[6]

Adjacent counties

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1860383—
18704,081965.5%
188014,910265.4%
189022,89453.5%
190021,963−4.1%
191020,229−7.9%
192017,984−11.1%
193017,112−4.8%
194015,921−7.0%
195012,977−18.5%
196010,739−17.2%
19709,249−13.9%
19808,543−7.6%
19907,073−17.2%
20006,483−8.3%
20105,799−10.6%
2018 (est.)5,420[7]−6.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010-2016[2]
Age pyramid

As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 6,483 people, 2,673 households, and 1,780 families residing in the county. The population density was 7 people per square mile (3/km2). There were 3,142 housing units at an average density of 4 per square mile (1/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.90% White, 0.11% Black or African American, 0.34% Native American, 0.05% Asian, 0.09% from other races, and 0.51% from two or more races. 0.65% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,673 households, out of which 26.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.40% were married couples living together, 4.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.40% were non-families. 31.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.70% under the age of 18, 5.40% from 18 to 24, 22.90% from 25 to 44, 23.00% from 45 to 64, and 25.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 100.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,363, and the median income for a family was $37,260. Males had a median income of $25,074 versus $18,000 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,515. About 7.30% of families and 10.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.20% of those under age 18 and 12.40% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Presidential elections
Presidential Elections Results
Presidential Elections Results[13]
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2016 79.4% 2,194 14.0% 387 6.7% 184
2012 80.2% 2,316 18.1% 524 1.7% 49
2008 75.4% 2,248 22.1% 659 2.5% 73
2004 78.3% 2,498 20.2% 643 1.5% 49
2000 74.9% 2,446 21.0% 687 4.1% 134
1996 67.4% 2,397 22.6% 804 10.0% 356
1992 47.0% 1,740 24.1% 893 28.9% 1,069
1988 67.1% 2,269 31.5% 1,063 1.4% 48
1984 75.7% 2,979 22.6% 889 1.7% 68
1980 74.9% 3,058 19.2% 784 5.9% 241
1976 60.4% 2,543 37.1% 1,564 2.5% 106
1972 75.1% 3,301 22.7% 996 2.2% 97
1968 68.3% 3,177 24.3% 1,131 7.4% 344
1964 56.4% 2,654 42.8% 2,015 0.8% 36
1960 68.1% 3,707 31.3% 1,706 0.6% 31
1956 74.8% 4,220 24.6% 1,389 0.6% 32
1952 81.4% 5,135 18.2% 1,148 0.4% 26
1948 66.2% 3,894 32.2% 1,894 1.6% 95
1944 77.1% 5,040 22.3% 1,455 0.6% 41
1940 73.3% 5,792 26.1% 2,061 0.6% 50
1936 58.7% 4,809 41.0% 3,355 0.3% 28
1932 43.4% 3,324 55.3% 4,234 1.2% 95
1928 67.4% 4,781 31.9% 2,267 0.7% 49
1924 61.0% 4,120 22.6% 1,528 16.4% 1,108
1920 76.1% 4,390 22.3% 1,287 1.7% 95
1916 51.7% 3,766 45.5% 3,316 2.7% 200
1912 28.4% 1,326 41.0% 1,914 30.6% 1,427
1908 57.5% 2,711 40.4% 1,904 2.1% 99
1904 68.1% 3,066 28.0% 1,259 3.9% 175
1900 56.0% 2,960 42.6% 2,252 1.4% 72
1896 50.7% 2,514 48.2% 2,391 1.2% 57
1892 44.8% 2,323 55.2% 2,862
1888 62.3% 2,999 31.4% 1,511 6.3% 305

Washington County is overwhelmingly Republican. No Democratic presidential candidate has won Washington County since Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1932, and Roosevelt remains the solitary Democrat to ever win a majority in the county. Since 1940 only Lyndon Johnson in 1964 has reached forty percent of Washington County's vote for the Democratic Party.

Laws

Washington 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 percent food sales requirement.[14]

Education

The county is served by:

School district office in neighboring county

Communities
2005 KDOT Map of Washington County from KDOT (map legend)

Cities

Unincorporated community

Townships

Washington County is divided into twenty-five townships. The city of Washington 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
Barnes042752333 (6)93 (36)0 (0)0%39°41′59″N 96°51′41″W
Brantford08250911 (3)93 (36)0 (0)0%39°42′0″N 97°19′19″W
Charleston12625991 (3)93 (36)0 (0)0.03%39°52′36″N 96°58′54″W
Clifton142254595 (13)94 (36)0 (0)0%39°35′19″N 97°18′11″W
Coleman14750641 (2)94 (36)0 (0)0%39°46′39″N 97°11′24″W
Farmington232751922 (5)94 (36)0 (0)0%39°51′52″N 97°6′1″W
Franklin245251392 (4)92 (36)0 (0)0.24%39°57′33″N 96°59′20″W
Grant28175250 (1)93 (36)0 (0)0%39°46′24″N 97°19′21″W
Greenleaf286504505 (13)93 (36)0 (0)0%39°42′33″N 96°59′5″W
Haddam294252463 (7)93 (36)0 (0)0%39°51′51″N 97°18′28″W
Hanover299008849 (25)93 (36)0 (0)0.05%39°52′54″N 96°52′10″W
Highland32025220 (1)92 (36)0 (0)0.45%39°57′16″N 97°5′30″W
Independence339501692 (5)93 (36)0 (0)0.03%39°57′28″N 96°51′50″W
Kimeo36850751 (2)93 (36)0 (0)0%39°36′11″N 96°57′57″W
Lincoln41250841 (2)93 (36)0 (0)0%39°37′2″N 96°51′12″W
Linn414505996 (17)93 (36)0 (0)0.03%39°41′5″N 97°5′16″W
Little Blue41500931 (3)93 (36)0 (0)0.09%39°46′38″N 96°51′59″W
Logan423001091 (3)92 (36)0 (0)0.05%39°47′11″N 96°57′56″W
Lowe43025761 (2)92 (36)0 (0)0%39°57′29″N 97°12′5″W
Mill Creek467502743 (8)94 (36)0 (0)0%39°52′4″N 97°11′20″W
Sheridan647751191 (3)93 (36)0 (0)0%39°37′3″N 97°11′19″W
Sherman651252493 (7)93 (36)0 (0)0%39°37′2″N 97°6′3″W
Strawberry685501301 (4)94 (36)0 (0)0%39°41′32″N 97°12′30″W
Union724751612 (5)92 (36)0 (0)0.04%39°57′58″N 97°19′30″W
Washington758502182 (6)91 (35)0 (0)0.04%39°47′12″N 97°4′38″W

See also

References
  1. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/washingtoncountykansas,US/PST045218
  2. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  4. Keystone Pipeline - Marion County Commission calls out Legislative Leadership on Pipeline Deal; April 18, 2010. Archived October 22, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  5. Keystone Pipeline - TransCanada inspecting pipeline; December 10, 2010.
  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 November 29, 2019.
  8. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  9. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  10. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  11. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 29, 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.

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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