Wichita County, Kansas

Wichita County (standard abbreviation: WH) is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 2,234.[1] Its county seat is Leoti.[2]

This article is about the county in western Kansas. For the city in south-central Kansas, see Wichita, Kansas.
Wichita County
County
Wichita County courthouse in Leoti
Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
Kansas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 38°28′00″N 101°21′00″W
Country United States
State Kansas
FoundedDecember 24, 1886
Named forWichita people
SeatLeoti
Largest cityLeoti
Area
 • Total719 sq mi (1,860 km2)
 • Land719 sq mi (1,860 km2)
 • Water0.02 sq mi (0.05 km2)  0.0%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total2,234
 • Estimate 
(2018)
2,105
 • Density3.1/sq mi (1.2/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district1st
WebsiteWichitaCounty.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 1886, Wichita County was established.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 719 square miles (1,860 km2), virtually all of which is land.[3]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
188014—
18901,82712,950.0%
19001,197−34.5%
19102,00667.6%
19201,856−7.5%
19302,57939.0%
19402,185−15.3%
19502,64020.8%
19602,7654.7%
19703,27418.4%
19803,041−7.1%
19902,758−9.3%
20002,531−8.2%
20102,234−11.7%
2018 (est.)2,105[4]−5.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
1790-1960[6] 1900-1990[7]
1990-2000[8] 2010-2016[1]
Age pyramid

As of the census[9] of 2000, there were 2,531 people, 967 households, and 723 families residing in the county. The population density was 4 people per square mile (1/km2). There were 1,119 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile (1/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 86.25% White, 0.08% Black or African American, 0.71% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 10.51% from other races, and 2.37% from two or more races. 18.41% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 967 households, out of which 35.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.30% were married couples living together, 5.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.20% were non-families. 23.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.07.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 28.70% under the age of 18, 7.30% from 18 to 24, 25.70% from 25 to 44, 22.30% from 45 to 64, and 16.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 104.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,462, and the median income for a family was $41,034. Males had a median income of $27,523 versus $18,807 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,720. About 11.20% of families and 14.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.20% of those under age 18 and 4.70% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Presidential elections
Presidential Elections Results
Presidential Elections Results[10]
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2016 80.4% 769 14.6% 140 4.9% 47
2012 83.2% 821 15.9% 157 0.9% 9
2008 82.4% 840 16.0% 163 1.6% 16
2004 81.8% 869 17.2% 183 0.9% 10
2000 78.8% 859 19.0% 207 2.2% 24
1996 71.1% 796 21.4% 239 7.5% 84
1992 55.4% 681 19.6% 241 25.0% 308
1988 62.8% 721 34.8% 399 2.4% 28
1984 78.9% 916 20.0% 232 1.1% 13
1980 70.0% 880 24.1% 303 6.0% 75
1976 47.9% 593 49.6% 614 2.5% 31
1972 69.9% 794 25.4% 288 4.8% 54
1968 60.4% 757 29.0% 364 10.6% 133
1964 44.2% 529 55.3% 662 0.5% 6
1960 55.6% 702 43.9% 554 0.5% 6
1956 70.4% 747 29.4% 312 0.2% 2
1952 75.9% 910 23.0% 276 1.1% 13
1948 56.3% 606 41.1% 443 2.6% 28
1944 64.3% 604 35.0% 329 0.6% 6
1940 59.1% 644 39.7% 433 1.2% 13
1936 41.1% 448 58.4% 637 0.6% 6
1932 32.9% 375 64.3% 732 2.8% 32
1928 54.9% 464 43.8% 370 1.3% 11
1924 62.7% 482 19.1% 147 18.2% 140
1920 73.9% 422 22.2% 127 3.9% 22
1916 44.0% 318 46.1% 333 9.8% 71
1912 22.1% 82 36.4% 135 41.5% 154[lower-alpha 1]
1908 54.3% 233 40.3% 173 5.4% 23
1904 67.3% 245 25.0% 91 7.7% 28
1900 60.4% 201 38.4% 128 1.2% 4
1896 52.3% 214 46.9% 192 0.7% 3
1892 53.3% 245 46.7% 215
1888 59.4% 438 28.1% 207 12.6% 93

Wichita County is overwhelmingly Republican. It was last carried for the Democratic Party by Jimmy Carter in 1976, but since then the only Democrat to win over a quarter of the county's vote has been Michael Dukakis during the 1988 election when the Democratic vote was boosted by reaction against a major Great Plains drought. In the past six elections no Democrat has topped twenty percent of Wichita County's vote – a situation now almost general in the High Plains.

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, Wichita County has remained a prohibition, or "dry", county.[11]

Education
  • Leoti USD 467

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

City

Unincorporated communities

Ghost towns

Townships

Wichita County has a single township. 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.

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
Leoti39575Leoti2,5311 (4)1,861 (719)0 (0)0%38°29′54″N 101°21′50″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 November 29, 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. "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 comprises 113 votes (30.5%) for Progressive Theodore Roosevelt and 41 votes (11.1%) 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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