Cherokee County, Kansas

Last updated

Cherokee County
Tri-state markers 2006-07-03.jpg
Map of Kansas highlighting Cherokee County.svg
Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
Kansas in United States.svg
Kansas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°10′N94°51′W / 37.167°N 94.850°W / 37.167; -94.850
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of Kansas.svg  Kansas
FoundedFebruary 18, 1860
Named for Cherokee Native Americans
Seat Columbus
Largest city Baxter Springs
Area
  Total591 sq mi (1,530 km2)
  Land588 sq mi (1,520 km2)
  Water3.5 sq mi (9 km2)  0.6%
Population
 (2020) [1]
  Total19,362
  Density32.9/sq mi (12.7/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
  Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Area code 620
Congressional district 2nd
Website cherokeecountyks.gov

Cherokee County is a U.S. county located in Southeast Kansas. Its county seat is Columbus, [2] and its most populous city is Baxter Springs. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 19,362. [1] The county was named for the Cherokee tribe.

Contents

History

19th century

In 1803, United States acquired from France the 828,000-square mile Louisiana Purchase, the former French lands west of the Mississippi River, for 2.83 cents per acre. This territory included most of the land for modern-day Kansas.

In the 1830s, the United States conducted Indian Removal of the Five Civilized Tribes from the Southeast region, to extinguish their land claims and allow European-American settlement in the area. They were given lands in what was called Indian Territory west of the Mississippi River, mostly in present-day Oklahoma. This part of Kansas was included at the time in the Cherokee Neutral Lands, and the county was named after this tribe.

In 1854, the U.S. organized the Kansas Territory. Settlers began to move into the territory, with violence breaking out between supporters of slavery and those who wanted to abolish it. In 1861, Kansas was admitted as the 34th U.S. state; its constitution prohibited slavery. In 1860, Cherokee County was established.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 591 square miles (1,530 km2), of which 588 square miles (1,520 km2) is land and 3.5 square miles (9.1 km2) (0.6%) is water. [3]

Adjacent counties

Major highways

Sources: National Atlas, [4] U.S. Census Bureau [5]

Demographics

Population pyramid based on 2000 census age data USA Cherokee County, Kansas age pyramid.svg
Population pyramid based on 2000 census age data
Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1860 1,501
1870 11,038635.4%
1880 21,90598.5%
1890 27,77026.8%
1900 42,69453.7%
1910 38,162−10.6%
1920 33,609−11.9%
1930 31,457−6.4%
1940 29,817−5.2%
1950 25,144−15.7%
1960 22,279−11.4%
1970 21,549−3.3%
1980 22,3043.5%
1990 21,374−4.2%
2000 22,6055.8%
2010 21,603−4.4%
2020 19,362−10.4%
2023 (est.)19,054 [6] −1.6%
U.S. Decennial Census [7]
1790-1960 [8] 1900-1990 [9]
1990-2000 [10] 2010-2020 [1]

As of the 2000 census, [11] there were 22,605 people, 8,875 households, and 6,239 families residing in the county. The population density was 38 people per square mile (15 people/km2). There were 10,031 housing units at an average density of 17 per square mile (6.6/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 92.27% White, 0.61% Black or African American, 3.45% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.50% from other races, and 2.90% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.29% of the population.

There were 8,875 households, out of which 32.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.60% were married couples living together, 9.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.70% were non-families. 26.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.50% under the age of 18, 8.40% from 18 to 24, 26.90% from 25 to 44, 23.10% from 45 to 64, and 15.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 94.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,505, and the median income for a family was $37,284. Males had a median income of $29,045 versus $19,675 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,710. About 11.40% of families and 14.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.40% of those under age 18 and 10.60% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Presidential elections

For most of its history, Cherokee County had more of a Democratic lean in presidential elections than the rest of the state, particularly before 1968. Since then, it has only voted for Democratic candidates twice. In 1976 & 1992, it was their second and fourth best county in the state, respectively. From 1996 on, the county has swung powerfully Republican similar to the rest of Southeast Kansas, with Hillary Clinton posting the worst percentage for a Democratic candidate ever at only 23.3%.

Presidential election results
United States presidential election results for Cherokee County, Kansas [12]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.%No.%No.%
2020 6,76673.94%2,19423.98%1912.09%
2016 6,18270.91%2,00523.00%5316.09%
2012 5,45663.66%2,93034.19%1852.16%
2008 5,88660.90%3,59437.19%1851.91%
2004 6,08361.36%3,72637.59%1041.05%
2000 5,01454.92%3,78341.43%3333.65%
1996 4,13845.76%3,77141.70%1,13412.54%
1992 3,58936.78%4,08341.85%2,08521.37%
1988 4,28150.95%4,06948.43%520.62%
1984 5,80160.72%3,66338.34%890.93%
1980 5,29654.81%3,96941.08%3974.11%
1976 3,95742.93%5,15455.91%1071.16%
1972 6,01967.03%2,80631.25%1551.73%
1968 4,21147.46%3,59740.54%1,06411.99%
1964 3,73039.28%5,72060.23%470.49%
1960 5,75356.45%4,36642.84%730.72%
1956 5,82458.39%4,11241.22%390.39%
1952 6,26157.37%4,59742.12%560.51%
1948 4,61647.77%4,85450.23%1932.00%
1944 5,45854.65%4,46844.73%620.62%
1940 6,60049.27%6,67049.79%1260.94%
1936 5,44540.61%7,89458.88%690.51%
1932 4,04534.05%7,44262.64%3933.31%
1928 7,47866.20%3,44230.47%3763.33%
1924 5,43752.90%3,07129.88%1,77017.22%
1920 5,46655.83%3,83239.14%4925.03%
1916 4,35037.55%6,18853.41%1,0479.04%
1912 1,99426.54%2,64135.15%2,87838.31%
1908 3,89344.26%3,81943.42%1,08312.31%
1904 4,58655.81%2,25327.42%1,37816.77%
1900 4,47845.18%5,30253.50%1311.32%
1896 3,50540.20%5,10858.58%1061.22%
1892 2,69641.43%00.00%3,81258.57%
1888 2,93545.62%2,03831.68%1,46122.71%

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, Cherokee County voters chose to remain a prohibition, or "dry", county on Sunday until 2012. [13]

Education

Unified school districts

Communities

2005 map of Cherokee County (map legend) Map of Cherokee Co, Ks, USA.png
2005 map of Cherokee County (map legend)

List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Cherokee County. [14]

Cities

Unincorporated communities

‡ means a community has portions in an adjacent county. † means a community is designated a Census-Designated Place (CDP) by the United States Census Bureau.

Ghost towns

Townships

Cherokee County is divided into fourteen townships. The cities of Baxter Springs, Columbus, Galena, Scammon, and Weir are considered governmentally independent and are 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.

Township FIPS Population
center
PopulationPopulation
density
/km2 (/sq mi)
Land area
km2 (sq mi)
Water area
km2 (sq mi)
Water %Geographic coordinates
Cherokee 128003366 (15)57 (22)0 (0)0.08% 37°18′33″N94°45′36″W / 37.30917°N 94.76000°W / 37.30917; -94.76000
Crawford 162256467 (18)94 (36)0 (0)0.24% 37°9′21″N94°47′11″W / 37.15583°N 94.78639°W / 37.15583; -94.78639
Garden 252503,03941 (105)75 (29)2 (1)2.80% 37°2′55″N94°41′18″W / 37.04861°N 94.68833°W / 37.04861; -94.68833
Lola 423503823 (9)115 (44)1 (0)0.50% 37°10′25″N95°0′15″W / 37.17361°N 95.00417°W / 37.17361; -95.00417
Lowell 4307567220 (52)33 (13)1 (0)3.04% 37°6′11″N94°40′23″W / 37.10306°N 94.67306°W / 37.10306; -94.67306
Lyon 434005284 (11)130 (50)0 (0)0.08% 37°2′19″N94°52′37″W / 37.03861°N 94.87694°W / 37.03861; -94.87694
Mineral 470002543 (8)79 (31)0 (0)0.15% 37°15′32″N94°47′29″W / 37.25889°N 94.79139°W / 37.25889; -94.79139
Neosho 497253062 (5)157 (61)2 (1)1.08% 37°3′15″N95°1′37″W / 37.05417°N 95.02694°W / 37.05417; -95.02694
Pleasant View 566756585 (13)136 (52)0 (0)0.14% 37°17′4″N94°40′1″W / 37.28444°N 94.66694°W / 37.28444; -94.66694
Ross 613508936 (17)140 (54)1 (0)0.71% 37°16′29″N94°53′55″W / 37.27472°N 94.89861°W / 37.27472; -94.89861
Salamanca 625755696 (17)89 (34)0 (0)0.07% 37°10′3″N94°52′37″W / 37.16750°N 94.87694°W / 37.16750; -94.87694
Shawnee 644755056 (15)90 (35)1 (0)0.61% 37°9′30″N94°40′18″W / 37.15833°N 94.67167°W / 37.15833; -94.67167
Sheridan 646252491 (4)172 (67)1 (1)0.79% 37°15′41″N95°0′15″W / 37.26139°N 95.00417°W / 37.26139; -95.00417
Spring Valley 677251,0078 (21)122 (47)0 (0)0.36% 37°3′11″N94°46′5″W / 37.05306°N 94.76806°W / 37.05306; -94.76806
Sources: "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files". U.S. Census Bureau, Geography Division. Archived from the original on August 2, 2002.

See also

Community information for Kansas

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "QuickFacts; Cherokee County, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 15, 2021. Retrieved August 15, 2021.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 9, 2015. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  4. National Atlas Archived December 5, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  5. U.S. Census Bureau TIGER shape files
  6. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  7. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 22, 2014.
  8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved July 22, 2014.
  9. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 22, 2014.
  10. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved July 22, 2014.
  11. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  12. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
  13. "Map of Wet and Dry Counties" (PDF). Alcoholic Beverage Control, Kansas Department of Revenue. December 2012. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 25, 2012. Retrieved December 26, 2013.
  14. 1 2 "General Highway Map of Cherokee County, Kansas" (PDF). Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT). May 2011. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 1, 2024.
  15. Rydjord, John (1972). Kansas Place-Names. University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, Oklahoma. p. 494. ISBN   0-8061-0994-7.
  16. Former residents say goodbye to contaminated town of Treece; The Wichita Eagle; September 27, 2012. Archived September 30, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
Notes

    Further reading

    County
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