Ford County, Kansas

Last updated

Ford County
County
Ford county kansas courthouse 2000.jpg
Ford County Courthouse in Dodge City (2009)
Map of Kansas highlighting Ford County.svg
Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
Kansas in United States.svg
Kansas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°42′N99°54′W / 37.7°N 99.9°W / 37.7; -99.9
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of Kansas.svg  Kansas
FoundedFebruary 26, 1867
Named for James Ford
Seat Dodge City
Largest cityDodge City
Area
 • Total1,099 sq mi (2,850 km2)
 • Land1,098 sq mi (2,840 km2)
 • Water0.8 sq mi (2 km2)  0.07%
Population
 (2020) [1]
 • Total34,287
 • Density31.2/sq mi (12.0/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district 1st
Website fordcounty.net

Ford County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat and most populous city is Dodge City. [2] As of the 2020 census, its population was 34,287. [1] The county was named in honor of James Ford, a brevet brigadier general during the American Civil War. [3]

Contents

History

One of the earliest military posts in Kansas, Fort Atkinson, was located in Ford County. Fort Dodge, established in 1864, was on the north bank of the Arkansas River, about five miles southeast of what would become Dodge City. During the California Gold Rush in 1849, thousands of gold seekers passed through the area along the Santa Fe Trail, but few settled there.

Ford County was established in 1867 and named for Colonel James H. Ford of the Second Colorado Cavalry, who was in charge of the construction of Fort Dodge after the Civil War [4] . The region had been frequently traveled by pioneers along the Santa Fe Trail since the early 19th century [5] .

The town of Dodge City was established in 1872 upon the completion of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad. Before the buffalo were wiped out, their hides were extensively shipped from Dodge City. Dodge City would later develop into a rough and tumble cowtown during the peak cattle drive years of 1875-1885 [5] [6] .

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,099 square miles (2,850 km2), of which 1,098 sq mi (2,840 km2) are land and 0.8 square miles (2.1 km2) (0.07%) is covered by water. [7]

Adjacent counties

Transit

Major highways

Demographics

Population pyramid based on 2000 census age data USA Ford County, Kansas age pyramid.svg
Population pyramid based on 2000 census age data
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1870 427—
1880 3,122631.1%
1890 5,30870.0%
1900 5,4973.6%
1910 11,393107.3%
1920 14,27325.3%
1930 20,64744.7%
1940 17,254−16.4%
1950 19,67014.0%
1960 20,9386.4%
1970 22,5877.9%
1980 24,3157.7%
1990 27,46312.9%
2000 32,45818.2%
2010 33,8484.3%
2020 34,2871.3%
2023 (est.)33,980 [8] −0.9%
U.S. Decennial Census [9]
1790-1960 [10] 1900-1990 [11]
1990-2000 [12] 2010-2020 [1]

The Dodge City Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Ford County.

As of the 2000 census, [13] 33,848 people, 10,852 households, and 7,856 families were residing in the county. The population density was 30 people/sq mi (12 people/km2). The 11,650 housing units averaged 11 per square mile (4.2/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 75.3% White, 2.1% African American, 1.0% Native American, 1.4% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 17.8% from other races, and 2.7% from two or more races. Hispanic and Latino Americans of any race were 51.2% of the population.

Of the 10,852 households, 40.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.90% were married couples living together, 9.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.60% were not families. About 22.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.92, and the average family size was 3.42.

In the county, the age distribution was 31.10% under 18, 11.20% from 18 to 24, 29.40% from 25 to 44, 17.30% from 45 to 64, and 11.00% who were 65 or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females, there were 107.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,860, and for a family was $42,734. Males had a median income of $27,189 versus $22,165 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,721. About 9.90% of families and 12.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.40% of those under age 18 and 8.40% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Presidential elections

Ford County has been strongly Republican for most of its history, especially in recent elections. Only eight Democratic presidential candidates from 1880 to 2020 have carried the county, the most recent being Jimmy Carter in 1976.

Presidential election results
United States presidential election results for Ford County, Kansas [14]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 5,80365.09%2,94733.06%1651.85%
2016 5,11465.78%2,14927.64%5116.57%
2012 5,60266.99%2,60031.09%1601.91%
2008 5,73064.64%2,99133.74%1431.61%
2004 6,63273.56%2,28625.35%981.09%
2000 6,05067.85%2,56628.78%3013.38%
1996 5,68161.30%2,62828.36%95810.34%
1992 4,34241.93%2,63525.44%3,37932.63%
1988 5,68558.63%3,81739.36%1952.01%
1984 6,93569.72%2,91429.30%980.99%
1980 5,68658.86%3,19433.06%7818.08%
1976 4,67947.61%4,93450.21%2142.18%
1972 6,23267.12%2,80430.20%2492.68%
1968 4,64552.80%3,19136.27%96110.92%
1964 3,48139.73%5,22159.59%590.67%
1960 5,20057.67%3,79242.05%250.28%
1956 5,56166.84%2,71032.57%490.59%
1952 6,35968.96%2,74829.80%1141.24%
1948 4,08947.21%4,39650.75%1772.04%
1944 4,11057.23%2,99441.69%771.07%
1940 4,35651.97%3,95447.17%720.86%
1936 3,37838.69%5,33561.11%170.19%
1932 3,33541.61%4,44255.42%2382.97%
1928 4,89371.59%1,87027.36%721.05%
1924 3,44957.99%1,55126.08%94815.94%
1920 3,30561.90%1,87935.19%1552.90%
1916 2,33740.29%3,04452.47%4207.24%
1912 52919.18%1,12540.79%1,10440.03%
1908 1,33353.28%1,08943.53%803.20%
1904 1,14864.79%52629.68%985.53%
1900 65350.46%61047.14%312.40%
1896 55545.75%64353.01%151.24%
1892 64853.42%00.00%56546.58%
1888 88252.47%63037.48%16910.05%

Laws

Ford 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% food sales requirement. [15]

Education

Colleges

Unified school districts

Communities

2005 Kansas Department of Transportation map of Ford County (map legend) Map of Ford Co, Ks, USA.png
2005 Kansas Department of Transportation map of Ford County (map legend)

† means a community is designated a Census-Designated Place (CDP) by the United States Census Bureau.

Cities

Unincorporated communities

Townships

Ford County is divided into 14 townships. The city of Dodge City 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.

Township FIPS Population
center		PopulationPopulation
density
/km2 (/sq mi)		Land area
km2 (sq mi)		Water area
km2 (sq mi)		Water %Geographic coordinates
Bloom073751131 (2)144 (55)0 (0)0% 37°30′23″N99°55′4″W / 37.50639°N 99.91778°W / 37.50639; -99.91778
Bucklin090259003 (8)285 (110)0 (0)0.02% 37°34′44″N99°37′9″W / 37.57889°N 99.61917°W / 37.57889; -99.61917
Concord151501171 (2)187 (72)0 (0)0.11% 37°36′36″N100°5′52″W / 37.61000°N 100.09778°W / 37.61000; -100.09778
Dodge1822589913 (33)70 (27)0 (0)0.21% 37°47′0″N100°0′52″W / 37.78333°N 100.01444°W / 37.78333; -100.01444
Enterprise214501,1136 (17)175 (67)0 (0)0.19% 37°40′47″N99°57′8″W / 37.67972°N 99.95222°W / 37.67972; -99.95222
Fairview225003462 (5)188 (73)0 (0)0.06% 37°45′11″N100°8′57″W / 37.75306°N 100.14917°W / 37.75306; -100.14917
Ford237504562 (5)249 (96)0 (0)0.01% 37°36′58″N99°46′27″W / 37.61611°N 99.77417°W / 37.61611; -99.77417
Grandview273507843 (9)226 (87)0 (0)0.20% 37°47′10″N99°55′54″W / 37.78611°N 99.93167°W / 37.78611; -99.93167
Richland593009319 (24)99 (38)0 (0)0.17% 37°42′10″N100°2′19″W / 37.70278°N 100.03861°W / 37.70278; -100.03861
Royal615751051 (1)185 (72)0 (0)0.06% 37°51′51″N100°6′44″W / 37.86417°N 100.11222°W / 37.86417; -100.11222
Sodville661501101 (2)145 (56)0 (0)0.01% 37°31′16″N99°45′6″W / 37.52111°N 99.75167°W / 37.52111; -99.75167
Spearville671501,1502 (6)479 (185)0 (0)0.03% 37°47′58″N99°45′4″W / 37.79944°N 99.75111°W / 37.79944; -99.75111
Wheatland776751701 (2)193 (74)0 (0)0% 37°48′58″N99°37′22″W / 37.81611°N 99.62278°W / 37.81611; -99.62278
Wilburn79100880 (1)187 (72)0 (0)0% 37°31′22″N100°7′10″W / 37.52278°N 100.11944°W / 37.52278; -100.11944
Sources: "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files". U.S. Census Bureau, Geography Division. Archived from the original on August 2, 2002.

Notable people

Numerous figures of the American Old West lived in Dodge City during its period as a frontier cowtown. These included, most notably, lawmen Wyatt Earp and Bat Masterson, and gunfighter Doc Holliday. [16]

See also

Railroad crew works on the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe tracks near Bellefont, 1974. Photo by Charles O'Rear. RAILROAD WORK CREW IMPROVES THE TRACKS AND BED OF THE ATCHISON, TOPEKA AND SANTA FE RAILROAD NEAR BELLEFONT, KANSAS... - NARA - 556012.jpg
Railroad crew works on the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe tracks near Bellefont, 1974. Photo by Charles O'Rear.
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References

  1. 1 2 3 "QuickFacts; Ford County, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 16, 2021. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 9, 2015. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ↑ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp.  128.
  4. ↑ Cutler, William (1883). History of the State of Kansas. ISBN   9780722248751.
  5. 1 2 "Ford County, Kansas – Legends of Kansas" . Retrieved April 4, 2024.
  6. ↑ Gribben, Brian. "Research Guides: Kansas Heritage: Ford County". fhsuguides.fhsu.edu. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
  7. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  8. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  9. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  12. ↑ "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 24, 2014.
  13. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved October 19, 2018.
  14. ↑ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
  15. ↑ "Map of Wet and Dry Counties". Alcoholic Beverage Control, Kansas Department of Revenue. November 2006. Archived from the original on October 8, 2007. Retrieved December 28, 2007.
  16. ↑ "More Dodge City History". Dodge City Convention and Visitors Bureau. Retrieved September 23, 2011.

Further reading

County
Historical
Maps

37°42′N99°54′W / 37.700°N 99.900°W / 37.700; -99.900

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