Gove County, Kansas

Not to be confused with Gove City, Kansas.

Gove County
County
Historic Opera House in Grainfield
Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
Kansas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 38°55′12″N100°29′48″W / 38.92°N 100.4967°W / 38.92; -100.4967
Country	United States
State	Kansas
Founded	March 11, 1868
Named for	Grenville L. Gove
Seat	Gove City
Largest city	Quinter
Area
• Total	1,072 sq mi (2,780 km2)
• Land	1,072 sq mi (2,780 km2)
• Water	0.1 sq mi (0.3 km2)  0.01%
Population  (2020) [1]
• Total	2,718
• Density	2.5/sq mi (1.0/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	1st
Website	govecountyks.org

Gove County is a county in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat is Gove City, ^[2] and its most populous city is Quinter. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 2,718. ^[1] The county was named for Granville Gove, a captain of Company G of the 11th Kansas Cavalry Regiment Volunteer Cavalry, who died from battle wounds during the American Civil War.

History

Early history

See also: History of Kansas

Eighty million years ago, Gove County was part of an ancient inland sea known as the Western Interior Seaway. Many students still visit the Castle Rock Badlands today to explore fossils. ^[3]

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 1868, Gove County was established and named for Granville Llewellyn Gove, member of the 11th Regiment Kansas Volunteer Cavalry, and son of Moses Gove, a former mayor of Manhattan, Kansas. ^{[4] [5]}

21st century

Main article: COVID-19 pandemic in Kansas

In 2020, USA Today profiled Gove County during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States and called it the "deadliest place in America" due to it having the highest death rate from COVID-19 compared to any other county in the nation: 1 out of every 132 people. The first deaths were reported on October 7; as of November 2020, 20 residents died from the virus, and 314 other positive cases were reported. The article attributed the high death rate to predominant public opposition towards wearing face masks, doubts over the pandemic's severity, and the county's high median age, all of which left residents highly vulnerable. ^[6]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 1,072 square miles (2,780 km²), of which 1,072 square miles (2,780 km²) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km²) (0.01%) is water. ^[7]

Adjacent counties

• Sheridan County (north)
• Graham County (northeast)
• Trego County (east)
• Ness County (southeast)
• Lane County (south)
• Scott County (southwest)
• Logan County (west)
• Thomas County (northwest)

Demographics

Population pyramid based on 2000 census age data

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1880	1,196		—
1890	2,994		150.3%
1900	2,441		−18.5%
1910	6,044		147.6%
1920	4,748		−21.4%
1930	5,643		18.9%
1940	4,793		−15.1%
1950	4,447		−7.2%
1960	4,107		−7.6%
1970	3,940		−4.1%
1980	3,726		−5.4%
1990	3,231		−13.3%
2000	3,068		−5.0%
2010	2,695		−12.2%
2020	2,718		0.9%
2023 (est.)	2,735	[8]	0.6%
U.S. Decennial Census [9] 1790-1960 [10] 1900-1990 [11] 1990-2000 [12] 2010-2020 [1]

As of the 2000 census, ^[13] there were 3,068 people, 1,245 households, and 861 families residing in the county. The population density was 3 people per square mile (1.2 people/km²). There were 1,423 housing units at an average density of 1 per square mile (0.39/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.95% White, 0.10% Black or African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.10% Asian, 0.72% from other races, and 0.98% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.24% of the population.

There were 1,245 households, out of which 28.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.50% were married couples living together, 3.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.80% were non-families. 29.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.20% under the age of 18, 5.40% from 18 to 24, 22.10% from 25 to 44, 23.70% from 45 to 64, and 22.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 95.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,510, and the median income for a family was $40,438. Males had a median income of $26,863 versus $21,357 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,852. About 8.00% of families and 10.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.90% of those under age 18 and 6.90% of those age 65 or over.

In 2020, Gove County had 2,600 residents, and the median age was about 50, a decade older than the national average. ^[6]

Government

Presidential elections

Presidential election results

United States presidential election results for Gove County, Kansas ^[14]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	1,211	87.82%	147	10.66%	21	1.52%
2020	1,291	87.76%	166	11.28%	14	0.95%
2016	1,140	84.88%	149	11.09%	54	4.02%
2012	1,168	84.45%	176	12.73%	39	2.82%
2008	1,136	80.11%	261	18.41%	21	1.48%
2004	1,196	81.53%	247	16.84%	24	1.64%
2000	1,122	75.05%	296	19.80%	77	5.15%
1996	1,123	69.19%	351	21.63%	149	9.18%
1992	792	46.42%	379	22.22%	535	31.36%
1988	966	57.36%	663	39.37%	55	3.27%
1984	1,310	73.43%	426	23.88%	48	2.69%
1980	1,263	71.11%	396	22.30%	117	6.59%
1976	860	48.95%	848	48.26%	49	2.79%
1972	1,226	69.86%	466	26.55%	63	3.59%
1968	1,018	59.05%	538	31.21%	168	9.74%
1964	774	42.69%	1,022	56.37%	17	0.94%
1960	1,065	55.85%	828	43.42%	14	0.73%
1956	1,315	72.29%	492	27.05%	12	0.66%
1952	1,453	75.84%	453	23.64%	10	0.52%
1948	1,030	57.48%	719	40.12%	43	2.40%
1944	1,125	72.02%	420	26.89%	17	1.09%
1940	1,352	66.31%	659	32.32%	28	1.37%
1936	1,107	49.75%	1,090	48.99%	28	1.26%
1932	1,043	45.75%	1,186	52.02%	51	2.24%
1928	1,470	70.95%	590	28.47%	12	0.58%
1924	1,211	67.77%	400	22.38%	176	9.85%
1920	950	74.92%	285	22.48%	33	2.60%
1916	642	40.07%	862	53.81%	98	6.12%
1912	170	18.56%	355	38.76%	391	42.69%
1908	632	55.15%	456	39.79%	58	5.06%
1904	470	63.17%	204	27.42%	70	9.41%
1900	368	58.41%	253	40.16%	9	1.43%
1896	279	55.36%	204	40.48%	21	4.17%
1892	327	56.87%	0	0.00%	248	43.13%
1888	586	65.84%	278	31.24%	26	2.92%

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, Gove County has remained a prohibition, or "dry", county. ^[15]

Education

Unified school districts

• Grinnell USD 291
• Wheatland USD 292
• Quinter USD 293

Attractions

• Castle Rock
• Monument Rocks

Communities

2005 map of Gove County (map legend)

List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Gove County. ^[16]
‡ means a community has portions in an adjacent county.

Cities

• Gove City (county seat)
• Grainfield
• Grinnell
• Oakley‡ - originally named Carlyle & Cleveland
• Park - originally named Buffalo Park
• Quinter - originally named Melota & Familton

Unincorporated community

• Campus

Ghost towns

• Alanthus
• Hackberry
• Jerome

Townships

Gove County is divided into nine townships. 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.

Township	FIPS	Population center	Population	Population density /km2 (/sq mi)	Land area km2 (sq mi)	Water area km2 (sq mi)	Water %	Geographic coordinates
Baker	03775	Quinter	1,357	4 (11)	324 (125)	0 (0)	0%	39°2′18″N100°13′56″W / 39.03833°N 100.23222°W / 39.03833; -100.23222
Gaeland	25000		46	0 (1)	208 (80)	0 (0)	0%	38°56′21″N100°44′30″W / 38.93917°N 100.74167°W / 38.93917; -100.74167
Gove	27075		215	1 (2)	301 (116)	0 (0)	0%	38°57′19″N100°31′44″W / 38.95528°N 100.52889°W / 38.95528; -100.52889
Grainfield	27225	Grainfield	430	2 (6)	184 (71)	0 (0)	0%	39°5′41″N100°28′28″W / 39.09472°N 100.47444°W / 39.09472; -100.47444
Grinnell	28925	Grinnell	480	2 (4)	320 (123)	0 (0)	0.04%	39°5′50″N100°41′41″W / 39.09722°N 100.69472°W / 39.09722; -100.69472
Jerome	35425		132	0 (1)	370 (143)	0 (0)	0.01%	38°48′3″N100°28′45″W / 38.80083°N 100.47917°W / 38.80083; -100.47917
Larrabee	38750		80	0 (1)	371 (143)	0 (0)	0.01%	38°47′24″N100°15′14″W / 38.79000°N 100.25389°W / 38.79000; -100.25389
Lewis	39750		13	0 (0)	372 (144)	0 (0)	0%	38°46′23″N100°43′39″W / 38.77306°N 100.72750°W / 38.77306; -100.72750
Payne	55050		315	1 (3)	324 (125)	0 (0)	0%	39°3′4″N100°20′42″W / 39.05111°N 100.34500°W / 39.05111; -100.34500
Sources: "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files". U.S. Census Bureau, Geography Division. Archived from the original on August 2, 2002.

Gallery

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See also

• Kansas portal

• Dry counties
• Iaceornis

Community information for Kansas

• Kansas locations by per capita income
• List of counties in Kansas
• List of townships in Kansas
• List of cities in Kansas
• List of unincorporated communities in Kansas
• List of ghost towns in Kansas

References

1. "QuickFacts; Gove 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 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. "Believe it or not: dry western Kansas is the place to study prehistoric oceans". NPR.org. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
4. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp.  140.
5. Blackmar, Frank Wilson (1912). Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, Embracing Events, Institutions, Industries, Counties, Cities, Towns, Prominent Persons, Etc. Standard Publishing Company. pp.  768.
6. Hughes, Trevor (December 12, 2020). "Deadliest place in America: They shrugged off the pandemic, then their family and friends started dying". USA TODAY. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
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 January 31, 2008.
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 2004. Archived from the original on October 8, 2007. Retrieved January 21, 2007.
16. "General Highway Map of Gove County, Kansas" (PDF). Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT). October 2006. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 3, 2023.

Notes

Further reading

See also: List of books about Kansas, including historical information about its counties and cities

• A local history of Jerome Township, Gove County, Kansas; Fred Baker; 12 pages; 1918.
• History of Gove County, Kansas; W.P. Harrington; 47 pages; 1917.
• Standard Atlas of Gove County, Kansas; Geo. A. Ogle & Co; 61 pages; 1907.

External links

County

• Gove County - Official
• Gove County - Directory of Public Officials

Maps

• Gove County Maps: Current, Historic, KDOT
• Kansas Highway Maps: Current, Historic, KDOT
• Kansas Railroad Maps: Current, 1996, 1915, KDOT and Kansas Historical Society

38°55′N100°29′W / 38.917°N 100.483°W / 38.917; -100.483