Graham County, Kansas

Last updated

Graham County
Antelope Lake Park (Graham Co, KS) N shelter 1.JPG
Map of Kansas highlighting Graham County.svg
Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
Kansas in United States.svg
Kansas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 39°21′N99°53′W / 39.35°N 99.88°W / 39.35; -99.88
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of Kansas.svg  Kansas
FoundedFebruary 26, 1887
Named for John L. Graham
Seat Hill City
Largest cityHill City
Area
  Total899 sq mi (2,330 km2)
  Land899 sq mi (2,330 km2)
  Water0.2 sq mi (0.5 km2)  0.03%
Population
 (2020) [1]
  Total2,415
  Density2.7/sq mi (1.0/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
  Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district 1st
Website grahamcountyks.com

Graham County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat and most populous city is Hill City. [2] As of the 2020 census, the county population was 2,415. [1] The county was named for John Graham, a captain in the American Civil War that died during the Battle of Chickamauga. The county is home to Nicodemus, founded 1877, which is the only remaining western town established by African Americans during the Reconstruction Period following the American Civil War.

Contents

History

Early history

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. Graham County was organized in 1880. [3] In 1887, Graham County was established and named for Captain John L. Graham, [4] a Union soldier killed in action at the Battle of Chickamauga in Tennessee on September 19, 1863.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 899 square miles (2,330 km2), of which 899 square miles (2,330 km2) is land and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km2) (0.03%) is water. [5]

Graham County roughly contains 3600 quarter sections, and is the fourth county east of Colorado line and the second county south of the Nebraska line. The 100th meridian west passes nearly through its center. The average elevation in the county is 2,700 feet (820 m) above sea level. It is intersected by the south fork of Solomon River, and drained by Saline River. [6]

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Demographics

Population pyramid based on 2000 census age data USA Graham County, Kansas age pyramid.svg
Population pyramid based on 2000 census age data
Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1880 4,258
1890 5,02918.1%
1900 5,1732.9%
1910 8,70068.2%
1920 7,624−12.4%
1930 7,7721.9%
1940 6,071−21.9%
1950 5,020−17.3%
1960 5,58611.3%
1970 4,751−14.9%
1980 3,995−15.9%
1990 3,543−11.3%
2000 2,946−16.9%
2010 2,597−11.8%
2020 2,415−7.0%
2023 (est.)2,376 [7] −1.6%
U.S. Decennial Census [8]
1790-1960 [9] 1900-1990 [10]
1990-2000 [11] 2010-2020 [1]

As of the 2000 census, [12] there were 2,946 people, 1,263 households, and 847 families residing in the county. The population density was 3 people per square mile (1.2 people/km2). There were 1,553 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile (0.77/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 94.91% White, 3.22% Black or African American, 0.34% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.41% from other races, and 0.81% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.78% of the population.

There were 1,263 households, out of which 27.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.50% were married couples living together, 5.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.90% were non-families. 30.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.84.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.50% under the age of 18, 5.30% from 18 to 24, 23.10% from 25 to 44, 25.40% from 45 to 64, and 23.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 95.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,286, and the median income for a family was $38,036. Males had a median income of $26,642 versus $18,222 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,050. About 8.60% of families and 11.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.60% of those under age 18 and 10.40% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Presidential elections

Presidential election results
United States presidential election results for Graham County, Kansas [13]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.%No.%No.%
2020 1,08080.78%22817.05%292.17%
2016 1,02579.83%18814.64%715.53%
2012 1,05678.81%25619.10%282.09%
2008 1,06074.49%32522.84%382.67%
2004 1,08275.14%33423.19%241.67%
2000 1,05871.78%34623.47%704.75%
1996 1,03163.41%43226.57%16310.02%
1992 75239.33%55428.97%60631.69%
1988 1,13960.97%70237.58%271.45%
1984 1,42374.00%48024.96%201.04%
1980 1,45070.90%47323.13%1225.97%
1976 1,11253.26%93644.83%401.92%
1972 1,44073.32%48824.85%361.83%
1968 1,30860.72%59727.72%24911.56%
1964 1,19449.58%1,19349.54%210.87%
1960 1,57262.96%91836.76%70.28%
1956 1,67669.49%72530.06%110.46%
1952 1,85972.62%68626.80%150.59%
1948 1,38059.28%91339.22%351.50%
1944 1,65166.52%81432.80%170.68%
1940 1,80460.97%1,13538.36%200.68%
1936 1,46245.66%1,73454.15%60.19%
1932 1,28437.07%2,08260.10%982.83%
1928 1,83261.68%1,08736.60%511.72%
1924 1,63153.78%62920.74%77325.49%
1920 1,65864.06%76229.44%1686.49%
1916 1,15035.63%1,80155.79%2778.58%
1912 32720.27%63639.43%65040.30%
1908 91152.24%72341.46%1106.31%
1904 92164.72%24417.15%25818.13%
1900 56144.03%69454.47%191.49%
1896 34334.33%64864.86%80.80%
1892 43644.40%00.00%54655.60%
1888 79749.35%34221.18%47629.47%

Laws

Following amendment to the Kansas Constitution in 1986, Graham County remained a prohibition, or "dry", county until 1992, when voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink without a food sales requirement. [14]

Education

Unified school districts

Communities

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

List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Graham County. [15]

Cities

Unincorporated communities

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

Ghost towns

Townships

Graham County is divided into thirteen 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
PopulationPopulation
density
/km2 (/sq mi)
Land area
km2 (sq mi)
Water area
km2 (sq mi)
Water %Geographic coordinates
Allodium 01325460 (1)175 (67)0 (0)0.06% 39°29′23″N100°4′42″W / 39.48972°N 100.07833°W / 39.48972; -100.07833
Bryant 088501150 (1)233 (90)0 (0)0.04% 39°11′22″N100°5′7″W / 39.18944°N 100.08528°W / 39.18944; -100.08528
Gettysburg 26175830 (1)227 (88)0 (0)0.04% 39°23′11″N100°1′50″W / 39.38639°N 100.03056°W / 39.38639; -100.03056
Graham 27175530 (1)186 (72)0 (0)0.02% 39°31′3″N99°47′51″W / 39.51750°N 99.79750°W / 39.51750; -99.79750
Happy 29950720 (1)233 (90)0 (0)0.05% 39°12′17″N99°53′7″W / 39.20472°N 99.88528°W / 39.20472; -99.88528
Hill City 32200 Hill City 1,74716 (41)112 (43)0 (0)0.15% 39°22′17″N99°50′29″W / 39.37139°N 99.84139°W / 39.37139; -99.84139
Indiana 34000420 (1)174 (67)0 (0)0.01% 39°29′28″N99°57′59″W / 39.49111°N 99.96639°W / 39.49111; -99.96639
Millbrook 466251501 (2)159 (62)0 (0)0.04% 39°19′1″N99°55′2″W / 39.31694°N 99.91722°W / 39.31694; -99.91722
Morland 48250680 (1)286 (111)0 (0)0.05% 39°13′46″N99°41′15″W / 39.22944°N 99.68750°W / 39.22944; -99.68750
Nicodemus 50575521 (2)84 (32)0 (0)0.03% 39°24′40″N99°38′55″W / 39.41111°N 99.64861°W / 39.41111; -99.64861
Pioneer 55900570 (1)161 (62)0 (0)0.02% 39°31′1″N99°40′2″W / 39.51694°N 99.66722°W / 39.51694; -99.66722
Solomon 66300 Morland 2091 (3)159 (61)0 (0)0.01% 39°18′57″N100°4′44″W / 39.31583°N 100.07889°W / 39.31583; -100.07889
Wildhorse 79225 Bogue 2522 (5)137 (53)0 (0)0.06% 39°20′45″N99°40′13″W / 39.34583°N 99.67028°W / 39.34583; -99.67028
Sources: "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files". U.S. Census Bureau, Geography Division. Archived from the original on August 2, 2002.

In art

Noted regional artist Birger Sandzén frequently painted landscapes in Graham County, where his wife's parents moved in 1906. [16] Examples include Still Water currently profiled in the collection at Kansas State University's Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art which depicts Wild Horse Creek in the county. [16]

See also

Community information for Kansas

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "QuickFacts; Graham 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. Blackmar, Frank Wilson (1912). Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, Embracing Events, Institutions, Industries, Counties, Cities, Towns, Prominent Persons, Etc. Standard Publishing Company. p. 771. ISBN   9780722249055.
  4. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 140.
  5. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  6. Ripley, George; Dana, Charles A., eds. (1879). "Graham. II. A N. W. unsettled county of Kansas"  . The American Cyclopædia .
  7. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  8. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  9. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  10. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  11. "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.
  12. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  13. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
  14. "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.
  15. 1 2 "General Highway Map of Graham County, Kansas" (PDF). Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT). May 2008. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 3, 2023.
  16. 1 2 North, 24-27
Notes

    Further reading

    County
    Historical
    Maps

    39°21′N99°53′W / 39.350°N 99.883°W / 39.350; -99.883