Haskell County, Kansas

Haskell County
County
Haskell County Courthouse in Sublette (2010)
Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
Kansas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°34′00″N100°52′01″W / 37.5667°N 100.867°W / 37.5667; -100.867
Country	United States
State	Kansas
Founded	March 23, 1887
Named for	Dudley Haskell
Seat	Sublette
Largest city	Sublette
Area
• Total	578 sq mi (1,500 km2)
• Land	578 sq mi (1,500 km2)
• Water	0.4 sq mi (1 km2)  0.06%
Population  (2020) [1]
• Total	3,780
• Density	6.5/sq mi (2.5/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	1st
Website	HaskellCounty.org

Haskell County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat and most populous city is Sublette. ^[2] As of the 2020 census, the county population was 3,780. ^[1] The county was named after Dudley Haskell, a congressman during the 1870s and 1880s.

History

See also: History of Kansas

For millennia, the Great Plains of North America were inhabited by nomadic Native Americans.

In 1854, the Kansas Territory was organized, then in 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state.

Haskell County was founded in 1887. ^[3] It was named for Dudley C. Haskell, a former member of Congress. ^[3]

Origin of the Spanish flu pandemic

Historian John M. Barry concluded that Haskell County was the location of the first outbreak of the 1918 flu pandemic (nicknamed "Spanish flu"), which killed between 21 and 100 million people. ^{[4] [5]} Loring Miner, a Haskell County doctor, warned the editors of Public Health Reports of the U.S. Public Health Service about the new and more deadly variant of the virus. It produced the common influenza symptoms with a new intensity: "violent headache and body aches, high fever, non-productive cough... This was violent, rapid in its progress through the body, and sometimes lethal. This influenza killed. Soon dozens of patients—the strongest, the healthiest, the most robust people in the county—were being struck down as suddenly as if they had been shot." ^[6] Barry writes that in the first six months of 1918, Miner's warning of "the influenza of a severe type" was the only reference in that journal to influenza anywhere in the world. ^[7]

Haskell County, Kansas, is the first recorded instance anywhere in the world of an outbreak of influenza so unusual that a physician warned public health officials. It remains the first recorded instance suggesting that a new virus was adapting, violently, to man.

If the virus did not originate in Haskell, there is no good explanation for how it arrived there. There were no other known outbreaks anywhere in the United States from which someone could have carried the disease to Haskell and no suggestions of influenza outbreaks in either newspapers or reflected in vital statistics anywhere else in the region. And unlike the 1916 outbreak in France, one can trace with perfect definiteness the route of the virus from Haskell to the outside world. ^[4]

Miner's report was not published until April 1918 and it failed to collect the attention it needed. It was not until after 2000 that historians' research revealed the origin of one of the deadliest epidemics in human history.

Historians have generally reported that the path of the disease from Haskell to the world occurred when newly inducted soldiers from the county traveled 200 miles from the county to Camp Funston (now Fort Riley) and were then deployed to Europe at the beginning of United States involvement in World War I. ^[4]

However, Haskell County's role in the pandemic is widely disputed. Many pathologists believe that Haskell County did not play a role in the virus's origin and that historical accounts are entirely coincidental.^{[ citation needed ]}

Surviving the Dust Bowl

The railroad and the development of oil and gas fields in the 1930s, and the locating of many deep wells for irrigation significantly improved the economy of the area helping overcome the "dust bowl" of that period. ^[8] Haskell County was one of the hardest hit counties in the Midwest during the drought of 1930–1937.

The first rodeo and fair was held in Sublette in 1916 and the fair continues at the same location. The first school district was founded in Santa Fe in 1887. Amanda I. Watkins, who owned a considerable amount of land in the county, was named "World Wheat Queen" in 1926. ^[8]

Geography

Satellite image of circular crop fields in Haskell County in late June 2001.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 578 square miles (1,500 km²), of which 578 square miles (1,500 km²) is land and 0.4 square miles (1.0 km²) (0.06%) is water. ^[9]

Haskell County is the flattest county in Kansas. ^[10]

Adjacent counties

• Finney County (north)
• Gray County (east)
• Meade County (southeast)
• Seward County (south)
• Stevens County (southwest)
• Grant County (west)
• Kearny County (northwest)

Demographics

Population pyramid based on 2000 census age data

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1890	1,077		—
1900	457		−57.6%
1910	993		117.3%
1920	1,455		46.5%
1930	2,805		92.8%
1940	2,088		−25.6%
1950	2,606		24.8%
1960	2,990		14.7%
1970	3,672		22.8%
1980	3,814		3.9%
1990	3,886		1.9%
2000	4,307		10.8%
2010	4,256		−1.2%
2020	3,780		−11.2%
2023 (est.)	3,630	[11]	−4.0%
U.S. Decennial Census [12] 1790–1960 [13] 1900–1990 [14] 1990–2000 [15] 2010–2020 [1]

As of the U.S. Census in 2000, ^[16] there were 4,307 people, 1,481 households, and 1,153 families residing in the county. The population density was 8 people per square mile (3.1 people/km²). There were 1,639 housing units at an average density of 3 per square mile (1.2/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 85.07% White, 0.63% Asian, 0.58% Native American, 0.19% Black or African American, 11.45% from other races, and 2.09% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 23.57% of the population.

There were 1,481 households, out of which 43.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.40% were married couples living together, 5.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.10% were non-families. 20.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.88 and the average family size was 3.35.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 32.90% under the age of 18, 9.10% from 18 to 24, 27.80% from 25 to 44, 19.50% from 45 to 64, and 10.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 103.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $38,634, and the median income for a family was $43,354. Males had a median income of $31,296 versus $22,857 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,349. About 8.00% of families and 11.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.40% of those under age 18 and 9.40% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Presidential elections

As do most counties in rural western Kansas, Haskell County leans heavily Republican. The last time Haskell County was carried by a Democratic presidential nominee was 1964, when Lyndon B. Johnson won the county as part of his nationwide landslide victory.

Presidential election results

United States presidential election results for Haskell County, Kansas ^[17]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	1,021	81.48%	220	17.56%	12	0.96%
2020	1,122	79.57%	268	19.01%	20	1.42%
2016	1,040	76.81%	245	18.09%	69	5.10%
2012	1,159	83.02%	215	15.40%	22	1.58%
2008	1,277	81.34%	278	17.71%	15	0.96%
2004	1,356	84.80%	227	14.20%	16	1.00%
2000	1,323	81.87%	263	16.27%	30	1.86%
1996	1,143	73.55%	304	19.56%	107	6.89%
1992	1,023	56.02%	336	18.40%	467	25.58%
1988	964	67.41%	427	29.86%	39	2.73%
1984	1,152	79.34%	283	19.49%	17	1.17%
1980	1,014	67.65%	374	24.95%	111	7.40%
1976	761	51.98%	676	46.17%	27	1.84%
1972	1,036	71.55%	383	26.45%	29	2.00%
1968	762	54.16%	476	33.83%	169	12.01%
1964	570	40.45%	820	58.20%	19	1.35%
1960	853	64.23%	471	35.47%	4	0.30%
1956	829	70.49%	341	29.00%	6	0.51%
1952	870	74.30%	283	24.17%	18	1.54%
1948	592	54.66%	466	43.03%	25	2.31%
1944	520	59.91%	342	39.40%	6	0.69%
1940	607	58.48%	425	40.94%	6	0.58%
1936	442	41.35%	626	58.56%	1	0.09%
1932	456	40.50%	639	56.75%	31	2.75%
1928	646	73.41%	222	25.23%	12	1.36%
1924	493	65.13%	167	22.06%	97	12.81%
1920	444	69.59%	150	23.51%	44	6.90%
1916	248	36.20%	349	50.95%	88	12.85%
1912	61	25.42%	100	41.67%	79	32.92%
1908	172	48.73%	139	39.38%	42	11.90%
1904	120	69.77%	46	26.74%	6	3.49%
1900	79	64.23%	44	35.77%	0	0.00%
1896	81	58.70%	54	39.13%	3	2.17%
1892	177	61.46%	0	0.00%	111	38.54%
1888	291	55.01%	197	37.24%	41	7.75%

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, Haskell County remained a prohibition, or "dry", county until 2023, after voters in the county approved the 1986 amendment with a 30% food sales requirement. ^[18]

Education

Unified school districts

• Sublette USD 374
• Satanta USD 507

Communities

2005 map of Haskell County (map legend)

List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Haskell County. ^[19]

Cities

• Satanta
• Sublette (county seat)

Unincorporated community

• Tice

Ghost town

• Santa Fe (historical)

Townships

Area affected by 1930s Dust Bowl

Haskell County is divided into three 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
Dudley	18825		1,814	4 (9)	499 (193)	0 (0)	0.03%	37°30′40″N101°0′28″W / 37.51111°N 101.00778°W / 37.51111; -101.00778
Haskell	30625		1,971	4 (10)	498 (192)	0 (0)	0.07%	37°32′25″N100°51′43″W / 37.54028°N 100.86194°W / 37.54028; -100.86194
Lockport	41675		522	1 (3)	498 (192)	0 (0)	0.09%	37°34′19″N100°43′11″W / 37.57194°N 100.71972°W / 37.57194; -100.71972
Sources: "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files". U.S. Census Bureau, Geography Division. Archived from the original on August 2, 2002.

See also

• Kansas portal

• High Plains (United States)
• Great Plains

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; Haskell County, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 17, 2021. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. 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. 826.
4. Barry, John M (January 20, 2004). "The site of origin of the 1918 influenza pandemic and its public health implications". Journal of Translational Medicine. 2 (1): 3. doi: 10.1186/1479-5876-2-3 . ISSN   1479-5876. PMC   340389 . PMID   14733617.
5. The 1918 Spanish Flu-A Conspiracy of Silence on YouTube
6. John M. Barry, The Great Influenza: The Story of the Deadliest Pandemic in History (New York: Penguin Books, c2004, 2005) p. 93.
7. , John M. Barry, The Great Influenza: The Story of the Deadliest Pandemic in History (New York: Penguin Books, c2004, 2005) pp. 94-95.
8. Haskell County, Kansas, Kansapedia. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
9. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
10. Brackman, Barbara (1997). Kansas Trivia. Thomas Nelson Inc. p. 12. ISBN   9781418553814.
11. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
12. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
13. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
14. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
15. "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 26, 2014.
16. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
17. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
18. "Map of Wet and Dry Counties" (PDF). Kansas Department of Revenue Alcoholic Beverage Control. March 1, 2023. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 7, 2023. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
19. "General Highway Map of Haskell County, Kansas" (PDF). Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT). November 2008. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 25, 2024.

Further reading

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

External links

County

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

Maps

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

37°34′N100°52′W / 37.567°N 100.867°W / 37.567; -100.867