Jewell County, Kansas

Jewell County
County
Jewell County Courthouse in Mankato (2014)
Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
Kansas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 39°48′N98°14′W / 39.800°N 98.233°W / 39.800; -98.233
Country	United States
State	Kansas
Founded	February 26, 1887
Named for	Lewis R. Jewell
Seat	Mankato
Largest city	Mankato
Area
• Total	914 sq mi (2,370 km2)
• Land	910 sq mi (2,400 km2)
• Water	4.6 sq mi (12 km2)  0.5%
Population  (2020) [1]
• Total	2,932
• Estimate  (2023) [2]	2,847
• Density	3.2/sq mi (1.2/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Area code	785
Congressional district	1st
Website	jewellcountykansas.net

June 24, 1947, flood of the Republican River on the border of Jewell County, Kansas and Republic County, Kansas, near Hardy, Nebraska, and Webber, Kansas, just south of Nebraska NE-8 on Kansas 1 Rd/CR-1 bridge over the Republican River. The normal flood stage for the river is at the tree line in the foreground.

Jewell County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat and most populous city is Mankato. ^[3] As of the 2020 census, the county population was 2,932. ^[1] The county was named for Lewis Jewell, a lieutenant colonel of the 6th Regiment Kansas Volunteer Cavalry.

History

Early history

See also: History of Kansas

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 1887, Jewell County was established and named for Lieutenant Colonel Lewis R. Jewell of the 6th Regiment Kansas Volunteer Cavalry. ^[4]

In 1887, Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway built a branch line from Neva (3 miles west of Strong City) to Superior, Nebraska. This branch line connected Strong City, Neva, Rockland, Diamond Springs, Burdick, Lost Springs, Jacobs, Hope, Navarre, Enterprise, Abilene, Talmage, Manchester, Longford, Oak Hill, Miltonvale, Aurora, Huscher, Concordia, Kackley, Courtland, Webber, Superior. At some point, the line from Neva to Lost Springs was pulled but the right of way has not been abandoned. This branch line was originally called "Strong City and Superior line" but later the name was shortened to the "Strong City line". In 1996, the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway merged with Burlington Northern Railroad and renamed to the current BNSF Railway. Most locals still refer to this railroad as the "Santa Fe".

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 914 square miles (2,370 km²), of which 910 square miles (2,400 km²) is land and 4.6 square miles (12 km²) (0.5%) is water. ^[5]

Adjacent counties

• Nuckolls County, Nebraska (northeast)
• Republic County (east)
• Cloud County (southeast)
• Mitchell County (south)
• Osborne County (southwest)
• Smith County (west)
• Webster County, Nebraska (northwest)

Demographics

Population pyramid based on 2000 census age data

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1870	207		—
1880	17,475		8,342.0%
1890	19,349		10.7%
1900	19,420		0.4%
1910	18,148		−6.5%
1920	16,240		−10.5%
1930	14,462		−10.9%
1940	11,970		−17.2%
1950	9,698		−19.0%
1960	7,217		−25.6%
1970	6,099		−15.5%
1980	5,241		−14.1%
1990	4,251		−18.9%
2000	3,791		−10.8%
2010	3,077		−18.8%
2020	2,932		−4.7%
2023 (est.)	2,847	[6]	−2.9%
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 3,791 people, 1,695 households, and 1,098 families residing in the county. The population density was 4 people per square mile (1.5 people/km²). There were 2,103 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile (0.77/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.79% White, 0.34% Native American, 0.05% Asian, 0.03% Black or African American, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.05% from other races, and 0.71% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.71% of the population.

There were 1,695 households, out of which 23.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.10% were married couples living together, 4.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.20% were non-families. 32.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.80.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 21.90% under the age of 18, 4.40% from 18 to 24, 21.50% from 25 to 44, 26.20% from 45 to 64, and 25.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 97.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,538, and the median income for a family was $36,953. Males had a median income of $24,821 versus $18,170 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,644. About 8.40% of families and 11.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.80% of those under age 18 and 10.90% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Presidential elections

Presidential election results

United States presidential election results for Jewell County, Kansas ^[12]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	1,360	87.01%	176	11.26%	27	1.73%
2020	1,387	85.20%	212	13.02%	29	1.78%
2016	1,223	81.86%	180	12.05%	91	6.09%
2012	1,235	82.50%	229	15.30%	33	2.20%
2008	1,231	77.71%	313	19.76%	40	2.53%
2004	1,495	78.07%	385	20.10%	35	1.83%
2000	1,400	74.59%	380	20.25%	97	5.17%
1996	1,374	69.01%	417	20.94%	200	10.05%
1992	1,050	45.65%	546	23.74%	704	30.61%
1988	1,546	67.99%	684	30.08%	44	1.93%
1984	1,992	76.50%	583	22.39%	29	1.11%
1980	2,074	72.80%	578	20.29%	197	6.91%
1976	1,592	57.47%	1,111	40.11%	67	2.42%
1972	2,242	74.04%	716	23.65%	70	2.31%
1968	2,172	66.18%	842	25.66%	268	8.17%
1964	1,895	53.61%	1,601	45.29%	39	1.10%
1960	2,914	72.25%	1,095	27.15%	24	0.60%
1956	3,395	75.51%	1,034	23.00%	67	1.49%
1952	4,162	80.86%	885	17.19%	100	1.94%
1948	3,143	63.18%	1,574	31.64%	258	5.19%
1944	3,754	74.20%	1,216	24.04%	89	1.76%
1940	4,591	71.57%	1,719	26.80%	105	1.64%
1936	3,849	57.76%	2,780	41.72%	35	0.53%
1932	3,324	48.20%	3,367	48.83%	205	2.97%
1928	4,583	76.90%	1,289	21.63%	88	1.48%
1924	4,342	64.83%	1,861	27.78%	495	7.39%
1920	3,925	65.97%	1,899	31.92%	126	2.12%
1916	3,022	39.84%	4,180	55.11%	383	5.05%
1912	906	20.51%	1,871	42.36%	1,640	37.13%
1908	2,410	53.48%	1,932	42.88%	164	3.64%
1904	2,720	68.09%	927	23.20%	348	8.71%
1900	2,448	51.96%	2,192	46.53%	71	1.51%
1896	1,902	44.41%	2,342	54.68%	39	0.91%
1892	1,963	45.59%	0	0.00%	2,343	54.41%
1888	2,285	54.81%	999	23.96%	885	21.23%

Like all of Kansas outside the eastern cities, Jewell County is overwhelmingly Republican. The only Democratic presidential candidates to win a majority in the county have been Woodrow Wilson in 1916 and William Jennings Bryan in 1896, and the last Democrat to win a plurality was Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1932. Since 1940 only Lyndon Johnson in 1964 and Jimmy Carter in 1976 have exceeded 31 percent of the county's vote, a devotion to the GOP comparable to famous Appalachia Unionist strongholds like Avery County, North Carolina, or Grant County, West Virginia.

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, Jewell County restaurants serve only 3.2 beer and no hard alcohol. ^{[13] [14]}

Education

Unified school districts

• Rock Hills USD 107

Communities

2005 map of Jewell County (map legend)

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

Cities

• Burr Oak
• Esbon
• Formoso
• Jewell
• Mankato (county seat)
• Randall
• Webber

Unincorporated communities

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

• Ionia†
• Lovewell
• Montrose
• North Branch
• Otego

Ghost towns

• Dentonia
• Salem

Townships

Jewell County is divided into twenty-five 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
Allen	01225		43	0 (1)	90 (35)	0 (0)	0.02%	39°36′46″N97°59′49″W / 39.61278°N 97.99694°W / 39.61278; -97.99694
Athens	02975		74	1 (2)	102 (39)	0 (0)	0%	39°36′13″N98°20′7″W / 39.60361°N 98.33528°W / 39.60361; -98.33528
Browns Creek	08725		64	1 (2)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.02%	39°36′13″N98°13′33″W / 39.60361°N 98.22583°W / 39.60361; -98.22583
Buffalo	09125		574	5 (14)	105 (41)	0 (0)	0.07%	39°40′23″N98°8′38″W / 39.67306°N 98.14389°W / 39.67306; -98.14389
Burr Oak	09550		338	3 (9)	102 (39)	0 (0)	0%	39°52′9″N98°18′36″W / 39.86917°N 98.31000°W / 39.86917; -98.31000
Calvin	10075		65	1 (2)	81 (31)	0 (0)	0.04%	39°42′19″N98°12′51″W / 39.70528°N 98.21417°W / 39.70528; -98.21417
Center	11750		1,100	12 (31)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.07%	39°47′15″N98°12′38″W / 39.78750°N 98.21056°W / 39.78750; -98.21056
Erving	21575		60	1 (2)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.08%	39°36′13″N98°26′21″W / 39.60361°N 98.43917°W / 39.60361; -98.43917
Esbon	21625		222	2 (6)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.08%	39°48′15″N98°26′41″W / 39.80417°N 98.44472°W / 39.80417; -98.44472
Grant	27725		220	2 (6)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0%	39°46′58″N97°59′28″W / 39.78278°N 97.99111°W / 39.78278; -97.99111
Harrison	30350		52	1 (1)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0%	39°57′58″N98°13′19″W / 39.96611°N 98.22194°W / 39.96611; -98.22194
Highland	31900		49	1 (1)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.03%	39°57′49″N98°26′42″W / 39.96361°N 98.44500°W / 39.96361; -98.44500
Holmwood	32800		49	1 (1)	92 (36)	0 (0)	0.05%	39°51′43″N98°12′24″W / 39.86194°N 98.20667°W / 39.86194; -98.20667
Ionia	34375		100	1 (3)	102 (39)	0 (0)	0.11%	39°40′55″N98°19′55″W / 39.68194°N 98.33194°W / 39.68194; -98.33194
Jackson	34800		123	1 (3)	92 (35)	1 (0)	0.90%	39°56′52″N97°59′53″W / 39.94778°N 97.99806°W / 39.94778; -97.99806
Limestone	40450		49	0 (1)	102 (39)	0 (0)	0.02%	39°47′38″N98°18′45″W / 39.79389°N 98.31250°W / 39.79389; -98.31250
Montana	47800		93	1 (3)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0.14%	39°57′55″N98°5′21″W / 39.96528°N 98.08917°W / 39.96528; -98.08917
Odessa	52125		34	0 (1)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.02%	39°41′52″N98°27′29″W / 39.69778°N 98.45806°W / 39.69778; -98.45806
Prairie	57400		172	2 (5)	96 (37)	0 (0)	0.02%	39°37′40″N98°4′12″W / 39.62778°N 98.07000°W / 39.62778; -98.07000
Richland	59375		36	0 (1)	83 (32)	9 (4)	10.13%	39°53′41″N98°5′40″W / 39.89472°N 98.09444°W / 39.89472; -98.09444
Sinclair	65675		67	1 (2)	89 (34)	3 (1)	2.81%	39°52′41″N97°59′52″W / 39.87806°N 97.99778°W / 39.87806; -97.99778
Vicksburg	73725		28	0 (1)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0%	39°42′4″N97°58′45″W / 39.70111°N 97.97917°W / 39.70111; -97.97917
Walnut	75000		80	1 (2)	102 (39)	0 (0)	0.07%	39°57′58″N98°20′12″W / 39.96611°N 98.33667°W / 39.96611; -98.33667
Washington	75650		50	1 (1)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0%	39°47′3″N98°5′36″W / 39.78417°N 98.09333°W / 39.78417; -98.09333
White Mound	77925		49	1 (1)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.12%	39°51′53″N98°26′21″W / 39.86472°N 98.43917°W / 39.86472; -98.43917
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

• Dry counties

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; Jewell County, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 17, 2021. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
2. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
4. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp.  169.
5. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
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 26, 2014.
8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
9. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 26, 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 26, 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". Alcoholic Beverage Control, Kansas Department of Revenue. November 2004. Archived from the original on October 8, 2007. Retrieved January 21, 2007.
14. "Kansas Liquor by the Drink Map (Wet and Dry Counties)" (PDF). Kansas Department of Revenue - Alcoholic Beverage Control. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 29, 2017.
15. "General Highway Map of Jewell County, Kansas" (PDF). Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT). December 2011. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 25, 2023.

Further reading

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

• Atlas and Plat Book of Jewell County, Kansas; Kenyon Co; 27 pages; 1921.
• Standard Atlas of Jewell County, Kansas; Geo. A. Ogle & Co; 59 pages; 1908.
• Atlas of Jewell County, Kansas; Gillen & Davy; 52 pages; 1884.

External links

County

• Jewell County - Official Website
• Jewell County - Directory of Public Officials
• Jewell County - Community Development Association

Historical

• Jewell County Kansas History and Heritage Project, Genealogy

Maps

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