Jewell County | |
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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 | |
Country | ![]() |
State | ![]() |
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 | |
• 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 |
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.
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.
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".
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]
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 | [2] | −2.9% |
U.S. Decennial Census [6] 1790-1960 [7] 1900-1990 [8] 1990-2000 [9] 2010-2020 [1] |
As of the 2000 census, [10] 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.
Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
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.
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. [12] [13]
List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Jewell County. [14]
† means a community is designated a Census-Designated Place (CDP) by the United States Census Bureau.
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.
Clay County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat and most populous city is Clay Center. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 8,117. The county was named for Henry Clay, an influential U.S. Senator from Kentucky.
Woodson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat is Yates Center. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 3,115. The county was named after Daniel Woodson, a five-time acting governor of the Kansas Territory.
Trego County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat and largest city is WaKeeney. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 2,808. The county was named for Edgar Trego.
Thomas County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat is Colby. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 7,930. The county was named after George Thomas, a general during the American Civil War.
Stanton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat is Johnson City. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 2,084. It was named for Edwin Stanton, the U.S. Secretary of War during most of the American Civil War.
Smith County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat is Smith Center. As of the 2020 census, the population was 3,570. The county is named in memory of J. Nelson Smith, a major in the 2nd Colorado Cavalry, killed at the Battle of Westport on October 21, 1864. The geographic center of the contiguous United States is located within the county, near Lebanon.
Sheridan County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat is Hoxie. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 2,447. The county was named in honor of Phillip Sheridan, a general during the American Civil War.
Rush County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat and largest city is La Crosse. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 2,956. The county was named for Alexander Rush.
Republic County is a county located in the state of Kansas, south from the Nebraska state line. Its county seat and largest city is Belleville. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 4,674. The county was named after the Republican River.
Rawlins County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat and largest city is Atwood. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 2,561. It was named after John Rawlins, a general in the American Civil War.
Ottawa County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat and largest city is Minneapolis. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 5,735. The county was named after the Odawa tribe.
Morris County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat and largest city is Council Grove. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 5,386. The county was named for Thomas Morris, a U.S. Senator from Ohio and anti-slavery advocate.
Mitchell County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat and largest city is Beloit. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 5,796. The county was named for William Mitchell.
Lane County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat is Dighton, the only incorporated city in the county. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 1,574, making it the third-least populous county in Kansas. The county was named after James Lane, a leader of the Jayhawker abolitionist movement and served as one of the first U.S. senators from Kansas.
Elk County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat and most populous city is Howard. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 2,483. The county was named for the Elk River.
Dickinson County is a county in Central Kansas. Its county seat and most populous city is Abilene. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 18,402. The county was named in honor of Daniel Dickinson, a U.S. Senator from New York that was a Kansas statehood advocate.
Comanche County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat and most populous city is Coldwater. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 1,689. The county was named after the Comanche tribe.
Cloud County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat and most populous city is Concordia. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 9,032. The county was named after William Cloud, an officer in the American Civil War.
Chase County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat and most populous city is Cottonwood Falls. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 2,572. The county was named for Salmon Chase, a U.S. Senator from Ohio that was a Kansas statehood advocate.
Webber is a city in Jewell County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 30.