Logan County, Kansas

Not to be confused with Logan, Kansas.

Logan County
County
Butterfield Trail Museum, formerly the Logan County Courthouse, in Russell Springs (2014)
Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
Kansas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 38°54′N101°08′W / 38.900°N 101.133°W / 38.900; -101.133
Country	United States
State	Kansas
Founded	February 24, 1887
Named for	John A. Logan
Seat	Oakley
Largest city	Oakley
Area
• Total	1,073 sq mi (2,780 km2)
• Land	1,073 sq mi (2,780 km2)
• Water	0.1 sq mi (0.3 km2)  0.01%
Population  (2020) [1]
• Total	2,762
• Density	2.6/sq mi (1.0/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	1st
Website	discoveroakley.com

Agriculture, as represented by this stockyard on the edge of Oakley, is important in Logan County

Logan County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat and largest city is Oakley. ^[2] As of the 2020 census, the county population was 2,762. ^[1] The county was named for John Logan, a general during the American Civil War. ^[3] One of the county's distinctive features is a mile-long stretch of Smoky Hill Chalk bluffs that tower 100 feet (30 m) high over the Smoky Hill River and are dubbed "Little Jerusalem" for resemblance to the ancient walled city. ^[4] The formation is mostly on private land. In 2016, The Nature Conservancy purchased the property and the Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park opened to the public in October 2019. ^[5]

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, Logan County was established.

Logan County was first created in 1871 as St. John County. St. John was formed from the area to the east of range 38 in what was then part of Wallace County. The Kansas State Legislature changed the name from St. John to Logan in 1885. ^[6]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,073 square miles (2,780 km²), of which 1,073 square miles (2,780 km²) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km²) (0.01%) is water. ^[7]

Major highways

• Kansas Highway 25
• U.S. Highway 40
• U.S. Highway 83
• Interstate 70

Adjacent counties

• Thomas County (north)
• Gove County (east)
• Scott County (southeast)
• Wichita County (south)
• Wallace County (west/Mountain Time border)
• Sherman County (northwest/Mountain Time border)

Demographics

Population pyramid based on 2000 census age data

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1890	3,384		—
1900	1,962		−42.0%
1910	4,240		116.1%
1920	3,223		−24.0%
1930	4,145		28.6%
1940	3,688		−11.0%
1950	4,206		14.0%
1960	4,036		−4.0%
1970	3,814		−5.5%
1980	3,478		−8.8%
1990	3,081		−11.4%
2000	3,046		−1.1%
2010	2,756		−9.5%
2020	2,762		0.2%
2023 (est.)	2,665	[8]	−3.5%
U.S. Decennial Census [9] 1790-1960 [10] 1900-1990 [11] 1990-2000 [12] 2010-2020 [1]

At the 2000 census, ^[13] there were 3,046 people, 1,243 households and 856 families residing in the county. The population density was 3 per square mile (1.2/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 96.72% White, 0.59% Black or African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.72% from other races, and 1.61% from two or more races. 1.64% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,243 households, of which 29.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.30% were married couples living together, 6.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.10% were non-families. 28.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.98.

Age distribution was 25.40% under the age of 18, 7.20% from 18 to 24, 24.40% from 25 to 44, 22.30% from 45 to 64, and 20.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 93.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.00 males.

The median household income was $32,131 and the median family income was $40,104. Males had a median income of $28,105 and females $19,609. The per capita income was $17,294. About 4.70% of families and 7.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.80% of those under age 18 and 8.60% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Presidential elections

Presidential election results

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

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	1,186	84.71%	183	13.07%	31	2.21%
2020	1,249	85.67%	186	12.76%	23	1.58%
2016	1,132	83.17%	149	10.95%	80	5.88%
2012	1,126	83.41%	197	14.59%	27	2.00%
2008	1,187	82.43%	225	15.63%	28	1.94%
2004	1,255	82.40%	248	16.28%	20	1.31%
2000	1,088	77.88%	231	16.54%	78	5.58%
1996	1,155	73.47%	296	18.83%	121	7.70%
1992	905	52.95%	355	20.77%	449	26.27%
1988	988	64.36%	503	32.77%	44	2.87%
1984	1,235	77.04%	331	20.65%	37	2.31%
1980	1,261	72.89%	358	20.69%	111	6.42%
1976	957	56.39%	694	40.90%	46	2.71%
1972	1,164	69.99%	428	25.74%	71	4.27%
1968	1,120	63.78%	411	23.41%	225	12.81%
1964	967	49.82%	957	49.30%	17	0.88%
1960	1,243	65.22%	651	34.16%	12	0.63%
1956	1,328	72.61%	493	26.95%	8	0.44%
1952	1,544	79.96%	369	19.11%	18	0.93%
1948	1,105	63.73%	579	33.39%	50	2.88%
1944	1,107	72.92%	406	26.75%	5	0.33%
1940	1,201	66.83%	584	32.50%	12	0.67%
1936	955	51.15%	908	48.63%	4	0.21%
1932	867	44.26%	1,025	52.32%	67	3.42%
1928	1,066	71.64%	405	27.22%	17	1.14%
1924	942	63.86%	286	19.39%	247	16.75%
1920	781	68.51%	312	27.37%	47	4.12%
1916	592	42.05%	709	50.36%	107	7.60%
1912	166	20.22%	259	31.55%	396	48.23%
1908	524	59.34%	308	34.88%	51	5.78%
1904	408	71.83%	117	20.60%	43	7.57%
1900	319	60.53%	176	33.40%	32	6.07%
1896	274	60.35%	175	38.55%	5	1.10%
1892	457	58.14%	0	0.00%	329	41.86%
1888	609	65.84%	283	30.59%	33	3.57%

Like all the High Plains, Logan County is overwhelmingly Republican. Only two Democrats have ever carried the county in a Presidential election: Woodrow Wilson in 1916 and Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1932. Since at least 1888 only three other Democrats have passed forty percent of the county's vote: Roosevelt in 1936, Lyndon Johnson in 1964 and Jimmy Carter in 1976. In fact, apart from Michael Dukakis in 1988 during an election held during the grip of a major Plains drought, no Democrat since 1980 has passed 21 percent of the county's vote.

Laws

Following amendment to the Kansas Constitution in 1986, the county remained a prohibition, or "dry", county until 2006, when voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink without a food sales requirement. ^[15]

Education

Unified school districts

• Oakley USD 274
• Triplains USD 275

Communities

2005 map of Logan County (map legend)

List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Logan County. ^[16]
‡ means a community has portions in an adjacent county. † means a community is designated a Census-Designated Place (CDP) by the United States Census Bureau.

Cities

• Oakley‡ (county seat)
• Russell Springs
• Winona

Unincorporated communities

• Monument†
• Page City

Ghost towns

• McAllaster
• Sheridan

Townships

Logan County is divided into 11 townships. None of the cities within the county is 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.

Sources: 2000 U.S. Gazetteer from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Township	FIPS	Population center	Population	Population density /km2 (/sq mi)	Land area km2 (sq mi)	Water area km2 (sq mi)	Water %	Geographic coordinates
Augustine	03350		26	0 (0)	187 (72)	0 (0)	0%	38°44′14″N101°21′15″W / 38.73722°N 101.35417°W / 38.73722; -101.35417
Elkader	20225		15	0 (0)	278 (107)	0 (0)	0.01%	38°53′33″N100°52′1″W / 38.89250°N 100.86694°W / 38.89250; -100.86694
Lees	39200		17	0 (0)	185 (72)	0 (0)	0%	38°44′26″N100°59′5″W / 38.74056°N 100.98472°W / 38.74056; -100.98472
Logansport	42325		14	0 (0)	278 (107)	0 (0)	0.01%	38°51′29″N101°4′9″W / 38.85806°N 101.06917°W / 38.85806; -101.06917
McAllaster	43600		29	0 (0)	276 (106)	0 (0)	0.01%	39°2′58″N101°22′4″W / 39.04944°N 101.36778°W / 39.04944; -101.36778
Monument	48050		144	1 (1)	276 (107)	0 (0)	0%	39°4′17″N101°2′42″W / 39.07139°N 101.04500°W / 39.07139; -101.04500
Oakley	51850	Oakley	2,343	8 (22)	278 (107)	0 (0)	0.01%	39°6′43″N100°51′32″W / 39.11194°N 100.85889°W / 39.11194; -100.85889
Paxton	55025		24	0 (0)	186 (72)	0 (0)	0%	38°44′38″N101°7′57″W / 38.74389°N 101.13250°W / 38.74389; -101.13250
Russell Springs	61900		71	0 (1)	279 (108)	0 (0)	0.03%	38°53′16″N101°12′15″W / 38.88778°N 101.20417°W / 38.88778; -101.20417
Western	76900		44	0 (0)	279 (108)	0 (0)	0.04%	38°54′3″N101°24′37″W / 38.90083°N 101.41028°W / 38.90083; -101.41028
Winona	80100	Winona	319	1 (3)	277 (107)	0 (0)	0%	39°3′53″N101°12′54″W / 39.06472°N 101.21500°W / 39.06472; -101.21500

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; Logan County, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 18, 2021. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. Blackmar, Frank Wilson (1912). Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, Volume 2. Standard Publishing Company. pp.  180.
4. "Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park". Places We Protect www.nature.org. The Nature Conservancy. Retrieved October 16, 2019. The chalk outcroppings have had many names. In the late 19th century, they were said to resemble the ruins of many castles, thus "Castle City." Some say that it got the name "Little Jerusalem" or "New Jerusalem" because from a distance it looks like the ancient walled city of Jerusalem. By the time The Nature Conservancy acquired the property, most modern-day locals and geologists knew it by the name of Little Jerusalem.
5. Desrochers, Daniel (October 12, 2016). "One of Kansas' natural wonders soon to be open to public". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
6. Blackmar, Frank Wilson (1912). Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, Volume 2. Chicago: Standard Publishing Company. pp.  180–181.
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 26, 2014.
10. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
11. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 26, 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 26, 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 2006. Archived from the original on October 8, 2007. Retrieved December 28, 2007.
16. "General Highway Map of Logan County, Kansas" (PDF). Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT). June 2010. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 24, 2024.

Notes

Further reading

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

External links

County

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

Maps

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