Pawnee County, Kansas

Not to be confused with Pawnee, Kansas.

Pawnee County
County
Pawnee County Courthouse in Larned (2009)
Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
Kansas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 38°09′N99°12′W / 38.15°N 99.2°W / 38.15; -99.2
Country	United States
State	Kansas
Founded	February 26, 1867
Named for	Pawnee tribe
Seat	Larned
Largest city	Larned
Area
• Total	755 sq mi (1,960 km2)
• Land	754 sq mi (1,950 km2)
• Water	0.4 sq mi (1 km2)  0.05%
Population  (2020) [1]
• Total	6,253
• Density	8.3/sq mi (3.2/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional districts	1st, 4th
Website	pawneecountykansas.com

Pawnee County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat and largest city is Larned. ^[2] As of the 2020 census, the county population was 6,253. ^[1] The county is named after the Pawnee tribe. ^[3]

Agriculture remains a cornerstone of Pawnee County's economy, with the county being one of the state's leading producers of winter wheat. Other agricultural products include oilseed, grain, vegetables, melons, and cotton. The county also supports beef cattle ranching and feedlots. ^[4]

History

See also: History of Kansas

Pawnee County was established in 1867 and organized in 1872. The county derives its name from the Pawnee Indian tribe, who historically inhabited the region. Prior to its establishment as Pawnee County, the area was contained in the old Washington County, Peketon County, and later Marion County. ^[4]

Ford Larned was established near the site of present-day Larned, Kansas between 1859 and 1860 to provide protection for wagon trains traversing the Santa Fe Trail. Notably, in January 1863, a wagon train was stopped by a starving band Cheyenne and Arapaho Indians. After refusing the Indians' request for supplies, the wagon train was attacked and all but one of the teamsters killed. The survivor sought refuge at Ford Larned. ^[4]

Against this background of increasing tension in the region, Fort Larned became a base of operations for Major General Winfield Hancock's campaign against the Plains tribes. After Hancock requested reinforcements from U.S. Seventh Cavalry, led by Lieutenant Colonel George A. Custer, Custer began a campaign against the Cheyenne culminating in their defeat in the Battle of the Washita River in Oklahoma. ^[4]

Additionally, Fort Larned played a vital role in safeguarding railroad construction workers, distributing treaty-established annuities to the Indians, and serving as a Bureau of Indian Affairs office during the 1860s. While the fort officially closed in 1878, a detachment from Fort Dodge remained stationed there until 1883. ^[4]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 755 square miles (1,960 km²), of which 754 square miles (1,950 km²) is land and 0.4 square miles (1.0 km²) (0.05%) is water. ^[5]

Adjacent counties

• Rush County (north)
• Barton County (northeast)
• Stafford County (east)
• Edwards County (south)
• Hodgeman County (west)
• Ness County (northwest)

National protected area

• Fort Larned National Historic Site

Demographics

Population pyramid based on 2000 census age data

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1870	179		—
1880	5,396		2,914.5%
1890	5,204		−3.6%
1900	5,084		−2.3%
1910	8,859		74.3%
1920	9,323		5.2%
1930	10,510		12.7%
1940	10,300		−2.0%
1950	11,041		7.2%
1960	10,254		−7.1%
1970	8,484		−17.3%
1980	8,065		−4.9%
1990	7,555		−6.3%
2000	7,233		−4.3%
2010	6,973		−3.6%
2020	6,253		−10.3%
2023 (est.)	6,126	[6]	−2.0%
U.S. Decennial Census [7] 1790-1960 [8] 1900-1990 [9] 1990-2000 [10] 2010-2020 [1]

As of the census ^[11] of 2000, there were 7,233 people, 2,739 households, and 1,785 families residing in the county. The population density was 10 people per square mile (3.9 people/km²). There were 3,114 housing units at an average density of 4 per square mile (1.5/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 90.96% White, 5.00% Black or African American, 0.95% Native American, 0.57% Asian, 1.22% from other races, and 1.30% from two or more races. 4.16% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,739 households, out of which 29.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.80% were married couples living together, 7.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.80% were non-families. 32.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.20% under the age of 18, 7.30% from 18 to 24, 25.40% from 25 to 44, 24.60% from 45 to 64, and 18.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 112.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 112.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,175, and the median income for a family was $45,634. Males had a median income of $26,751 versus $20,931 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,584. About 5.40% of families and 11.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.00% of those under age 18 and 9.90% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Presidential elections

Pawnee County has been primarily Republican for the majority of its history. However, there have been multiple stretches where it was considered a swing county, backing the national winner in all presidential elections from 1904 to 1936 as well as 1964 to 1988. It has trended away from bellwether status since 1988 however.

Presidential election results

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

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	1,971	74.97%	612	23.28%	46	1.75%
2020	2,045	74.66%	643	23.48%	51	1.86%
2016	1,904	71.55%	579	21.76%	178	6.69%
2012	1,836	70.40%	718	27.53%	54	2.07%
2008	1,946	67.59%	882	30.64%	51	1.77%
2004	2,172	72.69%	773	25.87%	43	1.44%
2000	1,850	62.93%	968	32.93%	122	4.15%
1996	1,927	61.10%	932	29.55%	295	9.35%
1992	1,357	37.85%	1,118	31.19%	1,110	30.96%
1988	1,825	54.11%	1,474	43.70%	74	2.19%
1984	2,570	68.90%	1,092	29.28%	68	1.82%
1980	2,170	58.79%	1,184	32.08%	337	9.13%
1976	1,692	45.11%	1,959	52.23%	100	2.67%
1972	2,370	65.83%	1,110	30.83%	120	3.33%
1968	2,037	54.19%	1,416	37.67%	306	8.14%
1964	1,468	36.03%	2,577	63.25%	29	0.71%
1960	2,618	58.32%	1,853	41.28%	18	0.40%
1956	2,788	63.73%	1,567	35.82%	20	0.46%
1952	3,431	71.12%	1,340	27.78%	53	1.10%
1948	2,221	52.44%	1,945	45.93%	69	1.63%
1944	2,057	54.05%	1,727	45.38%	22	0.58%
1940	2,329	50.77%	2,216	48.31%	42	0.92%
1936	1,753	38.31%	2,814	61.49%	9	0.20%
1932	1,889	42.52%	2,451	55.17%	103	2.32%
1928	2,829	75.18%	918	24.40%	16	0.43%
1924	2,407	62.54%	1,111	28.86%	331	8.60%
1920	2,128	63.98%	1,138	34.22%	60	1.80%
1916	1,499	38.72%	2,131	55.05%	241	6.23%
1912	366	16.25%	1,050	46.63%	836	37.12%
1908	1,000	48.43%	961	46.54%	104	5.04%
1904	957	60.80%	494	31.39%	123	7.81%
1900	684	48.00%	727	51.02%	14	0.98%
1896	499	43.28%	635	55.07%	19	1.65%
1892	670	47.86%	0	0.00%	730	52.14%
1888	895	61.94%	303	20.97%	247	17.09%

Laws

Following amendment to the Kansas Constitution in 1986, Pawnee County remained a prohibition, or "dry", county until 1992, when voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with a 30 percent food sales requirement. ^[13]

Education

Unified school districts

• Ft. Larned USD 495
• Pawnee Heights USD 496

Communities

2005 map of Pawnee County (map legend)

List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Pawnee County. ^[14]

Cities

• Burdett
• Garfield
• Larned (county seat)
• Rozel

Unincorporated communities

• Ash Valley
• Frizell
• Sanford
• Zook

Townships

Pawnee County is divided into twenty-one townships. The city of Larned is considered governmentally independent and is excluded from the census figures for the townships. 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
Ash Valley	02825		49	1 (1)	95 (37)	0 (0)	0.07%	38°18′46″N99°12′37″W / 38.31278°N 99.21028°W / 38.31278; -99.21028
Browns Grove	08750		310	3 (9)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0%	38°12′1″N99°31′12″W / 38.20028°N 99.52000°W / 38.20028; -99.52000
Conkling	15225		26	0 (1)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0.07%	38°18′46″N99°18′57″W / 38.31278°N 99.31583°W / 38.31278; -99.31583
Garfield	25775		259	3 (7)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.03%	38°2′55″N99°16′50″W / 38.04861°N 99.28056°W / 38.04861; -99.28056
Grant	27925		234	3 (7)	92 (36)	0 (0)	0.04%	38°11′54″N99°24′18″W / 38.19833°N 99.40500°W / 38.19833; -99.40500
Keysville	36625		55	1 (2)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0%	38°8′2″N99°25′12″W / 38.13389°N 99.42000°W / 38.13389; -99.42000
Larned	38725		266	3 (8)	87 (34)	0 (0)	0%	38°12′38″N99°4′5″W / 38.21056°N 99.06806°W / 38.21056; -99.06806
Lincoln	40975		28	0 (1)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.12%	38°17′55″N99°24′33″W / 38.29861°N 99.40917°W / 38.29861; -99.40917
Logan	42075		48	1 (1)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.07%	38°7′34″N98°57′31″W / 38.12611°N 98.95861°W / 38.12611; -98.95861
Morton	48525		56	1 (2)	92 (36)	0 (0)	0%	38°12′40″N99°18′19″W / 38.21111°N 99.30528°W / 38.21111; -99.30528
Orange	53000		73	1 (2)	92 (36)	0 (0)	0%	38°3′2″N99°11′46″W / 38.05056°N 99.19611°W / 38.05056; -99.19611
Pawnee	54800		82	1 (2)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.06%	38°11′45″N99°11′54″W / 38.19583°N 99.19833°W / 38.19583; -99.19833
Pleasant Grove	56400		230	2 (6)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.22%	38°9′20″N99°5′13″W / 38.15556°N 99.08694°W / 38.15556; -99.08694
Pleasant Ridge	56475		56	1 (2)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.02%	38°7′25″N99°18′6″W / 38.12361°N 99.30167°W / 38.12361; -99.30167
Pleasant Valley	56600		128	1 (4)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0%	38°2′11″N99°4′4″W / 38.03639°N 99.06778°W / 38.03639; -99.06778
River	60050		87	1 (2)	92 (36)	0 (0)	0%	38°13′19″N98°57′44″W / 38.22194°N 98.96222°W / 38.22194; -98.96222
Santa Fe	63025		788	9 (22)	92 (36)	0 (0)	0%	38°9′0″N99°10′37″W / 38.15000°N 99.17694°W / 38.15000; -99.17694
Sawmill	63250		24	0 (1)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.07%	38°8′19″N99°30′22″W / 38.13861°N 99.50611°W / 38.13861; -99.50611
Shiley	65275		28	0 (1)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0.15%	38°18′12″N99°32′20″W / 38.30333°N 99.53889°W / 38.30333; -99.53889
Valley Center	73225		57	1 (2)	92 (35)	0 (0)	0.07%	38°3′4″N98°57′47″W / 38.05111°N 98.96306°W / 38.05111; -98.96306
Walnut	75050		113	1 (3)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.08%	38°18′44″N99°4′44″W / 38.31222°N 99.07889°W / 38.31222; -99.07889

See also

• Kansas portal

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; Pawnee County, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 19, 2021. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. Swanton, John Reed (1952). The Indian Tribes of North America. US Government Printing Office. p. 290. ISBN   978-0-8063-1730-4.
4. "Pawnee County, Kansas - Kansapedia - Kansas Historical Society". www.kshs.org. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
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 28, 2014.
8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 28, 2014.
9. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 28, 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 28, 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 2006. Archived from the original on October 8, 2007. Retrieved December 26, 2007.
14. "General Highway Map of Pawnee County, Kansas" (PDF). Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT). October 2010. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 3, 2023.

Further reading

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

See also: List of books about Santa Fe Trail

County

• Along the Old Trail; Tucker Vernon Co; 190 pages; 1910. History of Pawnee County (page 113 to 134). Larned and Pawnee County at Present (page 135 to 190).
• Atlas and Plat Book of Pawnee County, Kansas; Kenyon Co; 37 pages; 1916.
• Plat Book of Pawnee County, Kansas; North West Publishing Co; 36 pages; 1902.

Trails

• The Story of the Marking of the Santa Fe Trail by the Daughters of the American Revolution in Kansas and the State of Kansas; Almira Cordry; Crane Co; 164 pages; 1915. (Download 4MB PDF eBook)
• The National Old Trails Road To Southern California, Part 1 (LA to KC); Automobile Club Of Southern California; 64 pages; 1916. (Download 6.8MB PDF eBook)

External links

County

• Pawnee County - Official Website
• Pawnee County - Directory of Public Officials

Maps

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

38°09′N99°12′W / 38.150°N 99.200°W / 38.150; -99.200