Republic County, Kansas

Republic County
County
Republic County Courthouse in Belleville (2010)
Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
Kansas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 39°48′N97°38′W / 39.800°N 97.633°W / 39.800; -97.633
Country	United States
State	Kansas
Founded	February 27, 1860
Named for	Republican River
Seat	Belleville
Largest city	Belleville
Area
• Total	720.31 sq mi (1,865.6 km2)
• Land	716.38 sq mi (1,855.4 km2)
• Water	3.93 sq mi (10.2 km2)  0.55%
Population  (2020) [1]
• Total	4,674
• Estimate  (2023) [2]	4,627
• Density	6.5/sq mi (2.5/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Area code	785
Congressional district	1st
Website	republiccounty.org

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.

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. ^[3] As of the 2020 census, the county population was 4,674. ^[1] The county was named after the Republican River.

History

Early history

See also: History of Kansas

For millennia, the Great Plains of North America were inhabited by nomadic Native Americans. From the 16th to 18th centuries, the Kingdom of France claimed ownership of large parts of North America. In 1762, after the French and Indian War, France ceded New France to Spain, by the Treaty of Fontainebleau.

19th century

In 1802, Spain returned most of the land to France, keeping title to about 7,500 square miles. In 1803, the land that included modern day Kansas was acquired by the United States from France as part of the 828,000 square mile Louisiana Purchase.

Prior to the arrival of settlers of European ancestry, the area was inhabited by Indian tribes including the Pawnee, Iowa, and Otoe. ^[4] One should also consider that other nomadic Indian tribes pursuing the buffalo, including the Arapaho, Cheyenne, Comanche, Kansa, Kiowa, Osage, and Wichita, may have made the area their home at one time or another. ^[5]

In 1854, under the provisions of the Kansas–Nebraska Act, the Kansas Territory was organized. In 1860, Republic County was established by the Kansas legislature. And, in 1861, Kansas became the 34th U.S. state. The county is named for the Republican River, which enters at the northwestern corner of the county, flowing slightly east of south, and leaving the county about eight miles east of the southwest corner. ^[4]

Daniel and Conrad Myers were the first settlers of European ancestry, arriving in February 1861. ^[6] By 1868, Republic County was holding elections. ^[7] Daniel Myers was elected judge of the Probate court and Conrad Myers to a seat on the County commission. At the election in 1869, the permanent location of the county seat was voted on with the following result: Belleville 59 and New Scandinavia 42, with a couple of votes going to other locations. ^[8]

Following the Civil War and during the latter half of the 19th century, Belleville and the surrounding area became a destination for European immigrants, notably from Sweden and Bohemia (now Czech Republic). ^{[9] [10] [11]}

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 was renamed the BNSF Railway, although most locals still refer to this railroad as the "Santa Fe".

Geography

According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 720.31 square miles (1,865.6 km²), of which 716.38 square miles (1,855.4 km²) (or 99.45%) is land and 3.93 square miles (10.2 km²) (or 0.55%) is water. ^{[12] [13]}

Adjacent counties

• Thayer County, Nebraska (north)
• Jefferson County, Nebraska (northeast)
• Washington County (east)
• Cloud County (south)
• Jewell County (west)
• Nuckolls County, Nebraska (northwest)

Demographics

Population pyramid based on 2000 census age data

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1870	1,281		—
1880	14,913		1,064.2%
1890	19,002		27.4%
1900	18,248		−4.0%
1910	17,447		−4.4%
1920	15,855		−9.1%
1930	14,745		−7.0%
1940	13,124		−11.0%
1950	11,478		−12.5%
1960	9,768		−14.9%
1970	8,498		−13.0%
1980	7,569		−10.9%
1990	6,482		−14.4%
2000	5,835		−10.0%
2010	4,980		−14.7%
2020	4,674		−6.1%
2023 (est.)	4,627	[14]	−1.0%
U.S. Decennial Census [15] 1790-1960 [16] 1900-1990 [17] 1990-2000 [18] 2010-2020 [1]

As of the census ^[19] of 2000, there were 5,835 people, 2,557 households, and 1,685 families residing in the county. The population density was 8 people per square mile (3.1 people/km²). There were 3,113 housing units at an average density of 4 per square mile (1.5/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.56% White, 0.26% Black or African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.33% from other races, and 0.46% from two or more races. 0.94% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 24.1% were of German, 13.6% Swedish, 12.4% Czech, 9.2% English, 9.0% Irish and 8.6% American ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 2,557 households, out of which 25.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.80% were married couples living together, 4.80% had a woman householder with no husband present, and 34.10% were non-families. 31.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.80.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.30% under the age of 18, 4.50% from 18 to 24, 22.10% from 25 to 44, 25.00% from 45 to 64, and 26.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 women there were 93.20 men. For every 100 women age 18 and over, there were 90.80 men.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,494, and the median income for a family was $39,215. Men had a median income of $25,260 versus $17,274 for women. The per capita income for the county was $17,433. About 6.00% of families and 9.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.40% of those under age 18 and 8.90% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Presidential elections

Presidential election results

United States presidential election results for Republic County, Kansas ^[20]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	1,966	81.85%	391	16.28%	45	1.87%
2020	2,182	82.12%	424	15.96%	51	1.92%
2016	2,024	80.03%	375	14.83%	130	5.14%
2012	2,134	79.45%	477	17.76%	75	2.79%
2008	1,978	74.05%	640	23.96%	53	1.98%
2004	2,238	77.47%	607	21.01%	44	1.52%
2000	2,239	75.01%	604	20.23%	142	4.76%
1996	2,283	69.97%	688	21.08%	292	8.95%
1992	1,767	46.43%	939	24.67%	1,100	28.90%
1988	2,346	67.76%	1,069	30.88%	47	1.36%
1984	3,009	76.49%	887	22.55%	38	0.97%
1980	3,031	73.57%	850	20.63%	239	5.80%
1976	2,294	57.44%	1,617	40.49%	83	2.08%
1972	2,921	71.80%	1,059	26.03%	88	2.16%
1968	2,841	66.25%	1,187	27.68%	260	6.06%
1964	2,414	51.65%	2,222	47.54%	38	0.81%
1960	3,358	65.62%	1,724	33.69%	35	0.68%
1956	3,621	68.76%	1,613	30.63%	32	0.61%
1952	4,573	76.72%	1,358	22.78%	30	0.50%
1948	3,375	60.42%	2,109	37.76%	102	1.83%
1944	3,802	66.53%	1,891	33.09%	22	0.38%
1940	4,450	63.54%	2,511	35.86%	42	0.60%
1936	3,830	52.61%	3,427	47.07%	23	0.32%
1932	2,655	38.55%	4,105	59.61%	127	1.84%
1928	4,324	68.19%	1,956	30.85%	61	0.96%
1924	3,671	59.96%	1,616	26.40%	835	13.64%
1920	3,661	67.30%	1,672	30.74%	107	1.97%
1916	2,882	41.65%	3,806	55.00%	232	3.35%
1912	895	21.74%	1,816	44.12%	1,405	34.14%
1908	2,156	51.79%	1,905	45.76%	102	2.45%
1904	2,658	69.51%	941	24.61%	225	5.88%
1900	2,499	55.67%	1,925	42.88%	65	1.45%
1896	2,033	50.93%	1,910	47.85%	49	1.23%
1892	2,167	50.03%	0	0.00%	2,164	49.97%
1888	2,595	63.77%	1,205	29.61%	269	6.61%

Republic County is overwhelmingly Republican. No Democratic presidential candidate has won the county, with the exception of Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1932 and Woodrow Wilson in 1912 and 1916. Since 1996, the Republican candidate has garnered seventy percent of the county's vote. The only Democrat since 1980 to exceed one quarter of the vote was Michael Dukakis in 1988.

Laws

Republic County was a prohibition ("dry") county until 1986, when the Kansas Constitution was amended, allowing the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with a 30 percent food sales requirement. ^[21]

Education

Unified school districts

• Republic County USD 109
• Pike Valley USD 426

Communities

2005 map of Republic County (map legend)

List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Republic County. ^[22]

Cities

• Agenda
• Belleville (county seat)
• Courtland
• Cuba
• Munden
• Narka
• Republic
• Scandia

Unincorporated communities

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

• Harbine
• Kackley
• Norway†
• Rydal
• Talmo
• Wayne

Ghost towns

• Sherdahl
• White Rock

Townships

1915 railroad map of Republic County

Republic County is divided into twenty townships. The city of Belleville 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
Albion	00900		174	2 (5)	92 (36)	0 (0)	0.12%	39°57′35″N97°25′29″W / 39.95972°N 97.42472°W / 39.95972; -97.42472
Beaver	05150		137	2 (4)	91 (35)	3 (1)	3.04%	39°42′17″N97°51′59″W / 39.70472°N 97.86639°W / 39.70472; -97.86639
Belleville	05625		231	3 (7)	89 (34)	0 (0)	0.11%	39°47′14″N97°38′35″W / 39.78722°N 97.64306°W / 39.78722; -97.64306
Big Bend	06550		242	3 (7)	92 (35)	1 (0)	1.39%	39°57′0″N97°50′53″W / 39.95000°N 97.84806°W / 39.95000; -97.84806
Courtland	16050		450	5 (12)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0.06%	39°46′56″N97°52′51″W / 39.78222°N 97.88083°W / 39.78222; -97.88083
Elk Creek	20275		175	2 (5)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0.15%	39°42′16″N97°25′41″W / 39.70444°N 97.42806°W / 39.70444; -97.42806
Fairview	22575		155	2 (4)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0.49%	39°52′50″N97°31′54″W / 39.88056°N 97.53167°W / 39.88056; -97.53167
Farmington	23200		81	1 (2)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.20%	39°52′20″N97°25′24″W / 39.87222°N 97.42333°W / 39.87222; -97.42333
Freedom	24675		186	2 (5)	90 (35)	0 (0)	0.28%	39°51′31″N97°38′26″W / 39.85861°N 97.64056°W / 39.85861; -97.64056
Grant	28050		77	1 (2)	95 (37)	0 (0)	0.15%	39°42′5″N97°32′31″W / 39.70139°N 97.54194°W / 39.70139; -97.54194
Jefferson	35325		107	1 (3)	95 (37)	0 (0)	0.05%	39°47′29″N97°32′33″W / 39.79139°N 97.54250°W / 39.79139; -97.54250
Liberty	40325		52	1 (1)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.19%	39°57′2″N97°38′30″W / 39.95056°N 97.64167°W / 39.95056; -97.64167
Lincoln	41075		103	1 (3)	92 (36)	0 (0)	0.09%	39°41′58″N97°38′57″W / 39.69944°N 97.64917°W / 39.69944; -97.64917
Norway	51575		163	2 (5)	92 (36)	1 (0)	1.19%	39°42′17″N97°46′9″W / 39.70472°N 97.76917°W / 39.70472; -97.76917
Richland	59575		318	3 (9)	92 (36)	0 (0)	0.11%	39°47′30″N97°26′4″W / 39.79167°N 97.43444°W / 39.79167; -97.43444
Rose Creek	61200		170	2 (5)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0.44%	39°57′27″N97°32′13″W / 39.95750°N 97.53694°W / 39.95750; -97.53694
Scandia	63375		541	6 (15)	92 (36)	1 (0)	1.23%	39°47′28″N97°46′27″W / 39.79111°N 97.77417°W / 39.79111; -97.77417
Union	72300		51	1 (1)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.18%	39°52′0″N97°46′5″W / 39.86667°N 97.76806°W / 39.86667; -97.76806
Washington	75700		95	1 (3)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.24%	39°57′57″N97°45′14″W / 39.96583°N 97.75389°W / 39.96583; -97.75389
White Rock	77975		88	1 (2)	92 (36)	1 (0)	1.09%	39°52′34″N97°51′54″W / 39.87611°N 97.86500°W / 39.87611; -97.86500

Notable people

Arts and entertainment

• Robert Gordon, actor (1895–1971)
• Greta Granstedt, actress ^[23]
• Harry A. Pollard, silent film actor ^[24]

Athletes

• Herb Bradley, Major League Baseball player ^[25]
• Thomas Bushby, player for the Cincinnati "Football" Reds in 1934 and the Philadelphia Eagles in 1935 ^[26]
• Lloyd Cardwell, football player
• Larry Cheney, Major League Baseball player ^[27]
• Dean Nesmith, professional football player, Olympic athletic trainer ^[28]
• Ronald Severa, Olympic water polo player, 1956 and 1960
• Anthony Zuzzio, offensive lineman for the Detroit Lions ^[29]

Clergy

• Allen Wikgren, pastor and Bible scholar ^[30]
• Richard B. Wilke, former pastor in Scandia, writer of the Disciple ministry series

Journalists

• J. C. Humphrey, founder of the Belleville Telescope newspaper ^[31]
• A.Q. Miller, namesake of the A.Q. Miller School of Journalism and Mass Communications at Kansas State University. ^[32]

Medicine

• C. M. Arbuthnot, early physician and pharmacist in the county ^[33]

Philanthropy

• Elizabeth A. Johnson, Kansas history advocate ^[34]

Politicians

• Clay Aurand, member of Kansas Legislature ^[35]
• Charles H. Blosser (1895–1989), namesake of Blosser Municipal Airport in Concordia, Kansas
• Edwin C. Johnson, Governor of Colorado ^[36]
• William C. Perry, 34th Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court ^[37]
• Isaac O. Savage, state senator in the Kansas legislature ^[38]

Settlers

• Ransom Henry Gile, early settler in Scandia ^[39]
• Thomas Lovewell, founded settlement of White Rock, ^[40] namesake of Lovewell Reservoir ^[41]

See also

• Kansas portal

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Republic County, Kansas

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; Republic County, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 19, 2021. Retrieved August 19, 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. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
4. Savage., I. O. (1901). Carolyn Ward (ed.). A history of Republic County, Kansas: embracing a full and complete account of all the leading events in its history, from its first settlement down to June 1, '01. Beloit, Kansas: Jones & Chubbic. p. 32.
5. "American Indians in Kansas - Kansapedia - Kansas Historical Society".
6. Savage., I. O. (1901). Carolyn Ward (ed.). A history of Republic County, Kansas: embracing a full and complete account of all the leading events in its history, from its first settlement down to June 1, '01. Beloit, Kansas: Jones & Chubbic. p. 35.
7. Savage., I. O. (1901). Carolyn Ward (ed.). A history of Republic County, Kansas: embracing a full and complete account of all the leading events in its history, from its first settlement down to June 1, '01. Beloit, Kansas: Jones & Chubbic. p. 115.
8. Savage., I. O. (1901). Carolyn Ward (ed.). A history of Republic County, Kansas: embracing a full and complete account of all the leading events in its history, from its first settlement down to June 1, '01. Beloit, Kansas: Jones & Chubbic. p. 63.
9. I. O. Savage, History of Republic County (1883), p. 68; New Scandinavia's Ninety-Three Years, 1868–1961 (Scandia, 1961), pp. 3-5.
10. Nemcova, Bozena. "People of Czech Bohemian Descent in Republic County, Kansas." Master's thesis, University of Kansas, 1950. (Reel: LM 205).
11. https://www.kshs.org/p/bohemians-czechs-and-moravians-to-kansas-a-bibliography/13535 |Kansas Historical Society, Bohemians, Czechs, Moravians Bibliography
12. "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Counties". United States Census. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
13. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
14. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
15. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 28, 2014.
16. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 28, 2014.
17. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 28, 2014.
18. "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.
19. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
20. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
21. "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.
22. "General Highway Map of Republic County, Kansas" (PDF). Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT). December 2011. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 19, 2023.
23. Greta Granstedt Biography at IMDb
24. Harry A. Pollard at IMDb
25. "Herb Bradley". Retrosheet.com. Retrieved March 25, 2012.
26. "Tom Bushby". Pro Football Reference.com. Retrieved March 28, 2012.
27. "Larry Cheney Stats". Baseball Almanac.com. Retrieved March 25, 2012.
28. "KATS Hall of Fame". Kansas Athletic Trainers Society. Archived from the original on July 6, 2012. Retrieved September 14, 2012.
29. "Tony Zuzzio". DatabaseFootball.com. Archived from the original on June 1, 2012. Retrieved March 28, 2012.
30. "In memoriam: Allen Wikgren". The University of Chicago Chronicle. June 11, 1998. Retrieved March 27, 2012.
31. Cutler, William (1883). "4". History of the State of Kansas. Chicago, Illinois: A. T. Andreas. Archived from the original on October 19, 2003. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
32. "Miller, A.Q." Kansas Press Association. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
33. Cutler, William (1883). "3". History of the State of Kansas. Chicago, Illinois: A. T. Andreas. Archived from the original on May 10, 2003.
34. Savage, I. O. (1901). Carolyn Ward (ed.). A history of Republic County, Kansas: embracing a full and complete account of all the leading events in its history, from its first settlement down to June 1, '01. Beloit, Kansas: Published by Jones & Chubbic. pp. 11, 20. Retrieved March 25, 2012.
35. Project Vote Smart - Rep. Aurand Biography
36. "JOHNSON, Edwin Carl, (1884 - 1970)". United States Congress . Retrieved March 25, 2012.
37. Former justice dies at age 85. Statesman Journal , November 1, 1985.
38. "Kansas Legislators Past and Present > Saar to Scott". Kansas State Library. Retrieved March 25, 2012.
39. Cutler, William (1883). "REPUBLIC COUNTY, Part 6: Scandia". History of the State of Kansas. Chicago, Illinois: A. T. Andreas. Archived from the original on September 4, 2003. Retrieved April 3, 2012.
40. Blackmar, Frank (1912). Kansas: a cyclopedia of state history, embracing events, institutions, industries, counties, cities, towns, prominent persons, etc. Chicago, Illinois: Standard Publishing Company. p. 907.
41. "Lovewell Family Meets at Lovewell Lake". The Superior Express. June 7, 2007. Retrieved March 27, 2012.

Further reading

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

• A History of Republic County, Kansas; I.O. Savage; Jones & Chubbic; 323 pages; 1901.
• Standard Atlas of Republic County, Kansas; Geo. A. Ogle & Co; 66 pages; 1923.
• Standard Atlas of Republic County, Kansas; Geo. A. Ogle & Co; 58 pages; 1904.
• Atlas of Republic County, Kansas; Gillen & Davy; 47 pages; 1884.

External links

County

• Republic County - official website
• Republic County - directory of public officials

Other

• Republic County Historical Society Museum

Maps

• Republic County maps: current, historic, KDOT
• Kansas highway maps: current, historic, KDOT
• Kansas railroad maps: current, 1996, 1915, KDOT and Kansas Historical Society