Rice County, Kansas

Rice County
County
Rice County Courthouse in Lyons (2022)
Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
Kansas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 38°21′N98°12′W / 38.35°N 98.2°W / 38.35; -98.2
Country	United States
State	Kansas
Founded	February 26, 1867
Named for	Samuel Allen Rice
Seat	Lyons
Largest city	Lyons
Area
• Total	728 sq mi (1,890 km2)
• Land	726 sq mi (1,880 km2)
• Water	1.7 sq mi (4 km2)  0.2%
Population  (2020) [1]
• Total	9,427
• Estimate  (2023) [2]	9,260
• Density	13.0/sq mi (5.0/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	1st
Website	ricecounty.us

Rice County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat and largest city is Lyons. ^[3] As of the 2020 census, the county population was 9,427. ^[1] The county was named in memory of Samuel Allen Rice, Brigadier-General, United States volunteers, killed April 30, 1864, at Jenkins Ferry, Arkansas. ^[4]

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 1867, Rice County was established.

The Santa Fe Trail followed the route of present-day U.S. Route 56. Ruts in the earth from the trail are still visible in several locations. (Ralph's Ruts are visible in aerial photos at 38°21′35″N98°25′20″W / 38.35959264°N 98.42225502°W / 38.35959264; -98.42225502 .) ^[5]

In 1878, Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway and parties from Marion County and McPherson County chartered the Marion and McPherson Railway Company. ^[6] In 1879, a branch line was built from Florence to McPherson, in 1880 it was extended to Lyons, in 1881 it was extended to Ellinwood. ^[7] The line was leased and operated by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. The line from Florence to Marion, was abandoned in 1968. ^[8] In 1992, the line from Marion to McPherson was sold to Central Kansas Railway. In 1993, after heavy flood damage, the line from Marion to McPherson was abandoned. The original branch line connected Florence, Marion, Canada, Hillsboro, Lehigh, Canton, Galva, McPherson, Conway, Windom, Little River, Mitchell, Lyons, Chase, Ellinwood.

• 
  Samuel Allen Rice in 1864
• 
  1845 Santa Fe Trail crossing Rice County
• 
  1915-1918 Railroad Map of Rice County
• 
  Bushton Grain Elevators (2004)

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 728 square miles (1,890 km²), of which 726 square miles (1,880 km²) is land and 1.7 square miles (4.4 km²) (0.2%) is water. ^[9]

Adjacent counties

• Ellsworth County (north)
• McPherson County (east)
• Reno County (south)
• Stafford County (southwest)
• Barton County (northwest)

National protected area

• Quivira National Wildlife Refuge (part)

Demographics

Population pyramid based on 2000 census age data

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1870	5		—
1880	9,292		185,740.0%
1890	14,451		55.5%
1900	14,745		2.0%
1910	15,106		2.4%
1920	14,832		−1.8%
1930	13,800		−7.0%
1940	17,213		24.7%
1950	15,635		−9.2%
1960	13,909		−11.0%
1970	12,320		−11.4%
1980	11,900		−3.4%
1990	10,610		−10.8%
2000	10,761		1.4%
2010	10,083		−6.3%
2020	9,427		−6.5%
2023 (est.)	9,260	[2]	−1.8%
U.S. Decennial Census [10] 1790-1960 [11] 1900-1990 [12] 1990-2000 [13] 2010-2020 [1]

As of the census ^[14] of 2000, there were 10,761 people, 4,050 households, and 2,830 families residing in the county. The population density was 15 people per square mile (5.8 people/km²). There were 4,609 housing units at an average density of 6 per square mile (2.3/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 94.68% White, 1.15% Black or African American, 0.57% Native American, 0.33% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.84% from other races, and 1.39% from two or more races. 5.61% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,050 households, out of which 31.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.10% were married couples living together, 7.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.10% were non-families. 27.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.70% under the age of 18, 13.30% from 18 to 24, 22.80% from 25 to 44, 21.30% from 45 to 64, and 18.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 92.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,671, and the median income for a family was $40,960. Males had a median income of $31,175 versus $18,968 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,064. About 8.50% of families and 10.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.60% of those under age 18 and 8.20% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Presidential elections

Presidential election results

United States presidential election results for Rice County, Kansas ^[15]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	3,017	77.72%	797	20.53%	68	1.75%
2020	3,262	75.53%	965	22.34%	92	2.13%
2016	2,837	74.58%	695	18.27%	272	7.15%
2012	2,676	72.70%	911	24.75%	94	2.55%
2008	2,780	69.14%	1,163	28.92%	78	1.94%
2004	3,182	72.71%	1,130	25.82%	64	1.46%
2000	2,903	64.23%	1,422	31.46%	195	4.31%
1996	2,842	59.34%	1,434	29.94%	513	10.71%
1992	2,158	40.94%	1,555	29.50%	1,558	29.56%
1988	2,503	53.89%	2,033	43.77%	109	2.35%
1984	3,598	68.68%	1,559	29.76%	82	1.57%
1980	3,211	57.67%	1,847	33.17%	510	9.16%
1976	2,584	44.82%	3,056	53.01%	125	2.17%
1972	3,843	66.22%	1,825	31.45%	135	2.33%
1968	3,141	56.23%	2,049	36.68%	396	7.09%
1964	2,390	39.19%	3,665	60.10%	43	0.71%
1960	4,329	64.81%	2,328	34.85%	23	0.34%
1956	4,638	70.48%	1,926	29.27%	17	0.26%
1952	5,572	74.51%	1,832	24.50%	74	0.99%
1948	4,002	58.15%	2,752	39.99%	128	1.86%
1944	4,024	61.12%	2,505	38.05%	55	0.84%
1940	4,792	56.49%	3,635	42.85%	56	0.66%
1936	3,318	40.24%	4,905	59.49%	22	0.27%
1932	3,107	49.33%	3,037	48.22%	154	2.45%
1928	4,321	74.05%	1,462	25.06%	52	0.89%
1924	3,920	68.53%	1,303	22.78%	497	8.69%
1920	3,651	68.95%	1,532	28.93%	112	2.12%
1916	2,494	42.62%	2,801	47.86%	557	9.52%
1912	697	20.57%	1,314	38.77%	1,378	40.66%
1908	1,832	51.35%	1,407	39.43%	329	9.22%
1904	1,994	64.16%	727	23.39%	387	12.45%
1900	2,013	54.42%	1,527	41.28%	159	4.30%
1896	1,729	48.75%	1,731	48.80%	87	2.45%
1892	1,724	46.78%	0	0.00%	1,961	53.22%
1888	1,851	57.79%	934	29.16%	418	13.05%

Laws

The Kansas Constitution was amended in 1986 to allow the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with the approval of voters, either with or without a minimum of 30% of sales coming from food. Rice County is one of 35 counties in the state that allows for the sale of liquor by the drink without the minimum food sales stipulation. ^[16]

Education

Colleges

• Sterling College in Sterling

Unified school districts

• Sterling USD 376
• Chase–Raymond USD 401
• Lyons USD 405
• Little River–Windom USD 444

School district office in neighboring county

• Central Plains USD 112

Communities

2005 map of Rice County (map legend)

List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Rice County. ^[17]

Cities

• Alden
• Bushton
• Chase
• Frederick
• Geneseo
• Little River
• Lyons (county seat)
• Raymond
• Sterling

Unincorporated communities

• Mitchell
• Pollard
• Saxman
• Silica

Ghost towns

• Crawford
• Galt

Townships

Rice County is divided into twenty townships. The cities of Lyons and Sterling are considered governmentally independent and are 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
Atlanta	03075		233	3 (7)	90 (35)	0 (0)	0.25%	38°18′22″N98°11′58″W / 38.30611°N 98.19944°W / 38.30611; -98.19944
Bell	05375		18	0 (0)	94 (36)	1 (0)	0.65%	38°13′10″N98°24′2″W / 38.21944°N 98.40056°W / 38.21944; -98.40056
Center	12075		136	1 (4)	95 (37)	0 (0)	0.04%	38°17′50″N98°18′12″W / 38.29722°N 98.30333°W / 38.29722; -98.30333
East Washington	19725		179	2 (5)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.03%	38°13′18″N97°58′34″W / 38.22167°N 97.97611°W / 38.22167; -97.97611
Eureka	21900		65	1 (2)	95 (37)	0 (0)	0%	38°29′52″N98°19′21″W / 38.49778°N 98.32250°W / 38.49778; -98.32250
Farmer	23100		441	5 (12)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0%	38°30′0″N98°24′55″W / 38.50000°N 98.41528°W / 38.50000; -98.41528
Galt	25175		51	1 (1)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0.22%	38°28′8″N98°5′59″W / 38.46889°N 98.09972°W / 38.46889; -98.09972
Harrison	30425		192	2 (5)	92 (35)	0 (0)	0.06%	38°23′3″N98°11′49″W / 38.38417°N 98.19694°W / 38.38417; -98.19694
Lincoln	41100		577	6 (16)	95 (37)	0 (0)	0%	38°22′10″N98°19′19″W / 38.36944°N 98.32194°W / 38.36944; -98.32194
Mitchell	47525		131	1 (4)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0.18%	38°23′24″N98°5′42″W / 38.39000°N 98.09500°W / 38.39000; -98.09500
Odessa	52150		55	1 (2)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.10%	38°28′17″N97°59′21″W / 38.47139°N 97.98917°W / 38.47139; -97.98917
Pioneer	55925		101	1 (3)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0.03%	38°23′34″N98°25′39″W / 38.39278°N 98.42750°W / 38.39278; -98.42750
Raymond	58575		185	2 (5)	92 (36)	1 (0)	0.71%	38°17′38″N98°24′56″W / 38.29389°N 98.41556°W / 38.29389; -98.41556
Rockville	60725		134	1 (4)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.04%	38°18′17″N97°57′36″W / 38.30472°N 97.96000°W / 38.30472; -97.96000
Sterling	68225		223	2 (5)	114 (44)	1 (0)	1.01%	38°12′19″N98°11′44″W / 38.20528°N 98.19556°W / 38.20528; -98.19556
Union	72325		741	8 (21)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0%	38°23′34″N97°59′32″W / 38.39278°N 97.99222°W / 38.39278; -97.99222
Valley	73100		276	4 (9)	77 (30)	1 (0)	1.11%	38°13′27″N98°18′44″W / 38.22417°N 98.31222°W / 38.22417; -98.31222
Victoria	73825		364	4 (10)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0.06%	38°29′57″N98°10′24″W / 38.49917°N 98.17333°W / 38.49917; -98.17333
West Washington	77425		138	1 (4)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.12%	38°13′9″N98°4′58″W / 38.21917°N 98.08278°W / 38.21917; -98.08278
Wilson	79775		147	2 (4)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0.02%	38°18′2″N98°6′2″W / 38.30056°N 98.10056°W / 38.30056; -98.10056

Trivia

The CW television series Superman & Lois places Superman's home town of Smallville in Rice County ("Pilot").

See also

• Kansas portal

• Dry counties
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Rice 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; Rice 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. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
4. "Rice County". Kansas State Library. Archived from the original on August 10, 2007. Retrieved August 13, 2007.
5. "Aerial Photos Topo Maps of Santa Fe Trail Ruts and Sites" . Retrieved December 28, 2007.
6. Marion County Kansas : Past and Present; Sondra Van Meter; MB Publishing House; LCCN 72-92041; 344 pages; 1972.
7. Fourth Annual Report of the Board of Railroad Commissioners for the Year Ending December 1, 1886 in State of Kansas; Kansas Publishing House; 1886.
8. Railway Abandonment 1968
9. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
10. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 28, 2014.
11. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 28, 2014.
12. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 28, 2014.
13. "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.
14. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
15. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
16. "Map of Wet and Dry Counties" (PDF). Kansas Department of Revenue Alcoholic Beverage Control. December 30, 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 4, 2020. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
17. "General Highway Map of Rice County, Kansas" (PDF). Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT). July 2009. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 7, 2024.

Notes

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

• Rice County Centennial 1871 - 1971 Souvenir Book; Centennial Book Committee; 50 pages; 1971.
• Standard Atlas of Rice County, Kansas; Geo. A. Ogle & Co; 75 pages; 1919.
• Plat Book of Rice County, Kansas; North West Publishing Co; 44 pages; 1902.
• Handbook of Rick County, Kansas; C.S. Burch Publishing Co; 38 pages; 1888.

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.
• The National Old Trails Road To Southern California, Part 1 (LA to KC); Automobile Club Of Southern California; 64 pages; 1916.

External links

County

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

Maps

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

38°21′N98°12′W / 38.350°N 98.200°W / 38.350; -98.200