Sedgwick County | |
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![]() Old Sedgwick County Courthouse in Wichita (2009) | |
![]() Location within the U.S. state of Kansas | |
![]() Kansas's location within the U.S. | |
Coordinates: 37°43′N97°27′W / 37.717°N 97.450°W | |
Country | ![]() |
State | ![]() |
Founded | February 26, 1867 |
Named for | John Sedgwick |
Seat | Wichita |
Largest city | Wichita |
Area | |
• Total | 1,009 sq mi (2,610 km2) |
• Land | 998 sq mi (2,580 km2) |
• Water | 12 sq mi (30 km2) 1.2% |
Population | |
• Total | 523,824 |
• Estimate (2023) [2] | 528,469 ![]() |
• Density | 524.9/sq mi (202.7/km2) |
Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
Area code | 316 |
Congressional district | 4th |
Website | sedgwickcounty.org |
Sedgwick County is located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat is Wichita, [3] the most populous city in the state. As of the 2020 census, the population was 523,824, [1] making it the second-most populous county in Kansas. The county was named for John Sedgwick, the highest ranking Union general killed during the American Civil War.
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.
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 1848, after the Mexican–American War, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo with Spain brought into the United States all or part of land for ten future states, including southwest Kansas. In 1854, the Kansas Territory was organized, and in 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state.
Sedgwick County was founded in 1867, and named after John Sedgwick, who was a major general in the Union Army during the American Civil War. [4]
In 1887, the Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway built a branch line north–south from Herington to Caldwell. [5] This branch line connected Herington, Lost Springs, Lincolnville, Antelope, Marion, Aulne, Peabody, Elbing, Whitewater, Furley, Kechi, Wichita, Peck, Corbin, Wellington, Caldwell. By 1893, this branch line was incrementally built to Fort Worth, Texas. This line is called the "OKT". The Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway was foreclosed in 1891 and was taken over by Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway, which shut down in 1980 and reorganized as Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas Railroad, merged in 1988 with Missouri Pacific Railroad, and finally merged in 1997 with Union Pacific Railroad. Most locals still refer to this railroad as the "Rock Island".
Sedgwick County was the setting for the murders committed by the BTK strangler from 1974 until 1991.[ citation needed ] Dennis Rader, an employee of the Sedgwick County city of Park City was arrested in early 2005 after he began sending incriminating letters taunting the police in 2004. He had not been heard from since 1979.[ citation needed ] Ken Landwehr of the Wichita Police Department led the task force which captured Rader, setting a new standard of serial crime detection in the process, which is still studied by police departments across the world. Rader is serving 10 life sentences at the El Dorado Correctional Facility in El Dorado.[ citation needed ]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,009 square miles (2,610 km2), of which 998 square miles (2,580 km2) is land and 12 square miles (31 km2) (1.2%) is water. [6]
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1870 | 1,095 | — | |
1880 | 18,753 | 1,612.6% | |
1890 | 43,626 | 132.6% | |
1900 | 44,037 | 0.9% | |
1910 | 73,095 | 66.0% | |
1920 | 92,234 | 26.2% | |
1930 | 136,330 | 47.8% | |
1940 | 143,311 | 5.1% | |
1950 | 222,290 | 55.1% | |
1960 | 343,231 | 54.4% | |
1970 | 350,694 | 2.2% | |
1980 | 366,531 | 4.5% | |
1990 | 403,662 | 10.1% | |
2000 | 452,869 | 12.2% | |
2010 | 498,365 | 10.0% | |
2020 | 523,824 | 5.1% | |
2023 (est.) | 528,469 | [2] | 0.9% |
U.S. Decennial Census [7] 1790-1960 [8] 1900–1990 [9] 1990-2000 [10] 2010–2020 [1] |
Sedgwick County is part of the Wichita, KS Metropolitan Statistical Area.
As of the census of 2000, there were 452,869 people, 176,444 households, and 117,688 families residing in the county. The population density was 453 inhabitants per square mile (175/km2). There were 191,133 housing units at an average density of 191 per square mile (74/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 79.38% White, 9.13% Black or African American, 1.11% Native American, 3.34% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 4.17% from other races, and 2.81% from two or more races. 8.04% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 176,444 households, out of which 34.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.70% were married couples living together, 10.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.30% were non-families. 28.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.14.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 28.20% under the age of 18, 9.50% from 18 to 24, 30.30% from 25 to 44, 20.60% from 45 to 64, and 11.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $42,485, and the median income for a family was $51,645. Males had a median income of $37,770 versus $26,153 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,907. About 7.00% of families and 9.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.90% of those under age 18 and 7.00% of those age 65 or over.
It is the birthplace of famous restaurants such as White Castle and Pizza Hut. [11] It is also the aviation headquarters of well-known Cessna and Learjet. [12]
Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
2020 | 122,416 | 54.44% | 95,870 | 42.64% | 6,576 | 2.92% |
2016 | 104,353 | 54.41% | 69,627 | 36.30% | 17,818 | 9.29% |
2012 | 106,506 | 58.23% | 71,977 | 39.35% | 4,412 | 2.41% |
2008 | 106,849 | 55.15% | 82,337 | 42.50% | 4,544 | 2.35% |
2004 | 110,381 | 62.12% | 64,839 | 36.49% | 2,459 | 1.38% |
2000 | 93,724 | 57.35% | 62,561 | 38.28% | 7,132 | 4.36% |
1996 | 93,397 | 56.06% | 59,643 | 35.80% | 13,559 | 8.14% |
1992 | 75,577 | 40.53% | 62,670 | 33.61% | 48,228 | 25.86% |
1988 | 86,124 | 55.30% | 65,618 | 42.13% | 4,003 | 2.57% |
1984 | 95,874 | 62.53% | 55,263 | 36.05% | 2,178 | 1.42% |
1980 | 75,317 | 51.79% | 55,105 | 37.89% | 15,009 | 10.32% |
1976 | 69,828 | 50.74% | 63,989 | 46.49% | 3,812 | 2.77% |
1972 | 83,949 | 65.74% | 39,220 | 30.71% | 4,532 | 3.55% |
1968 | 60,853 | 51.80% | 44,041 | 37.49% | 12,575 | 10.70% |
1964 | 52,592 | 43.76% | 66,372 | 55.23% | 1,217 | 1.01% |
1960 | 73,501 | 55.23% | 58,887 | 44.25% | 696 | 0.52% |
1956 | 72,292 | 61.08% | 45,732 | 38.64% | 336 | 0.28% |
1952 | 70,983 | 66.47% | 34,926 | 32.71% | 879 | 0.82% |
1948 | 39,165 | 49.56% | 38,621 | 48.87% | 1,243 | 1.57% |
1944 | 38,896 | 52.78% | 34,442 | 46.73% | 360 | 0.49% |
1940 | 32,160 | 48.05% | 34,219 | 51.13% | 547 | 0.82% |
1936 | 21,654 | 35.29% | 39,503 | 64.39% | 197 | 0.32% |
1932 | 21,815 | 41.48% | 29,344 | 55.79% | 1,435 | 2.73% |
1928 | 32,132 | 74.40% | 10,649 | 24.66% | 405 | 0.94% |
1924 | 21,144 | 57.23% | 8,712 | 23.58% | 7,087 | 19.18% |
1920 | 16,642 | 59.15% | 10,998 | 39.09% | 494 | 1.76% |
1916 | 10,899 | 41.79% | 13,391 | 51.34% | 1,792 | 6.87% |
1912 | 1,419 | 9.77% | 5,752 | 39.61% | 7,350 | 50.62% |
1908 | 6,756 | 50.25% | 6,049 | 44.99% | 640 | 4.76% |
1904 | 6,697 | 60.77% | 2,869 | 26.03% | 1,455 | 13.20% |
1900 | 5,363 | 50.03% | 5,144 | 47.99% | 212 | 1.98% |
1896 | 4,122 | 42.68% | 5,434 | 56.26% | 102 | 1.06% |
1892 | 4,770 | 46.68% | 0 | 0.00% | 5,448 | 53.32% |
1888 | 6,071 | 55.51% | 4,025 | 36.80% | 841 | 7.69% |
1884 | 3,464 | 53.56% | 2,467 | 38.14% | 537 | 8.30% |
1880 | 2,288 | 57.11% | 1,354 | 33.80% | 364 | 9.09% |
Sedgwick County is fairly conservative for an urban county. It has only gone Democratic in a presidential election once since 1944. Democratic strength is concentrated in Wichita, while the suburban areas are strongly Republican. However, the county often backs Democrats for governorship - most recently Laura Kelly in 2022. This makes it a bellwether in local Kansas elections, with the statewide winner almost always winning the county. [14] The last Democratic Senate candidate to win the county was Bill Roy in 1974, while Kansas as a whole has not been represented by a Democrat in the Senate since 1938. [15] In the U.S. House of Representatives, Sedgwick County is represented by Republican Ron Estes. He won the county with a 16.8% margin in 2022.
Sedgwick County was a prohibition, or "dry", county until the Kansas Constitution was amended in 1986 and voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with a 30 percent food sales requirement. The food sales requirement was removed with voter approval in 1988. [16]
Despite its conservative reputation, Sedgwick County voted "No" on the 2022 Kansas Value Them Both Amendment, an anti-abortion ballot measure, by 58% to 42% despite backing Donald Trump with 54% of the vote to Joe Biden's 43% in the 2020 presidential election. [17]
The following public-use airports are located in Sedgwick County:
The following are closed airports:
List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Sedgwick County. [18]
‡ 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.
Sedgwick County is divided into twenty-seven townships. The cities of Bel Aire and Wichita 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. The county used to have one more township, Wichita Township, but it no longer exists. [20]
Wichita County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat is Leoti. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 2,152. The county was named after the Wichita tribe.
Wallace County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat is Sharon Springs. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 1,512, making it the second-least populous county in Kansas. The county was created in 1868 and named in honor of Brigadier General W.H.L. Wallace, who had been mortally wounded in combat in the Battle of Shiloh. Wallace County is home to Mount Sunflower, the highest point in Kansas at 4,039 feet. Mount Sunflower is located approximately 15 miles (24 km) north-northwest of Weskan, less than one mile (1.6 km) from the Colorado state line. It is one of four Kansas counties to use the Mountain Time Zone rather than the Central Time Zone like the remainder of Kansas.
Sumner County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat is Wellington. As of the 2020 census, the population was 22,382. The county is named after Charles Sumner, a U.S. Senator from Massachusetts who was a leader of Reconstruction politics.
Seward County is a county of the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat and largest city is Liberal. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 21,964. The county was formed on March 20, 1873, and named after William Seward, a politician and Secretary of State under Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson.
Reno County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat and largest city is Hutchinson. As of the 2020 census, the population was 61,898. The county is named for Jesse Reno, a general during the American Civil War.
Osage County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat is Lyndon, and its most populous city is Osage City. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 15,766. The county was originally organized in 1855 as Weller County, then renamed in 1859 after the Osage tribe.
Neosho County is a county located in Southeast Kansas. Its county seat is Erie. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 15,904. The county was named for the Neosho River, which passes through the county.
Nemaha County is a county located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat is Seneca. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 10,273. The county was named for the Nemaha River.
Leavenworth County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas and is part of the Kansas City metropolitan area. Its county seat and most populous city is Leavenworth. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 81,881. The county was named after Henry Leavenworth, a general in the Indian Wars who established Fort Leavenworth.
Labette County is a county located in Southeast Kansas. Its county seat is Oswego, and its most populous city is Parsons. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 20,184. The county was named after LaBette creek, the second-largest creek in the county, which runs roughly NNW-SSE from near Parsons to Chetopa. The creek in turn was named after French-Canadian fur trapper Pierre LaBette who had moved to the area, living along the Neosho River, and marrying into the Osage tribe in the 1830s and 1840s.
Kingman County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat and largest city is Kingman. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 7,470. The county was named for Samuel Kingman, a chief justice of the Kansas Supreme Court during the 1860s and 1870s.
Harvey County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat and most populous city is Newton. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 34,024. The county was named for James Harvey, a U.S. senator and 5th governor of 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.
Cowley County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat is Winfield, and its most populous city is Arkansas City. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 34,549. The county was named after Matthew Cowley, first lieutenant in Company I, 9th Kansas Cavalry, who died during the American Civil War.
Coffey County is a county located in Eastern Kansas. Its county seat and most populous city is Burlington. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 8,360. It was named after A.M. Coffey, a territorial legislator and Free-Stater during Bleeding Kansas era.
Clark County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat and most populous city is Ashland. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 1,991. The county was named after Charles Clarke.
Cherokee County is a U.S. county located in Southeast Kansas. Its county seat is Columbus, and its most populous city is Baxter Springs. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 19,362. The county was named for the Cherokee tribe.
Butler County is a county in the U.S. state of Kansas and is the largest county in the state by total area. Its county seat is El Dorado and its most populous city is Andover. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 67,380. The county was named for Andrew Butler, a U.S. Senator from South Carolina who coauthored the Kansas–Nebraska Act.
Brown County is a county located in the northeast portion of the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat and most populous city is Hiawatha. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 9,508. The county was named after Albert G. Brown, a U.S. Senator from Mississippi and Kansas statehood advocate. The Kickapoo Indian Reservation of Kansas, the majority of the Sac and Fox Reservation, and the majority of the Iowa Reservation of Kansas and Nebraska are located within the county.
Kechi is a city in Sedgwick County, Kansas, United States, and a suburb of Wichita. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 2,217.