Woodson County, Kansas

Woodson County
County
Woodson County Courthouse in Yates Center
Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
Kansas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°50′34″N95°43′28″W / 37.8428°N 95.7244°W / 37.8428; -95.7244
Country	United States
State	Kansas
Founded	1855
Named for	Daniel Woodson
Seat	Yates Center
Largest city	Yates Center
Area
• Total	505 sq mi (1,310 km2)
• Land	498 sq mi (1,290 km2)
• Water	7.4 sq mi (19 km2)  1.5%
Population  (2020) [1]
• Total	3,115
• Estimate  (2023) [2]	3,115
• Density	6.3/sq mi (2.4/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	2nd
Website	WoodsonCounty.net

Woodson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat is Yates Center. ^[3] As of the 2020 census, the county population was 3,115. ^[1] The county was named after Daniel Woodson, a five-time acting governor of the Kansas Territory.

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 1855, Woodson County was established. Fort Belmont was used during the Civil War and had received refugees from the Trail of Blood on Ice. Opothleyahola is buried in an unmarked grave next to his daughter who died at the fort.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 505 square miles (1,310 km²), of which 498 square miles (1,290 km²) is land and 7.4 square miles (19 km²) (1.5%) is water. ^[4]

Adjacent counties

• Coffey County (north)
• Anderson County (northeast)
• Allen County (east)
• Neosho County (southeast)
• Wilson County (south)
• Greenwood County (west)

Demographics

Population pyramid based on 2000 census age data

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1860	1,488		—
1870	3,827		157.2%
1880	6,535		70.8%
1890	9,021		38.0%
1900	10,022		11.1%
1910	9,450		−5.7%
1920	8,984		−4.9%
1930	8,526		−5.1%
1940	8,014		−6.0%
1950	6,711		−16.3%
1960	5,423		−19.2%
1970	4,789		−11.7%
1980	4,600		−3.9%
1990	4,116		−10.5%
2000	3,788		−8.0%
2010	3,309		−12.6%
2020	3,115		−5.9%
2023 (est.)	3,115	[5]	0.0%
U.S. Decennial Census [6] 1790-1960 [7] 1900-1990 [8] 1990-2000 [9] 2010-2020 [1]

As of the census ^[10] of 2000, there were 3,788 people, 1,642 households, and 1,052 families residing in the county. The population density was 8 people per square mile (3.1 people/km²). There were 2,076 housing units at an average density of 4 per square mile (1.5/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 96.96% White, 0.82% Black or African American, 0.87% Native American, 0.05% Asian, 0.24% from other races, and 1.06% from two or more races. 1.37% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,642 households, out of which 25.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.80% were married couples living together, 7.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.90% were non-families. 33.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.83.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 21.70% under the age of 18, 7.40% from 18 to 24, 22.10% from 25 to 44, 23.90% from 45 to 64, and 24.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 96.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $25,335, and the median income for a family was $31,369. Males had a median income of $23,950 versus $16,135 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,283. About 10.20% of families and 13.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.20% of those under age 18 and 13.20% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Presidential elections

Presidential election results

United States presidential election results for Woodson County, Kansas ^[11]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	1,181	80.01%	278	18.83%	17	1.15%
2020	1,228	79.43%	294	19.02%	24	1.55%
2016	1,082	74.98%	273	18.92%	88	6.10%
2012	1,035	71.53%	380	26.26%	32	2.21%
2008	1,055	65.98%	512	32.02%	32	2.00%
2004	1,204	68.29%	530	30.06%	29	1.64%
2000	974	61.07%	521	32.66%	100	6.27%
1996	953	52.02%	598	32.64%	281	15.34%
1992	662	35.48%	590	31.62%	614	32.90%
1988	1,062	57.50%	761	41.20%	24	1.30%
1984	1,408	69.36%	596	29.36%	26	1.28%
1980	1,435	65.56%	646	29.51%	108	4.93%
1976	1,104	54.09%	904	44.29%	33	1.62%
1972	1,592	72.59%	550	25.08%	51	2.33%
1968	1,450	62.63%	639	27.60%	226	9.76%
1964	1,279	52.61%	1,128	46.40%	24	0.99%
1960	1,853	67.36%	888	32.28%	10	0.36%
1956	2,171	70.88%	870	28.40%	22	0.72%
1952	2,594	76.29%	786	23.12%	20	0.59%
1948	1,997	62.58%	1,145	35.88%	49	1.54%
1944	2,308	69.56%	999	30.11%	11	0.33%
1940	2,637	64.87%	1,398	34.39%	30	0.74%
1936	2,374	55.49%	1,884	44.04%	20	0.47%
1932	1,842	45.17%	2,119	51.96%	117	2.87%
1928	2,885	76.59%	855	22.70%	27	0.72%
1924	2,412	63.17%	1,026	26.87%	380	9.95%
1920	2,253	68.71%	944	28.79%	82	2.50%
1916	1,861	48.21%	1,794	46.48%	205	5.31%
1912	694	29.14%	900	37.78%	788	33.08%
1908	1,252	53.23%	1,047	44.52%	53	2.25%
1904	1,490	63.57%	657	28.03%	197	8.40%
1900	1,418	55.54%	1,115	43.67%	20	0.78%
1896	1,288	51.56%	1,189	47.60%	21	0.84%
1892	1,071	50.16%	0	0.00%	1,064	49.84%
1888	1,149	51.97%	595	26.91%	467	21.12%

Woodson County is powerfully Republican. The only Democrat to win a majority in the county was Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1932, although Woodrow Wilson won a plurality in 1912. In contrast, Charles Evans Hughes in 1916 & George H. W. Bush in 1992 are the only Republican winners of the county who only managed to win a plurality of its votes.

Education

Unified school districts

• Woodson USD 366

Communities

2005 map of Woodson County (map legend)

List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Woodson County. ^[12]

Cities

• Yates Center (county seat)
• Toronto
• Neosho Falls

Unincorporated communities

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

• Cookville
• Durand
• Piqua†
• Vernon

Ghost towns

• Defiance - located six miles east of Yates Center, its population moved to Yates Center after it was selected as the permanent county seat in 1876 ^[13]
• Kalida - located two miles south of Yates Center, its population moved to Yates Center after it was selected as the permanent county seat in 1876 ^[13]

Townships

Woodson County is divided into six townships. The city of Yates Center 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
Center	12250		594	1 (4)	410 (158)	1 (0)	0.23%	37°50′35″N95°43′29″W / 37.84306°N 95.72472°W / 37.84306; -95.72472
Liberty	40375		200	1 (2)	223 (86)	1 (0)	0.26%	37°59′18″N95°43′47″W / 37.98833°N 95.72972°W / 37.98833; -95.72972
Neosho Falls	49850		537	3 (7)	196 (76)	1 (0)	0.38%	37°57′30″N95°33′54″W / 37.95833°N 95.56500°W / 37.95833; -95.56500
North	51025		71	0 (1)	167 (64)	0 (0)	0.11%	37°59′50″N95°53′19″W / 37.99722°N 95.88861°W / 37.99722; -95.88861
Perry	55475		103	1 (2)	127 (49)	0 (0)	0.08%	37°46′18″N95°35′24″W / 37.77167°N 95.59000°W / 37.77167; -95.59000
Toronto	71075		684	4 (11)	167 (64)	10 (4)	5.40%	37°47′52″N95°55′37″W / 37.79778°N 95.92694°W / 37.79778; -95.92694

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; Woodson County, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 22, 2021. Retrieved August 21, 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. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
5. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
6. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
7. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
8. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
9. "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 29, 2014.
10. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
11. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
12. "General Highway Map of Woodson County, Kansas" (PDF). Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT). December 2011. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 21, 2024.
13. "WOODSON COUNTY, KANSAS COUNTY HISTORY". genealogytrails.com. Retrieved September 18, 2017.

Further reading

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

• Standard Atlas of Woodson County, Kansas; Geo. A. Ogle & Co; 38 pages; 1904.

External links

County

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

Maps

• Woodson County maps: Current, Historic, KDOT
• Kansas Highway maps: Current, Historic, KDOT
• Kansas Railroad maps: Current, 1996, 1915, KDOT and Kansas Historical Society

37°53′N95°44′W / 37.883°N 95.733°W / 37.883; -95.733