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Wichita County, Kansas

Coordinates: 38°28′N 101°21′W / 38.467°N 101.350°W / 38.467; -101.350
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Not to be confused with Wichita, Kansas or Sedgwick County, Kansas.

Wichita County
County
Wichita County Courthouse in Leoti (2015)
Wichita County Courthouse in Leoti (2015)
Map of Kansas highlighting Wichita County
Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
Map of the United States highlighting Kansas
Kansas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 38°28′00″N 101°21′00″W / 38.4667°N 101.35°W / 38.4667; -101.35
Country United States
State Kansas
FoundedDecember 24, 1886
Named forWichita tribe
SeatLeoti
Largest cityLeoti
Area
 • Total719 sq mi (1,860 km2)
 • Land719 sq mi (1,860 km2)
 • Water0.02 sq mi (0.05 km2)  0.0%
Population
 (2020)[1]
 • Total2,152
 • Density3.0/sq mi (1.2/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district1st
WebsiteWichitaCounty.org

Wichita County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat is Leoti.[2] As of the 2020 census, the county population was 2,152.[1] The county was named after the Wichita tribe.

History

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Early history

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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, in accordance with the Treaty of Fontainebleau.

19th century

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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 1886, Wichita County was established.

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 719 square miles (1,860 km2), virtually all of which is land.[3]

Major highways

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Adjacent counties

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Demographics

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Population pyramid based on 2000 census age data
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
188014—
18901,82712,950.0%
19001,197−34.5%
19102,00667.6%
19201,856−7.5%
19302,57939.0%
19402,185−15.3%
19502,64020.8%
19602,7654.7%
19703,27418.4%
19803,041−7.1%
19902,758−9.3%
20002,531−8.2%
20102,234−11.7%
20202,152−3.7%
2023 (est.)2,082[4]−3.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
1790-1960[6] 1900-1990[7]
1990-2000[8] 2010-2020[1]

As of the census[9] of 2000, there were 2,531 people, 967 households, and 723 families residing in the county. The population density was 4 people per square mile (1.5 people/km2). There were 1,119 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile (0.77/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 86.25% White, 0.08% Black or African American, 0.71% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 10.51% from other races, and 2.37% from two or more races. 18.41% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 967 households, out of which 35.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.30% were married couples living together, 5.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.20% were non-families. 23.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.07.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 28.70% under the age of 18, 7.30% from 18 to 24, 25.70% from 25 to 44, 22.30% from 45 to 64, and 16.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 104.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,462, and the median income for a family was $41,034. Males had a median income of $27,523 versus $18,807 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,720. About 11.20% of families and 14.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.20% of those under age 18 and 4.70% of those age 65 or over.

Government

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Presidential elections

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Presidential election results
United States presidential election results for Wichita County, Kansas[10]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 808 83.47% 149 15.39% 11 1.14%
2016 769 80.44% 140 14.64% 47 4.92%
2012 821 83.18% 157 15.91% 9 0.91%
2008 840 82.43% 163 16.00% 16 1.57%
2004 869 81.83% 183 17.23% 10 0.94%
2000 859 78.81% 207 18.99% 24 2.20%
1996 796 71.13% 239 21.36% 84 7.51%
1992 681 55.37% 241 19.59% 308 25.04%
1988 721 62.80% 399 34.76% 28 2.44%
1984 916 78.90% 232 19.98% 13 1.12%
1980 880 69.95% 303 24.09% 75 5.96%
1976 593 47.90% 614 49.60% 31 2.50%
1972 794 69.89% 288 25.35% 54 4.75%
1968 757 60.37% 364 29.03% 133 10.61%
1964 529 44.19% 662 55.30% 6 0.50%
1960 702 55.63% 554 43.90% 6 0.48%
1956 747 70.41% 312 29.41% 2 0.19%
1952 910 75.90% 276 23.02% 13 1.08%
1948 606 56.27% 443 41.13% 28 2.60%
1944 604 64.32% 329 35.04% 6 0.64%
1940 644 59.08% 433 39.72% 13 1.19%
1936 448 41.06% 637 58.39% 6 0.55%
1932 375 32.92% 732 64.27% 32 2.81%
1928 464 54.91% 370 43.79% 11 1.30%
1924 482 62.68% 147 19.12% 140 18.21%
1920 422 73.91% 127 22.24% 22 3.85%
1916 318 44.04% 333 46.12% 71 9.83%
1912 82 22.10% 135 36.39% 154 41.51%
1908 233 54.31% 173 40.33% 23 5.36%
1904 245 67.31% 91 25.00% 28 7.69%
1900 201 60.36% 128 38.44% 4 1.20%
1896 214 52.32% 192 46.94% 3 0.73%
1892 245 53.26% 0 0.00% 215 46.74%
1888 438 59.35% 207 28.05% 93 12.60%

Wichita County is overwhelmingly Republican. It was last carried for the Democratic Party by Jimmy Carter in 1976, but since then the only Democrat to win over a quarter of the county's vote has been Michael Dukakis during the 1988 election when the Democratic vote was boosted by reaction against a major Great Plains drought. In the past six elections no Democrat has topped twenty percent of Wichita County's vote – a situation now almost general in the High Plains.

Laws

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Although the Kansas Constitution was amended in 1986 to allow the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with the approval of voters, Wichita County has remained a prohibition, or "dry", county.[11] The latest county alcohol control map indicates the county now allows liquor sales.[12]

Education

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  • Leoti USD 467

Communities

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2005 map of Wichita County[13] (map legend)

List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Wichita County.[13]
† means a community is designated a Census-Designated Place (CDP) by the United States Census Bureau.

Cities

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Unincorporated communities

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Ghost towns

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Townships

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Wichita County has a single township. None of the cities within the county are considered governmentally independent, and all figures for the townships include those of the cities. 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
Leoti 39575 Leoti 2,531 1 (4) 1,861 (719) 0 (0) 0% 38°29′54″N 101°21′50″W / 38.49833°N 101.36389°W / 38.49833; -101.36389

See also

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Community information for Kansas

References

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  1. ^ a b c "QuickFacts; Wichita County, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 22, 2021. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  4. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  5. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  6. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  7. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  8. ^ "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.
  9. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  10. ^ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
  11. ^ "Map of Wet and Dry Counties". Alcoholic Beverage Control, Kansas Department of Revenue. November 2004. Archived from the original on October 8, 2007. Retrieved January 21, 2007.
  12. ^ "Kansas Liquor by the Drink Map (Wet and Dry Counties)" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on October 12, 2022. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
  13. ^ a b "General Highway Map of Wichita County, Kansas" (PDF). Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT). March 2011. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 30, 2023.
Notes

Further reading

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See also: List of books about Kansas, including historical information about its counties and cities
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wichita County, Kansas.
Wikisource has the text of an 1879 American Cyclopædia article about Wichita County, Kansas.
County
Maps

38°28′N 101°21′W / 38.467°N 101.350°W / 38.467; -101.350

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