Thomas County, Kansas

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Thomas County, Kansas
Map
Map of Kansas highlighting Thomas County
Location in the state of Kansas
Map of the U.S. highlighting Kansas
Kansas's location in the U.S.
Statistics
Founded 8 October 1885
Seat Colby
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Water

1,075 sq mi (2,784 km²)
1,075 sq mi (2,784 km²)
0 sq mi (0 km²), 0.01%
PopulationEst.
 - (2005)
 - Density

7,639
7.1/sq mi (2.7/km²)
Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5
Website: www.thomascounty.com
Named for: George Henry Thomas

Thomas County (standard abbreviation: TH) is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of 2000, the population is 8,180. Its county seat is Colby.[1]

Contents

[hide]

[edit] Law and government

Thomas 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% food sales requirement.[2]

[edit] Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,075 square miles (2,784 km²), of which, 1,075 square miles (2,784 km²) of it is land and 0 square miles (0 km²) of it (0.01%) is water.

[edit] Adjacent counties

[edit] Demographics

Historical populations
Census Pop.  %±
1900 4,112
1910 5,455 32.7%
1920 5,517 1.1%
1930 7,334 32.9%
1940 6,425 -12.4%
1950 7,572 17.9%
1960 7,358 -2.8%
1970 7,501 1.9%
1980 8,451 12.7%
1990 8,258 -2.3%
2000 8,180 -0.9%

As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 8,180 people, 3,226 households, and 2,125 families residing in the county. The population density was 8 people per square mile (3/km²). There were 3,562 housing units at an average density of 3 per square mile (1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.14% White, 0.43% Black or African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.95% from other races, and 0.86% from two or more races. 1.85% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Age pyramid
Age pyramid

There were 3,226 households out of which 32.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.10% were married couples living together, 6.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.10% were non-families. 28.40% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the county the population was spread out with 26.30% under the age of 18, 13.50% from 18 to 24, 24.40% from 25 to 44, 21.20% from 45 to 64, and 14.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 94.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,034, and the median income for a family was $45,931. Males had a median income of $33,833 versus $21,310 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,028. About 6.60% of families and 9.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.90% of those under age 18 and 7.50% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Cities and towns

Map of Thomas County from KDOT (map legend)
Map of Thomas County from KDOT (map legend)

[edit] Incorporated cities

Name and population (2004 estimate):

[edit] Townships

Thomas County is divided into thirteen townships. The city of Colby 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
Barrett 04325 124 0 (1) 276 (107) 0 (0) 0.01% 39°30′21″N, 101°16′7″W
East Hale 19475 137 1 (3) 140 (54) 0 (0) 0 % 39°22′27″N, 101°12′49″W
Kingery 36925 93 0 (1) 373 (144) 0 (0) 0 % 39°13′55″N, 101°16′52″W
Lacey 37425 132 1 (4) 92 (36) 0 (0) 0 % 39°25′48″N, 100°53′27″W
Menlo 45775 112 1 (2) 140 (54) 0 (0) 0 % 39°20′36″N, 100°46′4″W
Morgan 48200 755 3 (7) 271 (105) 0 (0) 0 % 39°22′31″N, 101°3′0″W
North Randall 51300 107 1 (2) 138 (53) 0 (0) 0.03% 39°19′44″N, 100°53′55″W
Rovohl 61525 143 1 (1) 277 (107) 0 (0) 0 % 39°30′11″N, 101°4′3″W
Smith 65900 213 2 (6) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0.03% 39°27′11″N, 100°45′31″W
South Randall 66875 267 1 (2) 279 (108) 0 (0) 0.04% 39°10′59″N, 100°50′29″W
Summers 68975 197 1 (1) 373 (144) 0 (0) 0 % 39°14′30″N, 101°2′47″W
Wendell 76650 84 0 (1) 183 (71) 0 (0) 0.02% 39°31′4″N, 100°49′21″W
West Hale 76975 366 3 (7) 140 (54) 0 (0) 0 % 39°21′50″N, 101°21′48″W

[edit] Education

[edit] Unified school districts

  • Brewster USD 314
  • Colby USD 315
  • Golden Plains USD 316

[edit] References

  1. ^ Find a County. National Association of Counties. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  2. ^ Map of Wet and Dry Counties. Alcoholic Beverage Control, Kansas Department of Revenue (November 2006). Retrieved on 2007-12-28.
  3. ^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.

[edit] External links

General information on Thomas County
Kansas County Data
Thomas County local history and genealogy