Sumner County, Kansas

Sumner County, Kansas
Map of Kansas highlighting Sumner County
Location in the state of Kansas
Map of the United States highlighting Kansas
Kansas's location in the U.S.
Founded 20 December 1870
Named for Charles Sumner
Seat Wellington
Largest city Wellington
Area
 • Total 1,185 sq mi (3,069 km2)
 • Land 1,182 sq mi (3,061 km2)
 • Water 3.0 sq mi (8 km2), 0.3%
Population (Est.)
 • (2013) 23,591
 • Density 20/sq mi (8/km²)
Congressional district 4th
Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5
Website www.co.sumner.ks.us

Coordinates: 37°14′N 97°29′W / 37.233°N 97.483°W

Sumner County (standard abbreviation: SU) is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the population was 24,132.[1] Its county seat is Wellington.[2]

Sumner County is part of the Wichita, KS Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

1915 Railroad Map of Sumner County

Early history

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, 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 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, then in 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state.

19th century

On February 26, 1867, Sumner County was created from parts of Marion County and Butler County. It was named in honor of Charles Sumner, a U.S. Senator from Massachusetts (1811–74), who was a strong advocate of Kansas becoming a free state.

In 1887, the Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway built a branch line north-south from Herington to Caldwell.[3] 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".

21st century

In December 2011, the Kansas Star Casino opened approximately 4.5 miles (7.2 km) west of the center of Mulvane, adjacent to an exit on the Kansas Turnpike that was added in the mid 1980s. The casino is located a couple blocks west of the turnpike exit.[4]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,185 square miles (3,070 km2), of which 1,182 square miles (3,060 km2) is land and 3.0 square miles (7.8 km2) (0.3%) is water.[5]

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
187022—
188020,81294,500.0%
189030,27145.4%
190025,631−15.3%
191030,65419.6%
192029,213−4.7%
193028,960−0.9%
194026,163−9.7%
195023,646−9.6%
196025,3167.1%
197023,553−7.0%
198024,9285.8%
199025,8413.7%
200025,9460.4%
201024,132−7.0%
Est. 201323,591−2.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2013[1]
Age pyramid

As of the census[10] of 2000, there were 25,946 people, 9,888 households, and 7,089 families residing in the county. The population density was 22 people per square mile (8/km²). There were 10,877 housing units at an average density of 9 per square mile (4/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 94.62% White, 0.71% Black or African American, 1.05% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 1.29% from other races, and 2.06% from two or more races. 3.58% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 9,888 households out of which 34.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.90% were married couples living together, 8.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.30% were non-families. 25.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.10.

In the county the population was spread out with 28.50% under the age of 18, 7.50% from 18 to 24, 26.20% from 25 to 44, 22.40% from 45 to 64, and 15.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 96.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $39,415, and the median income for a family was $46,739. Males had a median income of $36,616 versus $23,020 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,305. About 7.20% of families and 9.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.20% of those under age 18 and 6.80% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Following amendment to the Kansas Constitution in 1986, the county remained a prohibition, or "dry", county until 1992, when voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with a 30% food sales requirement.[11]

Education

Unified school districts

Communities

2005 KDOT Map of Sumner County (map legend)

Cities

Unincorporated communities

Ghost towns

Townships

Sumner County is divided into thirty townships. The cities of Caldwell and Wellington 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
Avon 03575 319 3 (9) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0.03% 37°15′58″N 97°18′56″W / 37.26611°N 97.31556°W
Belle Plaine 05525 3,504 33 (87) 105 (40) 1 (0) 0.69% 37°24′33″N 97°17′19″W / 37.40917°N 97.28861°W
Bluff 07750 74 1 (1) 136 (53) 0 (0) 0% 37°3′19″N 97°44′18″W / 37.05528°N 97.73833°W
Caldwell 09925 200 1 (4) 136 (52) 0 (0) 0.02% 37°3′42″N 97°37′52″W / 37.06167°N 97.63111°W
Chikaskia 13150 69 1 (2) 94 (36) 0 (0) 0.02% 37°10′4″N 97°38′4″W / 37.16778°N 97.63444°W
Conway 15300 1,286 14 (35) 94 (36) 0 (0) 0% 37°24′33″N 97°39′4″W / 37.40917°N 97.65111°W
Creek 16300 241 3 (7) 95 (37) 0 (0) 0.05% 37°20′10″N 97°44′18″W / 37.33611°N 97.73833°W
Dixon 18200 738 8 (20) 94 (36) 0 (0) 0% 37°15′55″N 97°45′44″W / 37.26528°N 97.76222°W
Downs 18525 159 2 (5) 91 (35) 0 (0) 0% 37°10′43″N 97°31′12″W / 37.17861°N 97.52000°W
Eden 19800 452 5 (12) 95 (37) 0 (0) 0% 37°25′45″N 97°45′36″W / 37.42917°N 97.76000°W
Falls 22875 187 1 (3) 139 (54) 0 (0) 0% 37°4′48″N 97°31′52″W / 37.08000°N 97.53111°W
Gore 26975 2,220 27 (70) 83 (32) 1 (1) 1.69% 37°26′56″N 97°12′28″W / 37.44889°N 97.20778°W
Greene 28525 80 1 (2) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0.10% 37°10′28″N 97°18′26″W / 37.17444°N 97.30722°W
Guelph 29175 164 1 (3) 141 (55) 0 (0) 0% 37°4′10″N 97°19′21″W / 37.06944°N 97.32250°W
Harmon 30125 277 3 (9) 79 (31) 0 (0) 0% 37°21′31″N 97°19′6″W / 37.35861°N 97.31833°W
Illinois 33800 178 2 (5) 94 (36) 0 (0) 0.05% 37°25′20″N 97°31′6″W / 37.42222°N 97.51833°W
Jackson 34925 153 2 (4) 94 (36) 0 (0) 0.02% 37°10′36″N 97°24′38″W / 37.17667°N 97.41056°W
London 42400 774 7 (19) 107 (41) 1 (0) 0.93% 37°26′4″N 97°24′32″W / 37.43444°N 97.40889°W
Morris 48375 35 0 (1) 94 (36) 0 (0) 0% 37°10′35″N 97°44′17″W / 37.17639°N 97.73806°W
Osborne 53335 273 3 (8) 92 (35) 1 (0) 1.30% 37°15′11″N 97°32′9″W / 37.25306°N 97.53583°W
Oxford 53875 1,403 14 (37) 99 (38) 1 (0) 1.08% 37°16′29″N 97°10′31″W / 37.27472°N 97.17528°W
Palestine 54175 249 3 (9) 72 (28) 1 (0) 1.26% 37°21′7″N 97°13′5″W / 37.35194°N 97.21806°W
Ryan 61950 239 3 (7) 92 (36) 0 (0) 0% 37°15′37″N 97°38′51″W / 37.26028°N 97.64750°W
Seventy-Six 64000 238 3 (7) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0% 37°21′15″N 97°24′40″W / 37.35417°N 97.41111°W
South Haven 66675 670 5 (12) 140 (54) 0 (0) 0% 37°2′44″N 97°24′51″W / 37.04556°N 97.41417°W
Springdale 67575 761 8 (21) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0% 37°21′57″N 97°38′54″W / 37.36583°N 97.64833°W
Sumner 69225 150 2 (4) 94 (36) 0 (0) 0% 37°21′8″N 97°31′12″W / 37.35222°N 97.52000°W
Valverde 73350 147 2 (4) 93 (36) 1 (0) 0.76% 37°11′5″N 97°12′13″W / 37.18472°N 97.20361°W
Walton 75300 431 3 (8) 139 (54) 0 (0) 0% 37°4′43″N 97°11′36″W / 37.07861°N 97.19333°W
Wellington 76500 344 4 (11) 81 (31) 0 (0) 0.06% 37°16′17″N 97°25′16″W / 37.27139°N 97.42111°W

See also

Further reading

Sumner County
Kansas

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ↑ Rock Island Rail History
  4. ↑ Kansas Star Casino Plans To Open; The Wichita Eagle; December 7, 2011.
  5. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  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. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  10. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  11. ↑ "Map of Wet and Dry Counties". Alcoholic Beverage Control, Kansas Department of Revenue. November 2006. Retrieved 2007-12-26.
  12. ↑ Blackmar, Frank Wilson (1912). Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, Embracing Events, Institutions, Industries, Counties, Cities, Towns, Prominent Persons, Etc. Standard Publishing Company. p. 601.

External links

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