Sedgwick County, Kansas

Sedgwick County, Kansas

Old Sedgwick County Courthouse in Wichita
Map of Kansas highlighting Sedgwick County
Location in the state of Kansas
Map of the United States highlighting Kansas
Kansas's location in the U.S.
Founded February 26, 1867
Named for John Sedgwick
Seat Wichita
Largest city Wichita
Area
 • Total 1,009 sq mi (2,613 km2)
 • Land 998 sq mi (2,585 km2)
 • Water 12 sq mi (31 km2), 1.2%
Population (est.)
 • (2014) 508,803
 • Density 500/sq mi (193/km²)
Congressional district 4th
Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5
Website SedgwickCounty.org

Coordinates: 37°43′N 97°27′W / 37.717°N 97.450°W / 37.717; -97.450

Sedgwick County (standard abbreviation: SG) is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the population was 498,365,[1] making it the second-most populous county in Kansas. The county seat is Wichita,[2] the most populous city in the state.

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

History

1915 Railroad Map of Sedgwick 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

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.[3]

In 1887, the Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway built a branch line north-south from Herington to Caldwell.[4] 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".

20th century

Sedgwick County was the setting for the murders committed by the BTK strangler from 1974 until 1991. 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. 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.

Geography

According to the U.S. 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.[5]

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18701,095—
188018,7531,612.6%
189043,626132.6%
190044,0370.9%
191073,09566.0%
192092,23426.2%
1930136,33047.8%
1940143,3115.1%
1950222,29055.1%
1960343,23154.4%
1970350,6942.2%
1980366,5314.5%
1990403,66210.1%
2000452,86912.2%
2010498,36510.0%
Est. 2014508,803[6]2.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010-2014[1]
Age pyramid

As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 452,869 people, 176,444 households, and 117,688 families residing in the county. The population density was 453 people 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.

Government

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% food sales requirement. The food sales requirement was removed with voter approval in 1988.[12]

Transportation

Airports

The following public-use airports are located in Sedgwick County:

Education

Unified school districts

Points of interest

Communities

2005 KDOT Map of Sedgwick County (map legend)
Map of Townships in Sedgwick County

Cities

Census-designated places

Unincorporated places

Ghost towns

  • Davidson
  • Hatfield
  • Huckle
  • Jamesburg
  • Marshall
  • Oatville
  • Wichita Heights

Townships

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.

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
Afton 00425 1,290 14 (37) 91 (35) 2 (1) 1.73% 37°36′10″N 97°37′54″W / 37.60278°N 97.63167°W / 37.60278; -97.63167
Attica 03125 Goddard 4,959 62 (161) 80 (31) 0 (0) 0.23% 37°40′44″N 97°32′16″W / 37.67889°N 97.53778°W / 37.67889; -97.53778
Delano 17375 196 25 (64) 8 (3) 1 (0) 13.81% 37°43′2″N 97°25′13″W / 37.71722°N 97.42028°W / 37.71722; -97.42028
Eagle 19250 Bentley 1,069 12 (30) 92 (36) 1 (1) 1.44% 37°51′48″N 97°32′26″W / 37.86333°N 97.54056°W / 37.86333; -97.54056
Erie 21550 106 1 (3) 94 (36) 0 (0) 0.03% 37°31′24″N 97°44′51″W / 37.52333°N 97.74750°W / 37.52333; -97.74750
Garden Plain 25400 Garden Plain 1,780 19 (50) 92 (36) 0 (0) 0.15% 37°40′25″N 97°39′47″W / 37.67361°N 97.66306°W / 37.67361; -97.66306
Grand River 27300 607 7 (17) 91 (35) 2 (1) 2.20% 37°40′6″N 97°45′14″W / 37.66833°N 97.75389°W / 37.66833; -97.75389
Grant 28125 Valley Center (part) 3,710 40 (104) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0.47% 37°50′55″N 97°20′23″W / 37.84861°N 97.33972°W / 37.84861; -97.33972
Greeley 28400 Mount Hope 1,094 12 (31) 93 (36) 1 (1) 1.43% 37°52′21″N 97°39′17″W / 37.87250°N 97.65472°W / 37.87250; -97.65472
Gypsum 29300 5,822 64 (164) 92 (35) 0 (0) 0.51% 37°36′26″N 97°12′34″W / 37.60722°N 97.20944°W / 37.60722; -97.20944
Illinois 33775 1,620 18 (45) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0.12% 37°35′54″N 97°31′53″W / 37.59833°N 97.53139°W / 37.59833; -97.53139
Kechi 36250 Park City 8,041 143 (370) 56 (22) 0 (0) 0.23% 37°47′35″N 97°19′14″W / 37.79306°N 97.32056°W / 37.79306; -97.32056
Lincoln 41150 473 5 (13) 91 (35) 0 (0) 0.12% 37°52′35″N 97°11′53″W / 37.87639°N 97.19806°W / 37.87639; -97.19806
Minneha 47125 Eastborough 5,084 117 (304) 43 (17) 1 (0) 1.49% 37°41′11″N 97°11′25″W / 37.68639°N 97.19028°W / 37.68639; -97.19028
Morton 48550 Cheney 2,380 26 (67) 91 (35) 1 (0) 1.14% 37°37′24″N 97°46′33″W / 37.62333°N 97.77583°W / 37.62333; -97.77583
Ninnescah 50725 Clearwater 2,913 31 (81) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0.47% 37°30′51″N 97°31′28″W / 37.51417°N 97.52444°W / 37.51417; -97.52444
Ohio 52450 1,146 12 (32) 94 (36) 0 (0) 0.14% 37°31′56″N 97°25′21″W / 37.53222°N 97.42250°W / 37.53222; -97.42250
Park 54425 Maize 4,128 51 (131) 82 (32) 2 (1) 2.04% 37°46′26″N 97°26′13″W / 37.77389°N 97.43694°W / 37.77389; -97.43694
Payne 55075 1,119 14 (36) 80 (31) 0 (0) 0.21% 37°46′58″N 97°12′22″W / 37.78278°N 97.20611°W / 37.78278; -97.20611
Riverside 60125 Haysville (part)
Derby (part)
Oaklawn-Sunview CDP 		15,694 333 (862) 47 (18) 1 (0) 1.98% 37°34′56″N 97°18′22″W / 37.58222°N 97.30611°W / 37.58222; -97.30611
Rockford 60675 Derby (part) 20,019 198 (514) 101 (39) 1 (0) 0.99% 37°31′55″N 97°14′47″W / 37.53194°N 97.24639°W / 37.53194; -97.24639
Salem 62675 Haysville (part) 8,411 102 (263) 83 (32) 1 (0) 0.95% 37°32′23″N 97°20′11″W / 37.53972°N 97.33639°W / 37.53972; -97.33639
Sherman 65100 Andale 1,362 14 (37) 96 (37) 0 (0) 0.22% 37°47′23″N 97°38′4″W / 37.78972°N 97.63444°W / 37.78972; -97.63444
Union 72375 Colwich 2,156 23 (60) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0.23% 37°46′55″N 97°32′8″W / 37.78194°N 97.53556°W / 37.78194; -97.53556
Valley Center 73275 Valley Center (part) 3,642 39 (100) 94 (36) 0 (0) 0.16% 37°51′22″N 97°24′10″W / 37.85611°N 97.40278°W / 37.85611; -97.40278
Viola 74050 Viola 547 6 (15) 93 (36) 1 (0) 0.98% 37°30′41″N 97°39′3″W / 37.51139°N 97.65083°W / 37.51139; -97.65083
Waco 74300 3,381 45 (117) 75 (29) 0 (0) 0.12% 37°36′35″N 97°24′57″W / 37.60972°N 97.41583°W / 37.60972; -97.41583

See also

Community information for Kansas
Education information for Kansas
Historical information for Kansas

Further reading

Sedgwick County
Kansas

References

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ↑ Kansas State Historical Society (1916). Biennial Report of the Board of Directors of the Kansas State Historical Society. Kansas State Printing Plant. p. 205.
  4. ↑ Rock Island Rail History
  5. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  6. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014". Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  7. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  11. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  12. ↑ "Map of Wet and Dry Counties". Alcoholic Beverage Control, Kansas Department of Revenue. November 2006. Retrieved 2007-12-28.
  13. ↑ http://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gnispublic/f?p=115:3:103222460506338::NO:3:P3_FID,P3_TITLE:473853%2CTrails%20View

External links

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