Ellsworth County, Kansas

County in Kansas, United States

County in Kansas

Ellsworth County

County

Ellsworth County Courthouse in Ellsworth (2013)

Location within the U.S. state of Kansas

Kansas's location within the U.S.

Coordinates: Coordinates: 38°42′N 98°12′W﻿ / ﻿38.700°N 98.200°W﻿ / 38.700; -98.200
Country|  United States
State|  Kansas
Founded| February 26, 1867
Named for| Fort Ellsworth
Seat| Ellsworth
Largest city| Ellsworth
Area

• Total| 723 sq mi (1,870 km2)
• Land| 716 sq mi (1,850 km2)
• Water| 7.4 sq mi (19 km2)  1.0%%
Population

(2020)[1]

• Total| 6,376
• Density| 8.9/sq mi (3.4/km2)
Time zone| UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−5 (CDT)
Area code| 785
Congressional district| 1st
Website| ellsworthcounty.org

Ellsworth County (county code EW) is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 6,376.[1] Its county seat and most populous city is Ellsworth.[2]

## Contents

* 1 History
* 1.1 Early history
* 1.2 19th century
* 2 Geography
* 2.1 Adjacent counties
* 3 Demographics
* 4 Government
* 4.1 Presidential elections
* 4.2 Laws
* 5 Education
* 5.1 Unified school districts
* 6 Communities
* 6.1 Cities
* 6.2 Unincorporated communities
* 6.3 Ghost towns
* 6.4 Townships
* 7 See also
* 8 References
* 9 Further reading
* 10 External links

## History

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1915-1918 Railroad Map of Ellsworth County

### Early history

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See also: History of Kansas

From the 16th century to 18th century, the Kingdom of France claimed ownership of large parts of North America both east and west of the Mississippi River. In 1762, after losing the French and Indian War to Great Britain, France secretly ceded New France to Spain, per the Treaty of Fontainebleau. In 1763 France ceded its territories east of the Mississippi River to Great Britain.

It regained the western territory under Napoleon, who sold it in 1803 to the United States in the Louisiana Purchase. He had decided to get rid of the New World territories after failing to regain control of Saint-Domingue, where a slave rebellion had toppled colonial control. In 1804 Haiti declared independence as the second republic of the Western Hemisphere.

The Plains Indians retained control of much of their territory until the late 19th century, giving way finally before superior United States arms and technology. Their territories were invaded by settlers, and crossed by the development of improved routes for settlers' emigrant wagon trains to the West Coast, followed by more permanent construction of transcontinental railroads. These brought tens of thousands of settlers to the Plains.[citation needed]

### 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; and in 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state. Ellsworth County was established February 26, 1867. The county was named after the old Fort Ellsworth, named in honor of 2nd Lieutenant Allen Ellsworth of the 7th Iowa Cavalry (Company H), who supervised construction of the fort in 1864 during the American Civil War.[3] On November 17, 1866, the fort was renamed Fort Harker in honor of General Charles Garrison Harker who had died on June 27, 1864, from wounds received in an abortive offensive action in the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain. The fort was subsequently moved to a new site about one mile to the northeast, and the old fort's remaining buildings were ordered torn down in June 1867.[citation needed]

On March 22, 1869, Fourteen Pawnee Indians, including scouts who had been honorably discharged after working for the army, were traveling through Ellsworth County when they ran into U.S. cavalry troops. Though the Pawnees had discharge papers from the army, a fight ensued. The Indians retreated to a sandstone cave, known today as Palmer's Cave. Their attackers set fire to grass at the cave's entrance, and six to nine Pawnees were killed as they ran out. The others died from exposure without their possessions. A few days later, the post surgeon at nearby Fort Harker, in today's town of Kanopolis, removed six heads from their bodies, and shipped them to the Army Medical Museum in Washington, D.C., for cranial study.[4][5]

In the later 19th century, this area became known for cattle ranching and cattle drives. Town life was often riotous with cowboys celebrating after long drives.

## Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 723 square miles (1,870 km2), of which 716 square miles (1,850 km2) is land and 7.4 square miles (19 km2) (1.0%) is water.[6] It is intersected by the Smoky Hill River.[7]

### Adjacent counties

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* Lincoln County (north)
* Saline County (east)
* McPherson County (southeast)
* Rice County (south)
* Barton County (southwest)
* Russell County (northwest)

## Demographics

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Historical population

Census | Pop. |  | %±
1870| 1,185| | —
1880| 8,494| | 616.8%
1890| 9,272| | 9.2%
1900| 9,626| | 3.8%
1910| 10,444| | 8.5%
1920| 10,379| | −0.6%
1930| 10,132| | −2.4%
1940| 9,855| | −2.7%
1950| 8,465| | −14.1%
1960| 7,677| | −9.3%
1970| 6,146| | −19.9%
1980| 6,640| | 8.0%
1990| 6,586| | −0.8%
2000| 6,525| | −0.9%
2010| 6,497| | −0.4%
2020| 6,376| | −1.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010-2020[1]
Population pyramid

As of the 2000 census,[12] there were 6,525 people, 2,481 households, and 1,639 families residing in the county. The population density was 9 people per square mile (4/km2). There were 3,228 housing units at an average density of 4 per square mile (2/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 93.67% White, 3.56% Black or African American, 0.48% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.86% from other races, and 1.18% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.59% of the population.

There were 2,481 households, out of which 27.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.20% were married couples living together, 6.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.90% were non-families. 31.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.88.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 21.40% under the age of 18, 7.30% from 18 to 24, 27.10% from 25 to 44, 23.80% from 45 to 64, and 20.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 111.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 114.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,772, and the median income for a family was $44,360. Males had a median income of $30,110 versus $20,486 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,569. About 4.00% of families and 7.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.50% of those under age 18 and 11.10% of those age 65 or over.

## Government

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### Presidential elections

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United States presidential election results for Ellsworth County, Kansas[13] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party

|
|
|

No. | % | No. | % | No. | %
2020 | 2,148  | 75.29% | 648  | 22.71%  | 57  | 2.00%
2016 | 1,969  | 73.50% | 521  | 19.45%  | 189  | 7.05%
2012 | 1,930  | 71.17% | 702  | 25.88%  | 80  | 2.95%
2008 | 2,021  | 68.79% | 851  | 28.97%  | 66  | 2.25%
2004 | 2,259  | 72.82% | 801  | 25.82%  | 42  | 1.35%
2000 | 1,845  | 64.99% | 825  | 29.06%  | 169  | 5.95%
1996 | 2,078  | 64.14% | 899  | 27.75%  | 263  | 8.12%
1992 | 1,197  | 36.96% | 1,010  | 31.18%  | 1,032  | 31.86%
1988 | 1,711  | 57.03% | 1,219  | 40.63%  | 70  | 2.33%
1984 | 2,353  | 71.35% | 905  | 27.44%  | 40  | 1.21%
1980 | 2,155  | 65.90% | 886  | 27.09%  | 229  | 7.00%
1976 | 1,618  | 49.85% | 1,573  | 48.46%  | 55  | 1.69%
1972 | 2,087  | 65.20% | 1,028  | 32.11%  | 86  | 2.69%
1968 | 1,776  | 57.53% | 1,060  | 34.34%  | 251  | 8.13%
1964 | 1,406  | 39.75%  | 2,118  | 59.88% | 13  | 0.37%
1960 | 2,189  | 59.37% | 1,488  | 40.36%  | 10  | 0.27%
1956 | 2,524  | 64.90% | 1,351  | 34.74%  | 14  | 0.36%
1952 | 3,219  | 74.67% | 1,068  | 24.77%  | 24  | 0.56%
1948 | 2,155  | 52.83% | 1,879  | 46.07%  | 45  | 1.10%
1944 | 2,290  | 57.62% | 1,678  | 42.22%  | 6  | 0.15%
1940 | 2,658  | 54.13% | 2,237  | 45.56%  | 15  | 0.31%
1936 | 2,058  | 40.71%  | 2,990  | 59.15% | 7  | 0.14%
1932 | 1,607  | 34.95%  | 2,928  | 63.68% | 63  | 1.37%
1928 | 2,450  | 60.23% | 1,588  | 39.04%  | 30  | 0.74%
1924 | 2,286  | 58.77% | 950  | 24.42%  | 654  | 16.81%
1920 | 2,264  | 65.60% | 1,090  | 31.59%  | 97  | 2.81%
1916 | 1,945  | 48.33% | 1,936  | 48.11%  | 143  | 3.55%
1912 | 353  | 15.33%  | 1,045  | 45.38% | 905  | 39.30%
1908 | 1,213  | 52.95% | 1,039  | 45.35%  | 39  | 1.70%
1904 | 1,359  | 68.43% | 578  | 29.10%  | 49  | 2.47%
1900 | 1,333  | 56.68% | 1,006  | 42.77%  | 13  | 0.55%
1896 | 1,048  | 50.92% | 992  | 48.20%  | 18  | 0.87%
1892 | 1,102  | 49.80% | 0  | 0.00%  | 1,111  | 50.20%
1888 | 1,159  | 56.51% | 831  | 40.52%  | 61  | 2.97%

### Laws

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Ellsworth County was a prohibition, or "dry", county until the Kansas Constitution was amended in 1986. Voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink, with a 30% food sales requirement.[14]

## Education

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### Unified school districts

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* Central Plains USD 112
* Ellsworth USD 327

## Communities

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2005 KDOT Map of Ellsworth County (map legend)

### Cities

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* Ellsworth
* Wilson
* Kanopolis
* Holyrood
* Lorraine

### Unincorporated communities

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* Black Wolf
* Carneiro
* Delight
* Elkhorn
* Langley
* Venango
* Yankee Run

### Ghost towns

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* Arcola[15]
* Terra Cotta
* Frantz
* Midway

### Townships

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Ellsworth County is divided into nineteen townships. The city of Ellsworth 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.

Township | FIPS | Population
center  | Population | Population
density
/km2 (/sq mi) | Land area
km2 (sq mi) | Water area
km2 (sq mi) | Water %  | Geographic coordinates

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Ash Creek | 02575 |  | 58 | 1 (2) | 93 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.51% | 38°39′17″N 98°12′47″W﻿ / ﻿38.65472°N 98.21306°W﻿ / 38.65472; -98.21306
Black Wolf | 07025 |  | 87 | 1 (2) | 94 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.10% | 38°44′40″N 98°19′33″W﻿ / ﻿38.74444°N 98.32583°W﻿ / 38.74444; -98.32583
Carneiro | 10800 |  | 57 | 1 (2) | 93 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.36% | 38°45′2″N 97°59′46″W﻿ / ﻿38.75056°N 97.99611°W﻿ / 38.75056; -97.99611
Clear Creek | 13725 |  | 91 | 1 (3) | 94 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.17% | 38°44′10″N 98°6′16″W﻿ / ﻿38.73611°N 98.10444°W﻿ / 38.73611; -98.10444
Columbia | 15025 |  | 60 | 1 (2) | 94 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.04% | 38°50′5″N 98°18′50″W﻿ / ﻿38.83472°N 98.31389°W﻿ / 38.83472; -98.31389
Ellsworth | 20525 |  | 797 | 9 (23) | 88 (34) | 0 (0) | 0.23% | 38°43′6″N 98°10′58″W﻿ / ﻿38.71833°N 98.18278°W﻿ / 38.71833; -98.18278
Empire | 21150 |  | 174 | 1 (3) | 171 (66) | 14 (6) | 7.79% | 38°39′6″N 98°1′7″W﻿ / ﻿38.65167°N 98.01861°W﻿ / 38.65167; -98.01861
Garfield | 25575 |  | 27 | 0 (1) | 92 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.30% | 38°50′9″N 98°6′42″W﻿ / ﻿38.83583°N 98.11167°W﻿ / 38.83583; -98.11167
Green Garden | 28600 | Lorraine | 211 | 2 (6) | 94 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.22% | 38°33′30″N 98°19′19″W﻿ / ﻿38.55833°N 98.32194°W﻿ / 38.55833; -98.32194
Langley | 38600 |  | 76 | 1 (2) | 92 (35) | 2 (1) | 1.86% | 38°35′33″N 97°58′15″W﻿ / ﻿38.59250°N 97.97083°W﻿ / 38.59250; -97.97083
Lincoln | 40675 |  | 62 | 1 (2) | 95 (37) | 0 (0) | 0.22% | 38°39′8″N 98°18′0″W﻿ / ﻿38.65222°N 98.30000°W﻿ / 38.65222; -98.30000
Mulberry | 49050 |  | 44 | 0 (1) | 93 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.24% | 38°50′5″N 97°58′28″W﻿ / ﻿38.83472°N 97.97444°W﻿ / 38.83472; -97.97444
Noble | 50825 |  | 90 | 1 (3) | 93 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.04% | 38°44′51″N 98°25′33″W﻿ / ﻿38.74750°N 98.42583°W﻿ / 38.74750; -98.42583
Palacky | 54100 |  | 63 | 1 (2) | 94 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.08% | 38°38′51″N 98°25′56″W﻿ / ﻿38.64750°N 98.43222°W﻿ / 38.64750; -98.43222
Sherman | 64950 |  | 65 | 1 (2) | 94 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.22% | 38°49′21″N 98°13′7″W﻿ / ﻿38.82250°N 98.21861°W﻿ / 38.82250; -98.21861
Thomas | 70450 |  | 72 | 1 (2) | 93 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.21% | 38°33′56″N 98°11′33″W﻿ / ﻿38.56556°N 98.19250°W﻿ / 38.56556; -98.19250
Trivoli | 71525 |  | 55 | 1 (2) | 93 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.38% | 38°35′7″N 98°4′23″W﻿ / ﻿38.58528°N 98.07306°W﻿ / 38.58528; -98.07306
Valley | 72800 | Holyrood | 577 | 6 (16) | 93 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.14% | 38°34′22″N 98°24′56″W﻿ / ﻿38.57278°N 98.41556°W﻿ / 38.57278; -98.41556
Wilson | 79700 | Wilson | 894 | 10 (25) | 93 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.06% | 38°49′34″N 98°27′23″W﻿ / ﻿38.82611°N 98.45639°W﻿ / 38.82611; -98.45639
Sources: "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files". U.S. Census Bureau, Geography Division. Archived from the original on August 2, 2002.

## See also

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* Faris Caves
* Kanopolis Drive-in Theatre
* Kanopolis State Park and Kanopolis Lake
* Mushroom Rock State Park
* National Register of Historic Places listings in Ellsworth County, Kansas

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

Education information for Kansas

* List of colleges and universities in Kansas
* List of high schools in Kansas
* List of unified school districts in Kansas

Historical information for Kansas

* List of museums in Kansas
* National Register of Historic Places listings in Kansas

|

## References

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1. ^ a b c "QuickFacts; Ellsworth County, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 16, 2021. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 118.
4. ^ Wishart, David (1994). An Unspeakable Sadness: The Dispossession of the Nebraska Indians. U of Nebraska Press. pp. 182, 183.
5. ^ "Spencer Painting Symbolizes Dark Chapter of Kansas History Few Have Ever Read". Kansas Public Radio. January 27, 2017. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
6. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
7. ^ Ripley, George; Dana, Charles A., eds. (1879). "Ellsworth, a central county of Kansas" . The American Cyclopædia.
8. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
9. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
10. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
11. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
12. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
13. ^ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
14. ^ "Map of Wet and Dry Counties". Alcoholic Beverage Control, Kansas Department of Revenue. November 2006. Archived from the original on October 8, 2007. Retrieved December 28, 2007.
15. ^ "Ellsworth County Extinct Towns". Legends of America. Retrieved June 23, 2016.

Notes

## Further reading

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

See also: List of books about Chisholm Trail

* Standard Atlas of Ellsworth County, Kansas; Geo. A. Ogle & Co; 70 pages; 1918.
* Plat Book of Ellsworth County, Kansas; North West Publishing Co; 41 pages; 1901.

## External links

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ellsworth County, Kansas.

County

* Ellsworth County - Official
* Ellsworth County - Directory of Public Officials

Other

* Ellsworth County Independent Reporter (local newspaper)
* Kansas Post Offices, 1828-1961 (Ellsworth County)

Maps

* Ellsworth County Maps: Current, Historic, KDOT
* Kansas Highway Maps: Current, Historic, KDOT
* Kansas Railroad Maps: Current, 1996, 1915, KDOT and Kansas Historical Society

Places adjacent to Ellsworth County, Kansas

| Russell County | Lincoln County |

|
|

|  |

Ellsworth County, Kansas

| Saline County
|  |
Barton County | Rice County | McPherson County

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Ellsworth County, Kansas, United States

County seat: Ellsworth

Cities|

* Ellsworth
* Holyrood
* Kanopolis
* Lorraine
* Wilson

Map of Kansas highlighting Ellsworth County

Unincorporated
communities|

* Black Wolf
* Carneiro
* Langley
* Venango
* Yankee Run

Ghost towns|

* Terra Cotta

Townships|

* Ash Creek
* Black Wolf
* Carneiro
* Clear Creek
* Columbia
* Ellsworth
* Empire
* Garfield
* Green Garden
* Langley
* Lincoln
* Mulberry
* Noble
* Palacky
* Sherman
* Thomas
* Trivoli
* Valley
* Wilson

Point of interest|

* Faris Caves
* Fort Harker
* Kanopolis State Park
* Mushroom Rock State Park

* United States portal

* v
* t
* e

State of Kansas

Topeka (capital)

Topics|

* Index
* Geography
* History
* Bleeding Kansas
* Constitutions
* Capitals
* Capitols
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Society|

* Culture
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* Economy
* Education
* Politics

Regions|

* Cherokee Strip
* Cross Timbers
* Dissected Till Plains
* East Central
* Four State Area
* Flint Hills
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* KC metro area
* North Central
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* Santa Fe Trail Region
* Smoky Hills
* Southeast

Largest
cities|

* (1) Wichita
* (2) Overland Park
* (3) Kansas City
* (4) Olathe
* (5) Topeka
* (6) Lawrence
* (7) Shawnee
* (8) Manhattan
* (9) Lenexa
* (10) Salina
* (11) Hutchinson
* (12) Leavenworth
* (13) Leawood
* (14) Dodge City
* (15) Garden City
* (16) Junction City
* (17) Emporia
* (18) Derby
* (19) Prairie Village
* (20) Liberal
* (21) Hays
* (22) Pittsburg
* (23) Gardner
* (24) Newton
* (25) Great Bend
* (26) McPherson
* (27) El Dorado
* (28) Ottawa
* (29) Winfield
* (30) Arkansas City
* (31) Andover
* (32) Lansing
* (33) Merriam
* (34) Atchison
* (35) Haysville
* (36) Parsons
* (37) Coffeyville
* (38) Mission
* (39) Independence
* (40) Augusta
* (41) Chanute
* (42) Wellington
* (43) Fort Scott
* (44) Park City
* (45) Bonner Springs
* (46) Valley Center
* (47) Pratt
* (48) Bel Aire
* (49) Roeland Park
* (50) Abilene

Counties|

* Allen
* Anderson
* Atchison
* Barber
* Barton
* Bourbon
* Brown
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* Ellsworth
* Finney
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* Harvey
* Haskell
* Hodgeman
* Jackson
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* Jewell
* Johnson
* Kearny
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* Kiowa
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* Stafford
* Stanton
* Stevens
* Sumner
* Thomas
* Trego
* Wabaunsee
* Wallace
* Washington
* Wichita
* Wilson
* Woodson
* Wyandotte

Lists|

* List of counties in Kansas
* List of townships in Kansas
* List of cities in Kansas
* List of census-designated places in Kansas
* List of unincorporated communities in Kansas
* List of ghost towns in Kansas
* Lists of people from Kansas

*[Pop.]: Population
*[%±]: Percent change
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