Geary County, Kansas

County in Kansas, United States

County in Kansas

Geary County

County

Geary County Courthouse in Junction City (1979)

Location within the U.S. state of Kansas

Kansas's location within the U.S.

Country|  United States
State|  Kansas
Founded| 1855 [1]
Named for| John W. Geary
Seat| Junction City
Largest city| Junction City
Area

• Total| 404 sq mi (1,050 km2)
• Land| 385 sq mi (1,000 km2)
• Water| 20 sq mi (50 km2)  4.9%%
Population

(2020)[2]

• Total| 36,739
• Density| 95.4/sq mi (36.8/km2)
Time zone| UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district| 1st
Website| gearycounty.org

Geary County (county code GE) is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 36,739.[2] Its county seat and most populous city is Junction City.[3] The county is named in honor of Governor John W. Geary.

## 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 community
* 6.3 Ghost towns
* 6.4 Fort Riley
* 6.5 Townships
* 7 See also
* 8 References
* 9 Further reading
* 10 External links

## 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, per 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. Geary County was formed on August 30, 1855, as an original county from open, free territory. It was among the first 33 counties established by the territory government.[4]

Geary County was originally named Davis County in 1855 after Jefferson Davis (then the United States Secretary of War). During the American Civil War, when Davis became president of the Confederacy, attempts were made to change the county's name, but both failed. Federal and state census records show it as Davis County from 1860 through 1885. In 1888 the county was renamed in honor of John W. Geary, an early Governor of the Kansas Territory.[5][6]

## Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 404 square miles (1,050 km2), of which 385 square miles (1,000 km2) is land and 20 square miles (52 km2) (4.9%) is water.[7] It is the second-smallest county in Kansas by land area and third-smallest by total area.

### Adjacent counties

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* Riley County (north)
* Wabaunsee County (east)
* Morris County (south)
* Dickinson County (west)
* Clay County (northwest)

## Demographics

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Historical population

Census | Pop. |  | %±
1860| 1,163| | —
1870| 5,526| | 375.2%
1880| 6,994| | 26.6%
1890| 10,428| | 49.1%
1900| 10,744| | 3.0%
1910| 12,681| | 18.0%
1920| 13,452| | 6.1%
1930| 14,366| | 6.8%
1940| 15,222| | 6.0%
1950| 21,671| | 42.4%
1960| 28,779| | 32.8%
1970| 28,111| | −2.3%
1980| 29,852| | 6.2%
1990| 30,453| | 2.0%
2000| 27,947| | −8.2%
2010| 34,362| | 23.0%
2020| 36,739| | 6.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010-2020[2]
Population pyramid

Geary County is part of the Manhattan, KS Metropolitan Statistical Area.[12]

As of the 2000 census,[13] there were 27,947 people, 10,458 households, and 7,582 families residing in the county. The population density was 73 people per square mile (28/km2). There were 11,959 housing units at an average density of 31 per square mile (12/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 64.13% White, 22.03% Black or African American, 0.75% Native American, 3.16% Asian, 0.41% Pacific Islander, 4.10% from other races, and 5.41% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.45% of the population.

There were 10,458 households, out of which 39.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.90% were married couples living together, 12.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.50% were non-families. 22.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.07.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 29.60% under the age of 18, 13.60% from 18 to 24, 30.00% from 25 to 44, 17.40% from 45 to 64, and 9.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,917, and the median income for a family was $36,372. Males had a median income of $25,942 versus $21,389 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,199. About 9.70% of families and 12.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.80% of those under age 18 and 9.90% of those age 65 or over.

## Government

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### Presidential elections

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For most of its history, Geary County has been dominated by the Republican Party. The party's presidential candidates have failed to win the county only seven times from 1880 to the present day, the last of these occurring in 1964.

United States presidential election results for Geary County, Kansas[14] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party

|
|
|

No. | % | No. | % | No. | %
2020 | 5,323  | 55.43% | 3,983  | 41.48%  | 297  | 3.09%
2016 | 4,274  | 56.96% | 2,722  | 36.27%  | 508  | 6.77%
2012 | 4,372  | 55.73% | 3,332  | 42.47%  | 141  | 1.80%
2008 | 4,492  | 55.50% | 3,491  | 43.13%  | 111  | 1.37%
2004 | 4,703  | 64.18% | 2,531  | 34.54%  | 94  | 1.28%
2000 | 3,977  | 57.92% | 2,660  | 38.74%  | 229  | 3.34%
1996 | 3,686  | 54.29% | 2,444  | 35.99%  | 660  | 9.72%
1992 | 2,928  | 38.75% | 2,559  | 33.87%  | 2,069  | 27.38%
1988 | 3,782  | 57.54% | 2,721  | 41.40%  | 70  | 1.06%
1984 | 4,464  | 65.44% | 2,296  | 33.66%  | 61  | 0.89%
1980 | 3,534  | 56.06% | 2,357  | 37.39%  | 413  | 6.55%
1976 | 3,230  | 52.13% | 2,843  | 45.88%  | 123  | 1.99%
1972 | 4,299  | 70.02% | 1,708  | 27.82%  | 133  | 2.17%
1968 | 2,954  | 50.70% | 2,228  | 38.24%  | 645  | 11.07%
1964 | 2,259  | 39.32%  | 3,419  | 59.51% | 67  | 1.17%
1960 | 3,789  | 61.28% | 2,365  | 38.25%  | 29  | 0.47%
1956 | 4,013  | 65.54% | 2,078  | 33.94%  | 32  | 0.52%
1952 | 4,314  | 70.54% | 1,750  | 28.61%  | 52  | 0.85%
1948 | 2,864  | 49.72% | 2,810  | 48.78%  | 86  | 1.49%
1944 | 2,833  | 56.97% | 2,107  | 42.37%  | 33  | 0.66%
1940 | 2,840  | 52.65% | 2,504  | 46.42%  | 50  | 0.93%
1936 | 2,382  | 44.38%  | 2,973  | 55.39% | 12  | 0.22%
1932 | 1,957  | 40.92%  | 2,705  | 56.55% | 121  | 2.53%
1928 | 2,746  | 69.15% | 1,203  | 30.29%  | 22  | 0.55%
1924 | 2,678  | 66.34% | 723  | 17.91%  | 636  | 15.75%
1920 | 2,404  | 69.56% | 962  | 27.84%  | 90  | 2.60%
1916 | 1,731  | 48.20%  | 1,740  | 48.45% | 120  | 3.34%
1912 | 387  | 17.39%  | 800  | 35.94%  | 1,039  | 46.68%
1908 | 1,257  | 53.38% | 1,033  | 43.86%  | 65  | 2.76%
1904 | 1,431  | 67.88% | 591  | 28.04%  | 86  | 4.08%
1900 | 1,240  | 54.55% | 1,009  | 44.39%  | 24  | 1.06%
1896 | 1,051  | 46.75%  | 1,171  | 52.09% | 26  | 1.16%
1892 | 863  | 42.72%  | 0  | 0.00%  | 1,157  | 57.28%
1888 | 1,027  | 54.34% | 756  | 40.00%  | 107  | 5.66%

### Laws

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Geary 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 1990.[15]

The county voted "No" on the 2022 Kansas Value Them Both Amendment, an anti-abortion ballot measure, by 61% to 39% despite backing Donald Trump with 55% of the vote to Joe Biden's 41% in the 2020 presidential election.[16]

## Education

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### Unified school districts

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* Geary County USD 475

## Communities

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2005 KDOT Map of Geary County (map legend)

### Cities

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* Grandview Plaza
* Junction City (county seat)
* Milford

### Unincorporated community

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* Wreford

### Ghost towns

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* Alida, razed when Milford Lake was built

### Fort Riley

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Located north of the junction of the Smoky Hill and Republican rivers, the Fort Riley Military Reservation covers 100,656 acres (407 km2) in Geary and Riley counties. The fort has a daytime population of nearly 25,000 and includes one census-designated place:

* Fort Riley (formerly Fort Riley North), primarily in Riley County

### Townships

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Geary County is divided into eight townships. The city of Junction City 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

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Blakely | 07275 |  | 113 | 1 (3) | 93 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.01% | 38°54′32″N 96°45′9″W﻿ / ﻿38.90889°N 96.75250°W﻿ / 38.90889; -96.75250
Jackson | 34775 |  | 78 | 1 (2) | 104 (40) | 0 (0) | 0% | 39°1′25″N 96°33′42″W﻿ / ﻿39.02361°N 96.56167°W﻿ / 39.02361; -96.56167
Jefferson | 35200 | Grandview Plaza | 1,651 | 13 (35) | 124 (48) | 2 (1) | 1.55% | 39°1′53″N 96°46′53″W﻿ / ﻿39.03139°N 96.78139°W﻿ / 39.03139; -96.78139
Liberty | 40050 |  | 225 | 1 (3) | 171 (66) | 0 (0) | 0.03% | 38°54′53″N 96°36′8″W﻿ / ﻿38.91472°N 96.60222°W﻿ / 38.91472; -96.60222
Lyon | 43500 |  | 298 | 3 (7) | 113 (43) | 1 (1) | 1.20% | 38°55′17″N 96°52′3″W﻿ / ﻿38.92139°N 96.86750°W﻿ / 38.92139; -96.86750
Milford | 46550 |  | 1,583 | 16 (41) | 101 (39) | 28 (11) | 21.49% | 39°8′59″N 96°54′22″W﻿ / ﻿39.14972°N 96.90611°W﻿ / 39.14972; -96.90611
Smoky Hill | 66000 |  | 4,974 | 33 (86) | 149 (58) | 20 (8) | 11.84% | 39°2′14″N 96°53′58″W﻿ / ﻿39.03722°N 96.89944°W﻿ / 39.03722; -96.89944
Wingfield | 80025 |  | 139 | 1 (3) | 123 (48) | 0 (0) | 0% | 38°59′38″N 96°38′37″W﻿ / ﻿38.99389°N 96.64361°W﻿ / 38.99389; -96.64361
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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* National Register of Historic Places listings in Geary 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. ^ "Geary County, Kansas Genealogy". FamilySearch. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved March 25, 2015.
2. ^ a b c "QuickFacts; Geary County, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 16, 2021. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
4. ^ "Kansas Historical Markers - Kansas Historical Society". www.kshs.org. Retrieved May 9, 2019.
5. ^ Cutler, William G. (1883). History of the State of Kansas. A.T. Andreas.
6. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 135.
7. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
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. ^ (PDF) https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Bulletin-20-01.pdf. `{{cite web}}`: Missing or empty `|title=` (help)
13. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
14. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org.
15. ^ "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.
16. ^ Panetta, Grace (August 3, 2022). "14 of the 19 Kansas counties that rejected an anti-abortion amendment voted for Trump in 2020". Business Insider. Retrieved August 3, 2022.

## Further reading

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

* Standard Atlas of Geary County, Kansas; Geo. A. Ogle & Co; 42 pages; 1909.

## External links

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Geary County, Kansas.

County

* Geary County - Official Website
* Geary County - Directory of Public Officials

Other

* Junction City and Geary County Economic Development
* Geary County Convention and Visitors Bureau
* Fort Riley

Historical

* Geary County Kansas AHGP

Maps

* Geary 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 Geary County, Kansas

| Clay County | Riley County |

|
|

|  |
Dickinson County |

Geary County, Kansas

| Wabaunsee County
|  |
| Morris County |

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Geary County, Kansas, United States

County seat: Junction City

Cities|

* Grandview Plaza
* Junction City
* Milford

Map of Kansas highlighting Geary County

Unincorporated
communities|

* Fort Riley†‡
* Wreford

Ghost towns|

* Alida
* Pawnee

Townships|

* Blakely
* Jackson
* Jefferson
* Liberty
* Lyon
* Milford
* Smoky Hill
* Wingfield

Footnotes|

†This community is designated a Census-Designated Place (CDP) by the United States Census Bureau.
‡This community also has portions in an adjacent county or counties.

* United States portal

* v
* t
* e

State of Kansas

Topeka (capital)

Topics|

* Index
* Geography
* History
* Bleeding Kansas
* Constitutions
* Capitals
* Capitols
* Timeline
* Governors
* Delegations
* Landmarks
* People
* Places
* Symbols
* Tourist attractions

Society|

* Culture
* Crime
* Demographics
* Economy
* Education
* Politics

Regions|

* Cherokee Strip
* Cross Timbers
* Dissected Till Plains
* East Central
* Four State Area
* Flint Hills
* High Plains
* KC metro area
* North Central
* Osage Plains
* Ozarks
* Red Hills
* 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
* Butler
* Chase
* Chautauqua
* Cherokee
* Cheyenne
* Clark
* Clay
* Cloud
* Coffey
* Comanche
* Cowley
* Crawford
* Decatur
* Dickinson
* Doniphan
* Douglas
* Edwards
* Elk
* Ellis
* Ellsworth
* Finney
* Ford
* Franklin
* Geary
* Gove
* Graham
* Grant
* Gray
* Greeley
* Greenwood
* Hamilton
* Harper
* Harvey
* Haskell
* Hodgeman
* Jackson
* Jefferson
* Jewell
* Johnson
* Kearny
* Kingman
* Kiowa
* Labette
* Lane
* Leavenworth
* Lincoln
* Linn
* Logan
* Lyon
* Marion
* Marshall
* McPherson
* Meade
* Miami
* Mitchell
* Montgomery
* Morris
* Morton
* Nemaha
* Neosho
* Ness
* Norton
* Osage
* Osborne
* Ottawa
* Pawnee
* Phillips
* Pottawatomie
* Pratt
* Rawlins
* Reno
* Republic
* Rice
* Riley
* Rooks
* Rush
* Russell
* Saline
* Scott
* Sedgwick
* Seward
* Shawnee
* Sheridan
* Sherman
* Smith
* 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

Coordinates: 39°00′N 96°40′W﻿ / ﻿39.000°N 96.667°W﻿ / 39.000; -96.667
*[Pop.]: Population
*[%±]: Percent change
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*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template