Cherokee County, Kansas

County in Kansas, United States

Not to be confused with Cherokee, Kansas.

County in Kansas

Cherokee County

County

Tri-State Marker (2006)

Location within the U.S. state of Kansas

Kansas's location within the U.S.

Coordinates: 37°10′N 94°51′W﻿ / ﻿37.167°N 94.850°W﻿ / 37.167; -94.850Coordinates: 37°10′N 94°51′W﻿ / ﻿37.167°N 94.850°W﻿ / 37.167; -94.850
Country|  United States
State|  Kansas
Founded| February 18, 1860
Named for| Cherokee Native Americans
Seat| Columbus
Largest city| Baxter Springs
Area

• Total| 591 sq mi (1,530 km2)
• Land| 588 sq mi (1,520 km2)
• Water| 3.5 sq mi (9 km2)  0.6%%
Population

(2020)[1]

• Total| 19,362
• Density| 32.9/sq mi (12.7/km2)
Time zone| UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−5 (CDT)
Area code| 620
Congressional district| 2nd
Website| cherokeecountyks.gov

Cherokee County (county code CK) is a U.S. county located in Southeast Kansas. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 19,362.[1] Its county seat is Columbus,[2] and its most populous city is Baxter Springs. The latter became the first "cow town" in Kansas during the 1870s and the period of cattle drives.

## Contents

* 1 History
* 1.1 19th century
* 2 Geography
* 2.1 Adjacent counties
* 2.2 Major highways
* 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 Census-designated places
* 6.3 Other unincorporated communities
* 6.4 Ghost town
* 6.5 Townships
* 7 See also
* 8 References
* 9 Further reading
* 10 External links

## History

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See also: History of Kansas

### 19th century

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In 1803, United States acquired from France the 828,000-square mile Louisiana Purchase, the former French lands west of the Mississippi River, for 2.83 cents per acre. This territory included most of the land for modern-day Kansas.

In the 1830s, the United States conducted Indian Removal of the Five Civilized Tribes from the Southeast region, to extinguish their land claims and allow European-American settlement in the area. They were given lands in what was called Indian Territory west of the Mississippi River, mostly in present-day Oklahoma. This part of Kansas was included at the time in the Cherokee Neutral Lands, and the county was named after this tribe.

In 1854, the U.S. organized the Kansas Territory. Settlers began to move into the territory, with violence breaking out between supporters of slavery and those who wanted to abolish it. In 1861, Kansas was admitted as the 34th U.S. state; its constitution prohibited slavery. In 1860, Cherokee County was established.

## Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 591 square miles (1,530 km2), of which 588 square miles (1,520 km2) is land and 3.5 square miles (9.1 km2) (0.6%) is water.[3]

### Adjacent counties

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* Crawford County (north)
* Jasper County, Missouri (east)
* Newton County, Missouri (southeast)
* Ottawa County, Oklahoma (south)
* Craig County, Oklahoma (southwest)
* Labette County (west)

### Major highways

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Sources: National Atlas,[4] U.S. Census Bureau[5]

* U.S. Route 66 (decommissioned)
* U.S. Route 69
* U.S. Route 160
* U.S. Route 166
* Kansas Highway 7
* Kansas Highway 26
* Kansas Highway 57
* Kansas Highway 66 (successor to the decommissioned U.S. 66)
* Kansas Highway 96
* Kansas Highway 102

## Demographics

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Historical population

Census | Pop. |  | %±
1860| 1,501| | —
1870| 11,038| | 635.4%
1880| 21,905| | 98.5%
1890| 27,770| | 26.8%
1900| 42,694| | 53.7%
1910| 38,162| | −10.6%
1920| 33,609| | −11.9%
1930| 31,457| | −6.4%
1940| 29,817| | −5.2%
1950| 25,144| | −15.7%
1960| 22,279| | −11.4%
1970| 21,549| | −3.3%
1980| 22,304| | 3.5%
1990| 21,374| | −4.2%
2000| 22,605| | 5.8%
2010| 21,603| | −4.4%
2020| 19,362| | −10.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2020[1]
Population pyramid

As of the 2000 census,[10] there were 22,605 people, 8,875 households, and 6,239 families residing in the county. The population density was 38 people per square mile (15/km2). There were 10,031 housing units at an average density of 17 per square mile (7/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 92.27% White, 0.61% Black or African American, 3.45% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.50% from other races, and 2.90% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.29% of the population.

There were 8,875 households, out of which 32.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.60% were married couples living together, 9.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.70% were non-families. 26.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.50% under the age of 18, 8.40% from 18 to 24, 26.90% from 25 to 44, 23.10% from 45 to 64, and 15.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 94.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,505, and the median income for a family was $37,284. Males had a median income of $29,045 versus $19,675 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,710. About 11.40% of families and 14.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.40% of those under age 18 and 10.60% of those age 65 or over.

## Government

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### Presidential elections

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For most of its history, Cherokee County had more of a Democratic lean in presidential elections than the rest of the state, particularly before 1968. Since then, it has only voted for Democratic candidates twice. In 1976 & 1992, it was their second and fourth best county in the state, respectively. From 1996 on, the county has swung powerfully Republican similar to the rest of Southeast Kansas, with Hillary Clinton posting the worst percentage for a Democratic candidate ever at only 23.3%.

United States presidential election results for Cherokee County, Kansas[11] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party

|
|
|

No. | % | No. | % | No. | %
2020 | 6,766  | 73.94% | 2,194  | 23.98%  | 191  | 2.09%
2016 | 6,182  | 71.72% | 2,005  | 23.26%  | 433  | 5.02%
2012 | 5,456  | 63.66% | 2,930  | 34.19%  | 185  | 2.16%
2008 | 5,886  | 60.90% | 3,594  | 37.19%  | 185  | 1.91%
2004 | 6,083  | 61.36% | 3,726  | 37.59%  | 104  | 1.05%
2000 | 5,014  | 54.92% | 3,783  | 41.43%  | 333  | 3.65%
1996 | 4,138  | 45.76% | 3,771  | 41.70%  | 1,134  | 12.54%
1992 | 3,589  | 36.78%  | 4,083  | 41.85% | 2,085  | 21.37%
1988 | 4,281  | 50.95% | 4,069  | 48.43%  | 52  | 0.62%
1984 | 5,801  | 60.72% | 3,663  | 38.34%  | 89  | 0.93%
1980 | 5,296  | 54.81% | 3,969  | 41.08%  | 397  | 4.11%
1976 | 3,957  | 42.93%  | 5,154  | 55.91% | 107  | 1.16%
1972 | 6,019  | 67.03% | 2,806  | 31.25%  | 155  | 1.73%
1968 | 4,211  | 47.46% | 3,597  | 40.54%  | 1,064  | 11.99%
1964 | 3,730  | 39.28%  | 5,720  | 60.23% | 47  | 0.49%
1960 | 5,753  | 56.45% | 4,366  | 42.84%  | 73  | 0.72%
1956 | 5,824  | 58.39% | 4,112  | 41.22%  | 39  | 0.39%
1952 | 6,261  | 57.37% | 4,597  | 42.12%  | 56  | 0.51%
1948 | 4,616  | 47.77%  | 4,854  | 50.23% | 193  | 2.00%
1944 | 5,458  | 54.65% | 4,468  | 44.73%  | 62  | 0.62%
1940 | 6,600  | 49.27%  | 6,670  | 49.79% | 126  | 0.94%
1936 | 5,445  | 40.61%  | 7,894  | 58.88% | 69  | 0.51%
1932 | 4,045  | 34.05%  | 7,442  | 62.64% | 393  | 3.31%
1928 | 7,478  | 66.20% | 3,442  | 30.47%  | 376  | 3.33%
1924 | 5,437  | 52.90% | 3,071  | 29.88%  | 1,770  | 17.22%
1920 | 5,466  | 55.83% | 3,832  | 39.14%  | 492  | 5.03%
1916 | 4,350  | 37.55%  | 6,188  | 53.41% | 1,047  | 9.04%
1912 | 1,994  | 26.54%  | 2,641  | 35.15% | 2,878  | 38.31%
1908 | 3,893  | 44.26% | 3,819  | 43.42%  | 1,083  | 12.31%
1904 | 4,586  | 55.81% | 2,253  | 27.42%  | 1,378  | 16.77%
1900 | 4,478  | 45.18%  | 5,302  | 53.50% | 131  | 1.32%
1896 | 3,505  | 40.20%  | 5,108  | 58.58% | 106  | 1.22%
1892 | 2,696  | 41.43%  | 0  | 0.00%  | 3,812  | 58.57%
1888 | 2,935  | 45.62% | 2,038  | 31.68%  | 1,461  | 22.71%

### Laws

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Although the Kansas Constitution was amended in 1986 to allow the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with the approval of voters, Cherokee County voters chose to remain a prohibition, or "dry", county on Sunday until 2012.[12]

## Education

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### Unified school districts

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* Southeast USD 247 is a 300-square-mile (780 km2) school district primarily covering portions of Crawford and Cherokee counties, but also includes small portions of Labette and Neosho counties. It serves over 800 students in grades Pre-K through 12. Southeast High School (the "Lancers") is located just west of the city of Cherokee (where the district office is located). In Cherokee County the district serves the cities of Weir and West Mineral.[13]
* Riverton USD 404
* Columbus USD 493
* Galena USD 499
* Baxter Springs USD 508

## Communities

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2005 KDOT Map of Cherokee County (map legend)

### Cities

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* Baxter Springs
* Columbus
* Galena
* Roseland
* Scammon
* Weir
* West Mineral

### Census-designated places

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* Lowell[14]
* Riverton

### Other unincorporated communities

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* Carona
* Cravensville[15]
* Crestline[16]
* Empire City
* Faulkner
* Hallowell
* Lawton
* Leawalk
* Melrose
* Military
* Naylor[14]
* Neutral
* Quaker[17]
* Sherman
* Sherwin[18]
* Skidmore
* Stippville[18]
* Turck

### Ghost town

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* Treece, officially disincorporated in 2012 by the state of Kansas[18][19]

### Townships

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Cherokee County is divided into fourteen townships. The cities of Baxter Springs, Columbus, Galena, Scammon, and Weir 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.

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

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Cherokee | 12800 |  | 336 | 6 (15) | 57 (22) | 0 (0) | 0.08% | 37°18′33″N 94°45′36″W﻿ / ﻿37.30917°N 94.76000°W﻿ / 37.30917; -94.76000
Crawford | 16225 |  | 646 | 7 (18) | 94 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.24% | 37°9′21″N 94°47′11″W﻿ / ﻿37.15583°N 94.78639°W﻿ / 37.15583; -94.78639
Garden | 25250 |  | 3,039 | 41 (105) | 75 (29) | 2 (1) | 2.80% | 37°2′55″N 94°41′18″W﻿ / ﻿37.04861°N 94.68833°W﻿ / 37.04861; -94.68833
Lola | 42350 |  | 382 | 3 (9) | 115 (44) | 1 (0) | 0.50% | 37°10′25″N 95°0′15″W﻿ / ﻿37.17361°N 95.00417°W﻿ / 37.17361; -95.00417
Lowell | 43075 |  | 672 | 20 (52) | 33 (13) | 1 (0) | 3.04% | 37°6′11″N 94°40′23″W﻿ / ﻿37.10306°N 94.67306°W﻿ / 37.10306; -94.67306
Lyon | 43400 |  | 528 | 4 (11) | 130 (50) | 0 (0) | 0.08% | 37°2′19″N 94°52′37″W﻿ / ﻿37.03861°N 94.87694°W﻿ / 37.03861; -94.87694
Mineral | 47000 |  | 254 | 3 (8) | 79 (31) | 0 (0) | 0.15% | 37°15′32″N 94°47′29″W﻿ / ﻿37.25889°N 94.79139°W﻿ / 37.25889; -94.79139
Neosho | 49725 |  | 306 | 2 (5) | 157 (61) | 2 (1) | 1.08% | 37°3′15″N 95°1′37″W﻿ / ﻿37.05417°N 95.02694°W﻿ / 37.05417; -95.02694
Pleasant View | 56675 |  | 658 | 5 (13) | 136 (52) | 0 (0) | 0.14% | 37°17′4″N 94°40′1″W﻿ / ﻿37.28444°N 94.66694°W﻿ / 37.28444; -94.66694
Ross | 61350 |  | 893 | 6 (17) | 140 (54) | 1 (0) | 0.71% | 37°16′29″N 94°53′55″W﻿ / ﻿37.27472°N 94.89861°W﻿ / 37.27472; -94.89861
Salamanca | 62575 |  | 569 | 6 (17) | 89 (34) | 0 (0) | 0.07% | 37°10′3″N 94°52′37″W﻿ / ﻿37.16750°N 94.87694°W﻿ / 37.16750; -94.87694
Shawnee | 64475 |  | 505 | 6 (15) | 90 (35) | 1 (0) | 0.61% | 37°9′30″N 94°40′18″W﻿ / ﻿37.15833°N 94.67167°W﻿ / 37.15833; -94.67167
Sheridan | 64625 |  | 249 | 1 (4) | 172 (67) | 1 (1) | 0.79% | 37°15′41″N 95°0′15″W﻿ / ﻿37.26139°N 95.00417°W﻿ / 37.26139; -95.00417
Spring Valley | 67725 |  | 1,007 | 8 (21) | 122 (47) | 0 (0) | 0.36% | 37°3′11″N 94°46′5″W﻿ / ﻿37.05306°N 94.76806°W﻿ / 37.05306; -94.76806
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 Cherokee 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; Cherokee County, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 15, 2021. Retrieved August 15, 2021.
2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 9, 2015. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
4. ^ National Atlas Archived December 5, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
5. ^ U.S. Census Bureau TIGER shape files
6. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 22, 2014.
7. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 22, 2014.
8. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 22, 2014.
9. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 22, 2014.
10. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
11. ^ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
12. ^ "Map of Wet and Dry Counties" (PDF). Alcoholic Beverage Control, Kansas Department of Revenue. December 2012. Retrieved December 26, 2013.
13. ^ Burns, Tim (September 19, 2005). "Welcome To USD #247". Cherokee, USD 247. Archived from the original on August 10, 2007. Retrieved January 23, 2007.
14. ^ a b Rydjord, John (1972). Kansas Place-Names. University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, Oklahoma. p. 493\. ISBN 0-8061-0994-7.
15. ^ Rydjord, John (1972). Kansas Place-Names. University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, Oklahoma. p. 491\. ISBN 0-8061-0994-7.
16. ^ Rydjord, John (1972). Kansas Place-Names. University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, Oklahoma. p. 275\. ISBN 0-8061-0994-7.
17. ^ Rydjord, John (1972). Kansas Place-Names. University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, Oklahoma. p. 245\. ISBN 0-8061-0994-7.
18. ^ a b c Rydjord, John (1972). Kansas Place-Names. University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, Oklahoma. p. 494\. ISBN 0-8061-0994-7.
19. ^ Former residents say goodbye to contaminated town of Treece; The Wichita Eagle; September 27, 2012. Archived September 30, 2012, at the Wayback Machine

Notes

## Further reading

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

* History of Cherokee County, Kansas; Biographical Publishing Co; 646 pages; 1904.
* Plat Book of Cherokee County, Kansas; Missouri Publishing Co; 35 pages; 1902.

## External links

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cherokee County, Kansas.

County

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

Historical

* "Mined Lands" video

Maps

* Cherokee 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 Cherokee County, Kansas

|  | Crawford County |

|
|

|  |
Labette County |

Cherokee County, Kansas

| Jasper County, Missouri
|  |
Craig County, Oklahoma | Ottawa County, Oklahoma | Newton County, Missouri

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Cherokee County, Kansas, United States

County seat: Columbus

Cities|

* Baxter Springs
* Columbus
* Galena
* Roseland
* Scammon
* Weir
* West Mineral

Map of Kansas highlighting Cherokee County

Unincorporated
communities|

* Carona
* Cokedale
* Crestline†
* Empire City
* Faulkner
* Hallowell†
* Keelville
* Kniveton‡
* Lawton
* Lowell†
* Melrose
* Neutral
* Riverton†
* Sherman
* Sherwin
* Skidmore
* Stippville
* Turck

Ghost towns|

* Treece

Townships|

* Cherokee
* Crawford
* Garden
* Lola
* Lowell
* Lyon
* Mineral
* Neosho
* Pleasant View
* Ross
* Salamanca
* Shawnee
* Sheridan
* Spring Valley

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
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* Delegations
* Landmarks
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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
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* Chautauqua
* Cherokee
* Cheyenne
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* Finney
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* Graham
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* Greenwood
* Hamilton
* Harper
* Harvey
* Haskell
* Hodgeman
* Jackson
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* Jewell
* Johnson
* Kearny
* Kingman
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* Marion
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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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