Nemaha County, Kansas

County in Kansas, United States

County in Kansas

Nemaha County

County

Jail and sheriff residence in Seneca (2015)

Location within the U.S. state of Kansas

Kansas's location within the U.S.

Coordinates: 39°48′N 96°01′W﻿ / ﻿39.800°N 96.017°W﻿ / 39.800; -96.017Coordinates: 39°48′N 96°01′W﻿ / ﻿39.800°N 96.017°W﻿ / 39.800; -96.017
Country|  United States
State|  Kansas
Founded| August 25, 1855
Named for| Nemaha River
Seat| Seneca
Largest city| Sabetha
Area

• Total| 719 sq mi (1,860 km2)
• Land| 717 sq mi (1,860 km2)
• Water| 2.0 sq mi (5 km2)  0.3%%
Population

(2020)[1]

• Total| 10,273
• Density| 14.3/sq mi (5.5/km2)
Time zone| UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−5 (CDT)
Area code| 785
Congressional district| 2nd
Website| ks-nemaha.manatron.com

Nemaha County (standard abbreviation: NM) is a county located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 10,273.[1] The county seat is Seneca.[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 Census-designated place
* 6.3 Other unincorporated communities
* 6.4 Townships
* 7 See also
* 8 References
* 9 Further reading
* 10 External links

## History

[edit | edit source]

### Early history

[edit | edit source]

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

[edit | edit source]

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. In 1855, Nemaha County was established.

The first railroad in Nemaha County was built in 1866.[3]

On May 30, 1879, the "Irving, Kansas Tornado" passed through Nemaha county. This tornado measured F4 on the Fujita scale, and had a damage path 800 yards (730 m) wide and 100 miles (160 km) long. Eighteen people were killed and sixty were injured in this tornado.[citation needed]

## Geography

[edit | edit source]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 719 square miles (1,860 km2), of which 717 square miles (1,860 km2) is land and 2.0 square miles (5.2 km2) (0.3%) is water.[4]

### Adjacent counties

[edit | edit source]

* Richardson County, Nebraska (northeast)
* Brown County (east)
* Jackson County (southeast)
* Pottawatomie County (southwest)
* Marshall County (west)
* Pawnee County, Nebraska (northwest)

## Demographics

[edit | edit source]

Historical population

Census | Pop. |  | %±
1860| 2,436| | —
1870| 7,339| | 201.3%
1880| 12,462| | 69.8%
1890| 19,249| | 54.5%
1900| 20,376| | 5.9%
1910| 19,072| | −6.4%
1920| 18,487| | −3.1%
1930| 18,342| | −0.8%
1940| 16,761| | −8.6%
1950| 14,341| | −14.4%
1960| 12,897| | −10.1%
1970| 11,825| | −8.3%
1980| 11,211| | −5.2%
1990| 10,446| | −6.8%
2000| 10,717| | 2.6%
2010| 10,178| | −5.0%
2020| 10,273| | 0.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
1790–1960[6] 1900–1990[7]
1990–2000[8] 2010–2020[1]
Age pyramid

As of the census[9] of 2000, there were 10,717 people, 3,959 households, and 2,763 families residing in the county. The population density was 15 people per square mile (6/km2). There were 4,340 housing units at an average density of 6 per square mile (2/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.35% White, 0.49% Black or African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.10% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.17% from other races, and 0.60% from two or more races. 0.71% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,959 households, out of which 34.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.90% were married couples living together, 5.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.20% were non-families. 28.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.00% 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 3.20.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 28.50% under the age of 18, 6.00% from 18 to 24, 24.10% from 25 to 44, 19.40% from 45 to 64, and 22.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 97.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,296, and the median income for a family was $41,838. Males had a median income of $28,879 versus $19,340 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,121. About 6.50% of families and 9.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.90% of those under age 18 and 8.50% of those age 65 or over.

## Government

[edit | edit source]

### Presidential elections

[edit | edit source]

Nemaha County is strongly Republican. Lyndon Johnson is the only Democrat to have carried the county since 1936.

United States presidential election results for Nemaha County, Kansas[10] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party

|
|
|

No. | % | No. | % | No. | %
2020 | 4,664  | 82.05% | 927  | 16.31%  | 93  | 1.64%
2016 | 4,124  | 80.52% | 725  | 14.15%  | 273  | 5.33%
2012 | 3,930  | 78.19% | 1,000  | 19.90%  | 96  | 1.91%
2008 | 3,817  | 71.23% | 1,432  | 26.72%  | 110  | 2.05%
2004 | 4,027  | 73.71% | 1,355  | 24.80%  | 81  | 1.48%
2000 | 3,578  | 67.64% | 1,494  | 28.24%  | 218  | 4.12%
1996 | 3,014  | 56.07% | 1,648  | 30.66%  | 713  | 13.27%
1992 | 2,220  | 39.51% | 1,580  | 28.12%  | 1,819  | 32.37%
1988 | 2,849  | 54.98% | 2,261  | 43.63%  | 72  | 1.39%
1984 | 3,653  | 66.60% | 1,761  | 32.11%  | 71  | 1.29%
1980 | 3,546  | 64.99% | 1,600  | 29.33%  | 310  | 5.68%
1976 | 2,759  | 50.71% | 2,586  | 47.53%  | 96  | 1.76%
1972 | 3,422  | 64.06% | 1,777  | 33.26%  | 143  | 2.68%
1968 | 3,003  | 54.01% | 1,925  | 34.62%  | 632  | 11.37%
1964 | 2,391  | 42.07%  | 3,260  | 57.36% | 32  | 0.56%
1960 | 3,360  | 53.61% | 2,884  | 46.02%  | 23  | 0.37%
1956 | 4,195  | 67.11% | 2,038  | 32.60%  | 18  | 0.29%
1952 | 5,175  | 75.97% | 1,618  | 23.75%  | 19  | 0.28%
1948 | 3,529  | 55.39% | 2,810  | 44.11%  | 32  | 0.50%
1944 | 4,277  | 66.44% | 2,149  | 33.39%  | 11  | 0.17%
1940 | 5,178  | 65.64% | 2,679  | 33.96%  | 32  | 0.41%
1936 | 3,903  | 47.76%  | 4,175  | 51.09% | 94  | 1.15%
1932 | 3,167  | 40.60%  | 4,578  | 58.69% | 55  | 0.71%
1928 | 4,639  | 61.10% | 2,919  | 38.45%  | 34  | 0.45%
1924 | 4,096  | 60.24% | 1,846  | 27.15%  | 857  | 12.60%
1920 | 4,655  | 72.32% | 1,731  | 26.89%  | 51  | 0.79%
1916 | 3,591  | 49.19% | 3,579  | 49.03%  | 130  | 1.78%
1912 | 961  | 22.19%  | 1,936  | 44.71% | 1,433  | 33.09%
1908 | 2,394  | 51.57% | 2,182  | 47.01%  | 66  | 1.42%
1904 | 2,764  | 61.93% | 1,564  | 35.04%  | 135  | 3.02%
1900 | 2,761  | 53.45% | 2,348  | 45.45%  | 57  | 1.10%
1896 | 2,568  | 50.49% | 2,478  | 48.72%  | 40  | 0.79%
1892 | 2,222  | 49.73% | 0  | 0.00%  | 2,246  | 50.27%
1888 | 2,515  | 56.54% | 1,682  | 37.81%  | 251  | 5.64%

### Laws

[edit | edit source]

Nemaha 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.[11]

## Education

[edit | edit source]

### Unified school districts

[edit | edit source]

* Prairie Hills USD 113
* Nemaha Central USD 115

## Communities

[edit | edit source]

2005 KDOT Map of Nemaha County (map legend)

### Cities

[edit | edit source]

* Bern
* Centralia
* Corning
* Goff
* Oneida
* Sabetha (partly in Brown County)
* Seneca
* Wetmore

### Census-designated place

[edit | edit source]

* Baileyville

### Other unincorporated communities

[edit | edit source]

* Berwick
* Capioma
* Kelly
* Neuchatel
* St. Benedict
* Woodlawn

### Townships

[edit | edit source]

Nemaha County is divided into twenty townships. The cities of Sabetha and Seneca 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

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Adams | 00275 |  | 213 | 2 (6) | 93 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.03% | 39°46′38″N 95°57′36″W﻿ / ﻿39.77722°N 95.96000°W﻿ / 39.77722; -95.96000
Berwick | 06375 |  | 391 | 4 (11) | 93 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.02% | 39°57′11″N 95°50′11″W﻿ / ﻿39.95306°N 95.83639°W﻿ / 39.95306; -95.83639
Capioma | 10575 |  | 161 | 2 (4) | 93 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.03% | 39°47′28″N 95°51′18″W﻿ / ﻿39.79111°N 95.85500°W﻿ / 39.79111; -95.85500
Center | 11900 |  | 200 | 2 (6) | 94 (36) | 0 (0) | 0% | 39°46′37″N 96°11′15″W﻿ / ﻿39.77694°N 96.18750°W﻿ / 39.77694; -96.18750
Clear Creek | 13775 |  | 123 | 1 (3) | 93 (36) | 0 (0) | 0% | 39°57′27″N 96°10′56″W﻿ / ﻿39.95750°N 96.18222°W﻿ / 39.95750; -96.18222
Gilman | 26275 |  | 223 | 2 (6) | 93 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.19% | 39°52′1″N 95°57′14″W﻿ / ﻿39.86694°N 95.95389°W﻿ / 39.86694; -95.95389
Grenada | 27275 |  | 122 | 1 (3) | 93 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.06% | 39°41′23″N 95°51′10″W﻿ / ﻿39.68972°N 95.85278°W﻿ / 39.68972; -95.85278
Harrison | 30375 |  | 399 | 4 (11) | 93 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.06% | 39°41′22″N 95°56′55″W﻿ / ﻿39.68944°N 95.94861°W﻿ / 39.68944; -95.94861
Home | 32900 |  | 567 | 6 (16) | 91 (35) | 3 (1) | 3.12% | 39°42′36″N 96°9′17″W﻿ / ﻿39.71000°N 96.15472°W﻿ / 39.71000; -96.15472
Illinois | 33725 |  | 453 | 5 (13) | 93 (36) | 0 (0) | 0% | 39°41′13″N 96°3′41″W﻿ / ﻿39.68694°N 96.06139°W﻿ / 39.68694; -96.06139
Marion | 44775 |  | 457 | 5 (13) | 94 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.02% | 39°51′48″N 96°11′32″W﻿ / ﻿39.86333°N 96.19222°W﻿ / 39.86333; -96.19222
Mitchell | 47475 |  | 305 | 3 (9) | 93 (36) | 0 (0) | 0% | 39°47′25″N 96°3′43″W﻿ / ﻿39.79028°N 96.06194°W﻿ / 39.79028; -96.06194
Nemaha | 49625 |  | 184 | 2 (5) | 92 (35) | 0 (0) | 0% | 39°57′4″N 96°3′44″W﻿ / ﻿39.95111°N 96.06222°W﻿ / 39.95111; -96.06222
Neuchatel | 50050 |  | 117 | 1 (3) | 94 (36) | 0 (0) | 0% | 39°36′27″N 96°11′25″W﻿ / ﻿39.60750°N 96.19028°W﻿ / 39.60750; -96.19028
Red Vermillion | 58750 |  | 137 | 1 (4) | 93 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.02% | 39°36′17″N 96°4′0″W﻿ / ﻿39.60472°N 96.06667°W﻿ / 39.60472; -96.06667
Reilly | 58900 |  | 153 | 2 (4) | 93 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.07% | 39°36′47″N 95°57′12″W﻿ / ﻿39.61306°N 95.95333°W﻿ / 39.61306; -95.95333
Richmond | 59725 |  | 538 | 6 (16) | 89 (34) | 0 (0) | 0% | 39°51′34″N 96°3′49″W﻿ / ﻿39.85944°N 96.06361°W﻿ / 39.85944; -96.06361
Rock Creek | 60600 |  | 302 | 3 (9) | 88 (34) | 0 (0) | 0.28% | 39°52′32″N 95°50′8″W﻿ / ﻿39.87556°N 95.83556°W﻿ / 39.87556; -95.83556
Washington | 75675 |  | 465 | 5 (13) | 93 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.01% | 39°57′41″N 95°57′44″W﻿ / ﻿39.96139°N 95.96222°W﻿ / 39.96139; -95.96222
Wetmore | 77575 |  | 503 | 5 (14) | 93 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.02% | 39°37′35″N 95°49′43″W﻿ / ﻿39.62639°N 95.82861°W﻿ / 39.62639; -95.82861

## See also

[edit | edit source]

* National Register of Historic Places listings in Nemaha 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

[edit | edit source]

1. ^ a b c "QuickFacts; Nemaha County, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 18, 2021. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. ^ Blackmar, Frank Wilson (1912). Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, Volume 2. Standard Publishing Company. pp. 345.
4. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
5. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
6. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
7. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
8. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
9. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
10. ^ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
11. ^ "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.

Notes

## Further reading

[edit | edit source]

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

* Atlas of Nemaha County, Kansas; Anderson Publishing Co; 62 pages; 1922.
* Plat Book of Nemaha County, Kansas; A.R. Stinson; 53 pages; 1908.

## External links

[edit | edit source]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nemaha County, Kansas.

County

* Nemaha County – Official Website
* Nemaha County – Directory of Public Officials

Other information

* The Irving Tornado
* Historical Tornadoes

Maps

* Nemaha 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 Nemaha County, Kansas

| Pawnee County, Nebraska |  | Richardson County, Nebraska

|
|

|  |
Marshall County |

Nemaha County, Kansas

| Brown County
|  |
Pottawatomie County |  | Jackson County

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Nemaha County, Kansas, United States

County seat: Seneca

Cities|

* Bern
* Centralia
* Corning
* Goff
* Oneida
* Sabetha‡
* Seneca
* Wetmore

Map of Kansas highlighting Nemaha County

Unincorporated
communities|

* Baileyville†
* Berwick
* Capioma
* Kelly†
* Neuchatel
* St. Benedict†
* Woodlawn

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

*[Pop.]: Population
*[%±]: Percent change
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template