Norton County, Kansas

County in Kansas, United States

Not to be confused with Norton, Kansas.

County in Kansas

Norton County

County

Norton County Courthouse in Norton (built 1929)

Location within the U.S. state of Kansas

Kansas's location within the U.S.

Coordinates: 39°48′N 99°55′W﻿ / ﻿39.800°N 99.917°W﻿ / 39.800; -99.917Coordinates: 39°48′N 99°55′W﻿ / ﻿39.800°N 99.917°W﻿ / 39.800; -99.917
Country|  United States
State|  Kansas
Founded| February 26, 1867
Named for| Orloff Norton
Seat| Norton
Largest city| Norton
Area

• Total| 881 sq mi (2,280 km2)
• Land| 878 sq mi (2,270 km2)
• Water| 3.2 sq mi (8 km2)  0.4%%
Population

(2020)[1]

• Total| 5,459
• Density| 6.2/sq mi (2.4/km2)
Time zone| UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−5 (CDT)
Area code| 785
Congressional district| 1st
Website| nortoncounty.org

Norton County (standard abbreviation: NT) is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 5,459.[1] The largest city and county seat is Norton.[2] The county was established in 1867 and named for Orloff Norton, captain of Company L, 15th Kansas Militia Infantry Regiment.[3]

## Contents

* 1 History
* 1.1 Early history
* 1.2 19th century
* 1.3 21st century
* 2 Geography
* 2.1 Adjacent counties
* 3 Demographics
* 4 Government
* 4.1 County
* 4.2 Presidential elections
* 4.3 Laws
* 5 Education
* 5.1 Unified school districts
* 6 Communities
* 6.1 Cities
* 6.2 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.  Norton County was founded by Noah H. Billings, Thomas Beaumont, Henry Gordon, P. Hansen, and George Cole on August 22, 1872. In 1878 Norton became the county seat. The county gets its name for Civil War soldier Orloff Norton, who was killed at Cane Hill, Arkansas in 1864.[4]

The first county fair, although not official, was held in Leota in October, 1878. After 1900 the fair was held yearly in Elmwood Park in Norton. The first school district was formed in Norton in 1872. School was held in a dugout beginning December 1, 1873.[1]

### 21st century

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In 2020, Norton County became a major hotspot in the COVID-19 pandemic. In July, an inmate at the Norton Correctional Facility, a state prison, tested positive for coronavirus.[5] By mid-October, more than 130 cases had been reported at the prison.[6] On October 19, officials announced that all 62 residents of the Andbe Home nursing home in Norton had tested positive for COVID-19, 10 of whom had died.[7] As of October 20, Norton County had the highest rate of infection over the previous 7 and 14 days of any county in the United States.[8][9]

## Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 881 square miles (2,280 km2), of which 878 square miles (2,270 km2) is land and 3.2 square miles (8.3 km2) (0.4%) is water.[10]

### Adjacent counties

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* Furnas County, Nebraska (north)
* Harlan County, Nebraska (northeast)
* Phillips County (east)
* Graham County (south)
* Sheridan County (southwest)
* Decatur County (west)

## Demographics

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Age pyramid Historical population

Census | Pop. |  | %±
1880| 6,998| | —
1890| 10,617| | 51.7%
1900| 11,325| | 6.7%
1910| 11,614| | 2.6%
1920| 11,423| | −1.6%
1930| 11,701| | 2.4%
1940| 9,831| | −16.0%
1950| 8,808| | −10.4%
1960| 8,035| | −8.8%
1970| 7,279| | −9.4%
1980| 6,689| | −8.1%
1990| 5,947| | −11.1%
2000| 5,953| | 0.1%
2010| 5,671| | −4.7%
2020| 5,459| | −3.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]
1790–1960[12] 1900–1990[13]
1990–2000[14] 2010–2020[1]

As of the 2000 US census, there were 5,953 people, 2,266 households, and 1,470 families residing in the county. The population density was 7 people per square mile (3/km2). There were 2,673 housing units at an average density of 3 per square mile (1/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 93.35% White, 4.05% Black or African American, 0.44% Native American, 0.42% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.02% from other races, and 0.71% from two or more races. 2.37% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,266 households, out of which 28.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.50% were married couples living together, 7.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.10% were non-families. 32.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.89.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.00% under the age of 18, 7.70% from 18 to 24, 28.30% from 25 to 44, 22.30% from 45 to 64, and 19.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 122.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 122.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,050, and the median income for a family was $37,036. Males had a median income of $25,983 versus $20,381 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,835. About 6.10% of families and 10.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.70% of those under age 18 and 8.20% of those age 65 or over.

## Government

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### County

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Noah H. Billings was an early county settler, county superintendent of schools, county attorney, and state representative. Keith Sebelius served as a U.S. congressman from 1969 to 1981.[15]

### Presidential elections

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United States presidential election results for Norton County, Kansas[16] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party

|
|
|

No. | % | No. | % | No. | %
2020 | 2,007  | 83.11% | 364  | 15.07%  | 44  | 1.82%
2016 | 1,840  | 82.36% | 281  | 12.58%  | 113  | 5.06%
2012 | 1,878  | 80.77% | 398  | 17.12%  | 49  | 2.11%
2008 | 1,878  | 77.76% | 497  | 20.58%  | 40  | 1.66%
2004 | 2,092  | 80.49% | 473  | 18.20%  | 34  | 1.31%
2000 | 1,744  | 71.15% | 598  | 24.40%  | 109  | 4.45%
1996 | 1,814  | 66.42% | 640  | 23.43%  | 277  | 10.14%
1992 | 1,469  | 47.88% | 779  | 25.39%  | 820  | 26.73%
1988 | 1,923  | 67.54% | 855  | 30.03%  | 69  | 2.42%
1984 | 2,515  | 79.19% | 611  | 19.24%  | 50  | 1.57%
1980 | 2,625  | 75.50% | 666  | 19.15%  | 186  | 5.35%
1976 | 2,201  | 60.55% | 1,337  | 36.78%  | 97  | 2.67%
1972 | 2,688  | 75.80% | 776  | 21.88%  | 82  | 2.31%
1968 | 2,543  | 70.91% | 841  | 23.45%  | 202  | 5.63%
1964 | 2,245  | 60.09% | 1,449  | 38.78%  | 42  | 1.12%
1960 | 2,781  | 68.01% | 1,300  | 31.79%  | 8  | 0.20%
1956 | 3,052  | 71.58% | 1,194  | 28.00%  | 18  | 0.42%
1952 | 3,530  | 76.23% | 1,047  | 22.61%  | 54  | 1.17%
1948 | 2,461  | 60.98% | 1,414  | 35.03%  | 161  | 3.99%
1944 | 2,890  | 70.87% | 1,159  | 28.42%  | 29  | 0.71%
1940 | 3,415  | 70.28% | 1,378  | 28.36%  | 66  | 1.36%
1936 | 2,829  | 54.83% | 2,307  | 44.71%  | 24  | 0.47%
1932 | 2,272  | 44.16%  | 2,705  | 52.58% | 168  | 3.27%
1928 | 3,365  | 73.99% | 1,087  | 23.90%  | 96  | 2.11%
1924 | 2,778  | 59.33% | 1,261  | 26.93%  | 643  | 13.73%
1920 | 2,288  | 65.24% | 1,082  | 30.85%  | 137  | 3.91%
1916 | 1,616  | 34.28%  | 2,876  | 61.01% | 222  | 4.71%
1912 | 598  | 23.98%  | 1,081  | 43.34% | 815  | 32.68%
1908 | 1,448  | 49.76% | 1,337  | 45.95%  | 125  | 4.30%
1904 | 1,570  | 67.18% | 417  | 17.84%  | 350  | 14.98%
1900 | 1,329  | 51.67% | 1,212  | 47.12%  | 31  | 1.21%
1896 | 941  | 42.07%  | 1,260  | 56.33% | 36  | 1.61%
1892 | 1,054  | 48.26%  | 0  | 0.00%  | 1,130  | 51.74%
1888 | 1,471  | 56.60% | 631  | 24.28%  | 497  | 19.12%

Like all the High Plains, Norton County is overwhelmingly Republican. In 1964, the last time the Republicans did not carry Kansas’ electoral votes, Norton County was Barry Goldwater’s second-best county in the state behind Clay County. The last Democrat to reach forty percent of the county’s vote was Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1936, ironically against Kansas Governor Alf Landon. Roosevelt in 1932 was the last Democrat to carry Norton County, and the only others are Woodrow Wilson (twice) and William Jennings Bryan in his first 1896 campaign.

### Laws

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Following amendment to the Kansas Constitution in 1986, the county remained a prohibition, or "dry", county until 1992, when voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with a 30 percent food sales requirement.[17]

## Education

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### Unified school districts

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* Norton USD 211
* Northern Valley USD 212

## Communities

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2005 KDOT Map of Norton County (map legend)

### Cities

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* Almena
* Clayton
* Edmond
* Lenora
* Norton (county seat)

### Townships

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Norton County is divided into four townships. The city of Norton 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. The 2010 census shows the area of the former Harrison-District 6 as combined into that of Almena-District 4.

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

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Almena-District 4 | 01450 |  | 614 | 2 (6) | 278 (107) | 0 (0) | 0% | 39°53′10″N 99°41′2″W﻿ / ﻿39.88611°N 99.68389°W﻿ / 39.88611; -99.68389
Center-District 1 | 12260 |  | 1,382 | 2 (5) | 654 (253) | 0 (0) | 0.08% | 39°53′43″N 99°57′2″W﻿ / ﻿39.89528°N 99.95056°W﻿ / 39.89528; -99.95056
Harrison-District 6 (defunct[18]) | 30460 |  | 12 | 0 (0) | 93 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.02% | 39°56′54″N 99°48′25″W﻿ / ﻿39.94833°N 99.80694°W﻿ / 39.94833; -99.80694
Highland-District 2 | 32060 |  | 737 | 1 (3) | 748 (289) | 9 (3) | 1.13% | 39°41′24″N 100°1′49″W﻿ / ﻿39.69000°N 100.03028°W﻿ / 39.69000; -100.03028
Solomon-District 3 | 66410 |  | 196 | 0 (1) | 496 (192) | 0 (0) | 0.02% | 39°40′38″N 99°45′56″W﻿ / ﻿39.67722°N 99.76556°W﻿ / 39.67722; -99.76556

## See also

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* National Register of Historic Places listings in Norton 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; Norton 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. 374.
4. ^ "Norton County, Kansas - Kansas Historical Society". www.kshs.org. Kansas Historical Society. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
5. ^ "COVID-19 at Norton Prison". Https. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
6. ^ "REVIEW: COVID-19 outbreak reported at Norton prison". Https. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
7. ^ "All 62 residents at Kansas nursing home have COVID, 10 have died - CBS News". Https. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
8. ^ "Kansas averages 700 new cases a day; county sees top US jump". Https. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
9. ^ "Covid in the U.S.: Latest Map and Case Count - The New York Times". Https. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
10. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
11. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
12. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
13. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
14. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
15. ^ Norton County, Kansas, Kansas Historical Society
16. ^ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
17. ^ "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 26, 2007.
18. ^ "Norton County, Kansas - Kansas Historical Society". kshs.org. Retrieved December 11, 2020.

Notes

## Further reading

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

* Handbook of Norton County, Kansas; C.S. Burch Publishing Co; 16 pages; 1880s.
* Standard Atlas of Norton County, Kansas; Geo. A. Ogle & Co; 71 pages; 1917.

## External links

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Norton County, Kansas.

County

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

Maps

* Norton 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 Norton County, Kansas

| Red Willow County, Nebraska | Furnas County, Nebraska | Harlan County, Nebraska

|
|

|  |
Decatur County |

Norton County, Kansas

| Phillips County
|  |
Sheridan County | Graham County | Rooks County

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Norton County, Kansas, United States

County seat: Norton

Cities|

* Almena
* Clayton‡
* Edmond
* Lenora
* Norton

Map of Kansas highlighting Norton County

Unincorporated
communities|

* Calvert
* Dellvale
* Densmore
* New Almelo
* Oronoque
* Reager

Ghost towns|

* Bower
* Brett
* Cactus
* Devizes
* Fairhaven
* Hanback
* Hedgewood
* Rayville
* Rockwell
* Smithton
* Wakeman

Footnotes|

‡This community also has portions in an adjacent county or counties.

* United States portal

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State of Kansas

Topeka (capital)

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Lists|

* List of counties in Kansas
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