Wichita County, Kansas

County in Kansas, United States

This article is about the county in western Kansas. For the city in south-central Kansas, see Wichita, Kansas. For its county, see Sedgwick County, Kansas.

County in Kansas

Wichita County

County

Wichita County courthouse in Leoti (2015)

Location within the U.S. state of Kansas

Kansas's location within the U.S.

Country|  United States
State|  Kansas
Founded| December 24, 1886
Named for| Wichita people
Seat| Leoti
Largest city| Leoti
Area

• Total| 719 sq mi (1,860 km2)
• Land| 719 sq mi (1,860 km2)
• Water| 0.02 sq mi (0.05 km2)  0.0%
Population

(2020)[1]

• Total| 2,152
• Density| 3.0/sq mi (1.2/km2)
Time zone| UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district| 1st
Website| WichitaCounty.org

Wichita County (standard abbreviation: WH) is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 2,152.[1] Its county seat is Leoti.[2]

## Contents

* 1 History
* 1.1 Early history
* 1.2 19th century
* 2 Geography
* 2.1 Major highways
* 2.2 Adjacent counties
* 3 Demographics
* 4 Government
* 4.1 Presidential elections
* 4.2 Laws
* 5 Education
* 6 Communities
* 6.1 City
* 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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### 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, in accordance with 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. In 1886, Wichita County was established.

## Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 719 square miles (1,860 km2), virtually all of which is land.[3]

### Major highways

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* Kansas Highway 25
* Kansas Highway 96

### Adjacent counties

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* Logan County (north)
* Scott County (east)
* Kearny County (south)
* Hamilton County (southwest/Mountain Time border)
* Greeley County (west/Mountain Time border)
* Wallace County (northwest/Mountain Time border)

## Demographics

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Historical population

Census | Pop. |  | %±
1880| 14| | —
1890| 1,827| | 12,950.0%
1900| 1,197| | −34.5%
1910| 2,006| | 67.6%
1920| 1,856| | −7.5%
1930| 2,579| | 39.0%
1940| 2,185| | −15.3%
1950| 2,640| | 20.8%
1960| 2,765| | 4.7%
1970| 3,274| | 18.4%
1980| 3,041| | −7.1%
1990| 2,758| | −9.3%
2000| 2,531| | −8.2%
2010| 2,234| | −11.7%
2020| 2,152| | −3.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[4]
1790-1960[5] 1900-1990[6]
1990-2000[7] 2010-2020[1]
Age pyramid

As of the census[8] of 2000, there were 2,531 people, 967 households, and 723 families residing in the county. The population density was 4 people per square mile (1/km2). There were 1,119 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile (1/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 86.25% White, 0.08% Black or African American, 0.71% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 10.51% from other races, and 2.37% from two or more races. 18.41% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 967 households, out of which 35.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.30% were married couples living together, 5.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.20% were non-families. 23.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.07.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 28.70% under the age of 18, 7.30% from 18 to 24, 25.70% from 25 to 44, 22.30% from 45 to 64, and 16.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 104.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,462, and the median income for a family was $41,034. Males had a median income of $27,523 versus $18,807 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,720. About 11.20% of families and 14.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.20% of those under age 18 and 4.70% of those age 65 or over.

## Government

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### Presidential elections

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United States presidential election results for Wichita County, Kansas[9] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party

|
|
|

No. | % | No. | % | No. | %
2020 | 808  | 83.47% | 149  | 15.39%  | 11  | 1.14%
2016 | 769  | 80.44% | 140  | 14.64%  | 47  | 4.92%
2012 | 821  | 83.18% | 157  | 15.91%  | 9  | 0.91%
2008 | 840  | 82.43% | 163  | 16.00%  | 16  | 1.57%
2004 | 869  | 81.83% | 183  | 17.23%  | 10  | 0.94%
2000 | 859  | 78.81% | 207  | 18.99%  | 24  | 2.20%
1996 | 796  | 71.13% | 239  | 21.36%  | 84  | 7.51%
1992 | 681  | 55.37% | 241  | 19.59%  | 308  | 25.04%
1988 | 721  | 62.80% | 399  | 34.76%  | 28  | 2.44%
1984 | 916  | 78.90% | 232  | 19.98%  | 13  | 1.12%
1980 | 880  | 69.95% | 303  | 24.09%  | 75  | 5.96%
1976 | 593  | 47.90%  | 614  | 49.60% | 31  | 2.50%
1972 | 794  | 69.89% | 288  | 25.35%  | 54  | 4.75%
1968 | 757  | 60.37% | 364  | 29.03%  | 133  | 10.61%
1964 | 529  | 44.19%  | 662  | 55.30% | 6  | 0.50%
1960 | 702  | 55.63% | 554  | 43.90%  | 6  | 0.48%
1956 | 747  | 70.41% | 312  | 29.41%  | 2  | 0.19%
1952 | 910  | 75.90% | 276  | 23.02%  | 13  | 1.08%
1948 | 606  | 56.27% | 443  | 41.13%  | 28  | 2.60%
1944 | 604  | 64.32% | 329  | 35.04%  | 6  | 0.64%
1940 | 644  | 59.08% | 433  | 39.72%  | 13  | 1.19%
1936 | 448  | 41.06%  | 637  | 58.39% | 6  | 0.55%
1932 | 375  | 32.92%  | 732  | 64.27% | 32  | 2.81%
1928 | 464  | 54.91% | 370  | 43.79%  | 11  | 1.30%
1924 | 482  | 62.68% | 147  | 19.12%  | 140  | 18.21%
1920 | 422  | 73.91% | 127  | 22.24%  | 22  | 3.85%
1916 | 318  | 44.04% | 333  | 46.12%  | 71  | 9.83%
1912 | 82  | 22.10%  | 135  | 36.39% | 154  | 41.51%
1908 | 233  | 54.31% | 173  | 40.33%  | 23  | 5.36%
1904 | 245  | 67.31% | 91  | 25.00%  | 28  | 7.69%
1900 | 201  | 60.36% | 128  | 38.44%  | 4  | 1.20%
1896 | 214  | 52.32% | 192  | 46.94%  | 3  | 0.73%
1892 | 245  | 53.26% | 0  | 0.00%  | 215  | 46.74%
1888 | 438  | 59.35% | 207  | 28.05%  | 93  | 12.60%

Wichita County is overwhelmingly Republican. It was last carried for the Democratic Party by Jimmy Carter in 1976, but since then the only Democrat to win over a quarter of the county's vote has been Michael Dukakis during the 1988 election when the Democratic vote was boosted by reaction against a major Great Plains drought. In the past six elections no Democrat has topped twenty percent of Wichita County's vote – a situation now almost general in the High Plains.

### 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, Wichita County has remained a prohibition, or "dry", county.[10] The latest county alcohol control map indicates the county now allows liquor sales.[11]

## Education

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* Leoti USD 467

## Communities

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2005 KDOT Map of Wichita County from KDOT (map legend)

### City

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* Leoti

### Unincorporated communities

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* Marienthal (a census-designated place)
* Selkirk

### Ghost towns

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* Coronado
* Farmer City

### Townships

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Wichita County has a single township. None of the cities within the county are considered governmentally independent, and all figures for the townships include those of the cities. 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

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Leoti | 39575 | Leoti | 2,531 | 1 (4) | 1,861 (719) | 0 (0) | 0% | 38°29′54″N 101°21′50″W﻿ / ﻿38.49833°N 101.36389°W﻿ / 38.49833; -101.36389

## See also

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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; Wichita County, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 21, 2021. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
4. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
5. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
6. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
7. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
8. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
9. ^ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
10. ^ "Map of Wet and Dry Counties". Alcoholic Beverage Control, Kansas Department of Revenue. November 2004. Archived from the original on October 8, 2007. Retrieved January 21, 2007.
11. ^ https://www.ksrevenue.gov/pdf/abcwetdrymap.pdf [bare URL PDF]

Notes

## Further reading

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

* Standard Atlas of Wichita County, Kansas; Geo. A. Ogle & Co; 60 pages; 1920.

## External links

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wichita County, Kansas.

Wikisource has the text of an 1879 American Cyclopædia article about Wichita County, Kansas.

County

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

Maps

* Wichita 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 Wichita County, Kansas

| Wallace County | Logan County | Logan County

|
|

|  |
Greeley County |

Wichita County, Kansas

| Scott County
|  |
Hamilton County | Kearny County | Finney County

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Wichita County, Kansas, United States

County seat: Leoti

City|

* Leoti

Map of Kansas highlighting Wichita County

Unincorporated
communities|

* Coronado
* Lydia
* Marienthal†
* Selkirk

Ghost towns|

* Farmer City

Footnotes|

†This community is designated a Census-Designated Place (CDP) by the United States Census Bureau.

* 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: 38°28′N 101°21′W﻿ / ﻿38.467°N 101.350°W﻿ / 38.467; -101.350
*[Pop.]: Population
*[%±]: Percent change
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