Rush County, Kansas

County in Kansas, United States

County in Kansas

Rush County

County

Rush County courthouse in La Crosse (2016)

Location within the U.S. state of Kansas

Kansas's location within the U.S.

Coordinates: 38°31′00″N 99°18′00″W﻿ / ﻿38.5167°N 99.3°W﻿ / 38.5167; -99.3
Country|  United States
State|  Kansas
Founded| February 26, 1867
Named after| Alexander Rush
Seat| La Crosse
Largest city| La Crosse
Area

• Total

| 718 sq mi (1,860 km2)
• Land| 718 sq mi (1,860 km2)
• Water| 0.2 sq mi (0.5 km2)  0.03%
Population

(2020)[1]

• Total

| 2,956
• Density| 4.1/sq mi (1.6/km2)
Time zone| UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district| 1st
Website| rushcountykansas.org

Rush County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat and largest city is La Crosse.[2] As of the 2020 census, the county population was 2,956.[1] The county was named for Alexander Rush.

## History

[edit]

### Early history

[edit]

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]

In 1802, Spain returned most of the land to France but kept 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 1867, Rush County was established. Rush County was organized on December 5, 1874.[3] There was a county seat struggle between La Crosse and Rush Center lasting 10 years until La Crosse finally became the county seat.

### 21st century

[edit]

In 2015, the "Alexander Wind Farm" was constructed south of Alexander. It cost about $85 million and generates 48 megawatts of power.[4][5]

## Geography

[edit]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 718 square miles (1,860 km2), of which 718 square miles (1,860 km2) is land and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km2) (0.03%) is water.[6]

It is intersected by Walnut Creek, a tributary of the Arkansas River, and watered by other streams.[7]

### Adjacent counties

[edit]

* Ellis County (north)
* Russell County (northeast)
* Barton County (east)
* Pawnee County (south)
* Ness County (west)

## Demographics

[edit]

Population pyramid based on 2000 census age data Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1880| 5,490| | —
1890| 5,204| | −5.2%
1900| 6,134| | 17.9%
1910| 7,826| | 27.6%
1920| 8,360| | 6.8%
1930| 9,093| | 8.8%
1940| 8,285| | −8.9%
1950| 7,231| | −12.7%
1960| 6,160| | −14.8%
1970| 5,117| | −16.9%
1980| 4,516| | −11.7%
1990| 3,842| | −14.9%
2000| 3,551| | −7.6%
2010| 3,307| | −6.9%
2020| 2,956| | −10.6%
2023 (est.)| 2,830| [8]| −4.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11]
1990-2000[12] 2010-2020[1]

As of the census[13] of 2000, there were 3,551 people, 1,548 households, and 1,013 families residing in the county. The population density was 5 people per square mile (1.9 people/km2). There were 1,928 housing units at an average density of 3 per square mile (1.2/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.45% White, 0.31% Black or African American, 0.42% Native American, 0.11% Asian, 0.17% from other races, and 0.54% from two or more races. 1.04% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,548 households, out of which 26.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.10% were married couples living together, 5.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.50% were non-families. 31.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.80.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.10% under the age of 18, 5.50% from 18 to 24, 22.90% from 25 to 44, 24.20% from 45 to 64, and 25.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 94.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,268, and the median income for a family was $38,821. Males had a median income of $25,408 versus $20,307 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,033. About 6.70% of families and 9.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.50% of those under age 18 and 9.90% of those age 65 or over.

## Government

[edit]

### Presidential elections

[edit]

Presidential election results

United States presidential election results for Rush County, Kansas[14] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies)

|
|
|

No. | % | No. | % | No. | %
2024 | 1,315  | 81.88% | 264  | 16.44%  | 27  | 1.68%
2020 | 1,350  | 80.50% | 295  | 17.59%  | 32  | 1.91%
2016 | 1,197  | 79.64% | 233  | 15.50%  | 73  | 4.86%
2012 | 1,166  | 74.27% | 367  | 23.38%  | 37  | 2.36%
2008 | 1,225  | 68.78% | 504  | 28.30%  | 52  | 2.92%
2004 | 1,226  | 68.53% | 517  | 28.90%  | 46  | 2.57%
2000 | 1,235  | 66.61% | 505  | 27.24%  | 114  | 6.15%
1996 | 1,239  | 62.29% | 547  | 27.50%  | 203  | 10.21%
1992 | 756  | 35.74% | 689  | 32.58%  | 670  | 31.68%
1988 | 1,045  | 48.54% | 1,020  | 47.38%  | 88  | 4.09%
1984 | 1,758  | 69.49% | 718  | 28.38%  | 54  | 2.13%
1980 | 1,840  | 71.54% | 557  | 21.66%  | 175  | 6.80%
1976 | 1,170  | 45.33%  | 1,359  | 52.65% | 52  | 2.01%
1972 | 1,639  | 65.25% | 806  | 32.09%  | 67  | 2.67%
1968 | 1,471  | 57.46% | 864  | 33.75%  | 225  | 8.79%
1964 | 1,098  | 37.85%  | 1,778  | 61.29% | 25  | 0.86%
1960 | 1,668  | 53.86% | 1,418  | 45.79%  | 11  | 0.36%
1956 | 2,007  | 64.87% | 1,080  | 34.91%  | 7  | 0.23%
1952 | 2,650  | 75.50% | 843  | 24.02%  | 17  | 0.48%
1948 | 1,840  | 56.41% | 1,360  | 41.69%  | 62  | 1.90%
1944 | 2,193  | 66.80% | 1,076  | 32.77%  | 14  | 0.43%
1940 | 2,394  | 59.84% | 1,588  | 39.69%  | 19  | 0.47%
1936 | 1,733  | 41.08%  | 2,482  | 58.83% | 4  | 0.09%
1932 | 1,433  | 37.97%  | 2,275  | 60.28% | 66  | 1.75%
1928 | 1,985  | 60.02% | 1,296  | 39.19%  | 26  | 0.79%
1924 | 1,780  | 57.25% | 787  | 25.31%  | 542  | 17.43%
1920 | 2,017  | 73.43% | 605  | 22.02%  | 125  | 4.55%
1916 | 1,223  | 41.66%  | 1,478  | 50.34% | 235  | 8.00%
1912 | 210  | 11.47%  | 870  | 47.52% | 751  | 41.02%
1908 | 764  | 45.02%  | 894  | 52.68% | 39  | 2.30%
1904 | 883  | 58.21% | 570  | 37.57%  | 64  | 4.22%
1900 | 681  | 48.47%  | 717  | 51.03% | 7  | 0.50%
1896 | 515  | 44.09%  | 643  | 55.05% | 10  | 0.86%
1892 | 570  | 47.50%  | 0  | 0.00%  | 630  | 52.50%
1888 | 681  | 58.71% | 424  | 36.55%  | 55  | 4.74%

Rush County is presently overwhelmingly Republican, although as recently as 1988 Michael Dukakis, aided by a major Great Plains drought, came within 25 votes of carrying the county for the Democrats.

### Laws

[edit]

Rush 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 percent food sales requirement.[15]

## Education

[edit]

### Unified school districts

[edit]

* La Crosse USD 395
* Otis-Bison USD 403

## Communities

[edit]

2005 map of Rush County[16] (map legend)

List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Rush County.[16]

### Cities

[edit]

* Alexander
* Bison
* La Crosse (county seat)
* Liebenthal
* McCracken
* Otis
* Rush Center
* Timken

### Unincorporated communities

[edit]

* Hargrave
* Loretta
* Nekoma
* Schaffer

### Ghost towns

[edit]

* Belfield
* Brookdale
* Fenton
* Flavius
* Hampton
* Hutton
* Lippard
* Olney
* Pioneer
* Ryan
* Saunders
* West Point

### Townships

[edit]

Rush County is divided into twelve townships. 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

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Alexander-Belle Prairie | 01087 |  | 139 | 1 (2) | 220 (85) | 0 (0) | 0.02% | 38°27′23″N 99°31′49″W﻿ / ﻿38.45639°N 99.53028°W﻿ / 38.45639; -99.53028
Banner | 04075 |  | 191 | 1 (4) | 139 (54) | 0 (0) | 0.01% | 38°25′53″N 99°11′28″W﻿ / ﻿38.43139°N 99.19111°W﻿ / 38.43139; -99.19111
Big Timber | 06775 |  | 164 | 1 (3) | 122 (47) | 0 (0) | 0.03% | 38°39′1″N 99°18′54″W﻿ / ﻿38.65028°N 99.31500°W﻿ / 38.65028; -99.31500
Center | 12125 |  | 256 | 2 (5) | 139 (54) | 0 (0) | 0% | 38°26′6″N 99°18′13″W﻿ / ﻿38.43500°N 99.30361°W﻿ / 38.43500; -99.30361
Garfield | 25800 |  | 132 | 1 (2) | 139 (54) | 0 (0) | 0.01% | 38°25′15″N 99°4′45″W﻿ / ﻿38.42083°N 99.07917°W﻿ / 38.42083; -99.07917
Hampton-Fairview | 29812 |  | 304 | 1 (3) | 276 (107) | 0 (0) | 0.11% | 38°37′32″N 99°30′12″W﻿ / ﻿38.62556°N 99.50333°W﻿ / 38.62556; -99.50333
Illinois | 33750 |  | 47 | 0 (1) | 125 (48) | 0 (0) | 0.01% | 38°38′48″N 99°11′28″W﻿ / ﻿38.64667°N 99.19111°W﻿ / 38.64667; -99.19111
La Crosse-Brookdale | 37525 |  | 1,475 | 7 (17) | 218 (84) | 0 (0) | 0.01% | 38°32′2″N 99°20′15″W﻿ / ﻿38.53389°N 99.33750°W﻿ / 38.53389; -99.33750
Lone Star | 42500 |  | 319 | 3 (8) | 110 (42) | 0 (0) | 0% | 38°31′21″N 99°11′46″W﻿ / ﻿38.52250°N 99.19611°W﻿ / 38.52250; -99.19611
Pioneer | 55950 |  | 426 | 4 (10) | 108 (42) | 0 (0) | 0.01% | 38°32′13″N 99°4′4″W﻿ / ﻿38.53694°N 99.06778°W﻿ / 38.53694; -99.06778
Pleasantdale | 56325 |  | 33 | 0 (1) | 124 (48) | 0 (0) | 0.07% | 38°38′20″N 99°5′17″W﻿ / ﻿38.63889°N 99.08806°W﻿ / 38.63889; -99.08806
Union | 72350 |  | 65 | 0 (1) | 141 (54) | 0 (0) | 0.01% | 38°26′4″N 99°25′47″W﻿ / ﻿38.43444°N 99.42972°W﻿ / 38.43444; -99.42972

### Former townships

[edit]

* West Point, Kansas

## See also

[edit]

* Kansas portal

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

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c "QuickFacts; Rush County, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 19, 2021. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. ^ Rush County, Kansas, Kansapedia
4. ^ NJR Clean Energy acquires Kansas wind farm; October 24, 2014.
5. ^ Siemens touts order for 21 wind turbines for Kansas project; KAKE tv; January 23, 2015. Archived January 24, 2015, at archive.today
6. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
7. ^ Ripley, George; Dana, Charles A., eds. (1879). "Rush. II. A W. central county of Kansas" . The American Cyclopædia.
8. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
9. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 28, 2014.
10. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 28, 2014.
11. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 28, 2014.
12. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved July 28, 2014.
13. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
14. ^ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
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. ^ a b "General Highway Map of Rush County, Kansas" (PDF). Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT). October 2010. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 12, 2023.

## Further reading

[edit]

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

* Plat book of Rush County, Kansas; North West Publishing Co; 33 pages; 1901.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rush County, Kansas.

County

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

Historical

* History of Cities in Rush County

Maps

* Rush County Township Map \- Kansas Department of Transportation
* Rush County Road Maps \- Kansas Department of Transportation
* Kansas State Highway Maps \- Kansas Department of Transportation

Places adjacent to Rush County, Kansas

| Trego County | Ellis County | Russell County

|
|

|  |
Ness County |

Rush County, Kansas

| Barton County
|  |
Ness County | Pawnee County | Barton County

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Rush County, Kansas, United States

County seat: La Crosse

Cities|

* Alexander
* Bison
* La Crosse
* Liebenthal
* McCracken
* Otis
* Rush Center
* Timken

Map of Kansas highlighting Rush County

Unincorporated
communities|

* Hargrave
* Loretta
* Nekoma
* Schaffer

Ghost towns|

* Belfield
* Brookdale
* Fenton
* Flavius
* Hampton
* Hutton
* Lippard
* Olney
* Pioneer
* Ryan
* Saunders
* West Point

Townships|

* Alexander-Belle Prairie
* Banner
* Big Timber
* Center
* Garfield
* Hampton-Fairview
* Illinois
* La Crosse-Brookdale
* Lone Star
* Pioneer
* Pleasantdale
* Union

* Kansas portal
* United States portal

* v
* t
* e

State of Kansas

Topeka (capital)

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38°31′N 99°18′W﻿ / ﻿38.517°N 99.300°W﻿ / 38.517; -99.300
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