Graham County, Kansas

Graham County, Kansas
County
Map of Kansas highlighting Graham County
Location in the U.S. state of Kansas
Map of the United States highlighting Kansas
Kansas's location in the U.S.
Founded February 26, 1887
Named for John L. Graham
Seat Hill City
Largest city Hill City
Area
 • Total 899 sq mi (2,328 km2)
 • Land 899 sq mi (2,328 km2)
 • Water 0.2 sq mi (1 km2), 0.03%
Population
 • (2010) 2,597
 • Density 2.9/sq mi (1/km²)
Congressional district 1st
Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5
Website GrahamCountyKS.com

Coordinates: 39°21′N 99°53′W / 39.350°N 99.883°W / 39.350; -99.883

Graham County (county code GH) is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 2,597.[1] Its county seat and most populous city is Hill City.[2] The county is home to Nicodemus, founded 1877, which is the only remaining western town established by African Americans during the Reconstruction Period following the American Civil War.

History

Early history

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

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. Graham County was organized in 1880.[3] In 1887, Graham County was established and named for Captain John L. Graham,[4] a Union soldier killed in action at the Battle of Chickamauga in Tennessee on September 19, 1863.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 899 square miles (2,330 km2), of which 899 square miles (2,330 km2) is land and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km2) (0.03%) is water.[5]

Graham County roughly contains 3600 quarter sections, and is the fourth county east of Colorado line and the second county south of the Nebraska line. The 100th meridian west passes nearly through its center. The average elevation in the county is 2,700 feet (820 m) above sea level. It is intersected by the south fork of Solomon River, and drained by Saline River.[6]

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18804,258—
18905,02918.1%
19005,1732.9%
19108,70068.2%
19207,624−12.4%
19307,7721.9%
19406,071−21.9%
19505,020−17.3%
19605,58611.3%
19704,751−14.9%
19803,995−15.9%
19903,543−11.3%
20002,946−16.9%
20102,597−11.8%
Est. 20152,591[7]−0.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010-2013[1]
Population pyramid

As of the U.S. Census in 2000,[12] there were 2,946 people, 1,263 households, and 847 families residing in the county. The population density was 3 people per square mile (1/km²). There were 1,553 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile (1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 94.91% White, 3.22% Black or African American, 0.34% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.41% from other races, and 0.81% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.78% of the population.

There were 1,263 households out of which 27.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.50% were married couples living together, 5.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.90% were non-families. 30.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.70% 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 2.84.

In the county the population was spread out with 22.50% under the age of 18, 5.30% from 18 to 24, 23.10% from 25 to 44, 25.40% from 45 to 64, and 23.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 95.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,286, and the median income for a family was $38,036. Males had a median income of $26,642 versus $18,222 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,050. About 8.60% of families and 11.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.60% of those under age 18 and 10.40% of those age 65 or over.

Law and government

Following amendment to the Kansas Constitution in 1986, Graham County remained a prohibition, or "dry", county until 1992, when voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink without a food sales requirement.[13]

Education

Unified school districts

Communities

2005 KDOT Map of Graham County (map legend)

Cities

Unincorporated communities

Ghost towns

Townships

Graham County is divided into thirteen 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.

Township FIPS Population
center		 Population Population
density
/km² (/sq mi)		 Land area
km² (sq mi) 		Water area
km² (sq mi) 		Water % Geographic coordinates
Allodium 01325 46 0 (1) 175 (67) 0 (0) 0.06% 39°29′23″N 100°4′42″W / 39.48972°N 100.07833°W / 39.48972; -100.07833
Bryant 08850 115 0 (1) 233 (90) 0 (0) 0.04% 39°11′22″N 100°5′7″W / 39.18944°N 100.08528°W / 39.18944; -100.08528
Gettysburg 26175 83 0 (1) 227 (88) 0 (0) 0.04% 39°23′11″N 100°1′50″W / 39.38639°N 100.03056°W / 39.38639; -100.03056
Graham 27175 53 0 (1) 186 (72) 0 (0) 0.02% 39°31′3″N 99°47′51″W / 39.51750°N 99.79750°W / 39.51750; -99.79750
Happy 29950 72 0 (1) 233 (90) 0 (0) 0.05% 39°12′17″N 99°53′7″W / 39.20472°N 99.88528°W / 39.20472; -99.88528
Hill City 32200 Hill City 1,747 16 (41) 112 (43) 0 (0) 0.15% 39°22′17″N 99°50′29″W / 39.37139°N 99.84139°W / 39.37139; -99.84139
Indiana 34000 42 0 (1) 174 (67) 0 (0) 0.01% 39°29′28″N 99°57′59″W / 39.49111°N 99.96639°W / 39.49111; -99.96639
Millbrook 46625 150 1 (2) 159 (62) 0 (0) 0.04% 39°19′1″N 99°55′2″W / 39.31694°N 99.91722°W / 39.31694; -99.91722
Morland 48250 68 0 (1) 286 (111) 0 (0) 0.05% 39°13′46″N 99°41′15″W / 39.22944°N 99.68750°W / 39.22944; -99.68750
Nicodemus 50575 52 1 (2) 84 (32) 0 (0) 0.03% 39°24′40″N 99°38′55″W / 39.41111°N 99.64861°W / 39.41111; -99.64861
Pioneer 55900 57 0 (1) 161 (62) 0 (0) 0.02% 39°31′1″N 99°40′2″W / 39.51694°N 99.66722°W / 39.51694; -99.66722
Solomon 66300 Morland 209 1 (3) 159 (61) 0 (0) 0.01% 39°18′57″N 100°4′44″W / 39.31583°N 100.07889°W / 39.31583; -100.07889
Wildhorse 79225 Bogue 252 2 (5) 137 (53) 0 (0) 0.06% 39°20′45″N 99°40′13″W / 39.34583°N 99.67028°W / 39.34583; -99.67028
Sources: "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files". U.S. Census Bureau, Geography Division. 

In art

Noted regional artist Birger Sandzén frequently painted landscapes in Graham County, where his wife's parents moved in 1906.[15] Examples include Still Water currently profiled in the collection at Kansas State University's Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art which depicts Wild Horse Creek in the county.[15]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ↑ Blackmar, Frank Wilson (1912). Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, Embracing Events, Institutions, Industries, Counties, Cities, Towns, Prominent Persons, Etc. Standard Publishing Company. p. 771.
  4. ↑ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 140.
  5. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  6. ↑  Ripley, George; Dana, Charles A., eds. (1879). "Graham. II. A N. W. unsettled county of Kansas". The American Cyclopædia.
  7. ↑ "County Totals Dataset: Population, Population Change and Estimated Components of Population Change: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  8. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  12. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  13. ↑ "Map of Wet and Dry Counties". Alcoholic Beverage Control, Kansas Department of Revenue. November 2006. Retrieved 2007-12-28.
  14. ↑ "Meeting Minutes". Kansas State Board of Education. December 12, 2001. Retrieved 2007-05-29.
  15. 1 2 North, 24-27

Works cited

Further reading

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