Chase County, Kansas

Chase County (county code CS) is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 2,790.[1] Its county seat and most populous city is Cottonwood Falls.[2] The center of population of Kansas is located in Chase County, about four miles north of Strong City.

Not to be confused with Chase, Kansas.
Chase County
County
Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
Kansas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates:
Country United States
State Kansas
FoundedFebruary 11, 1859
Named forSalmon P. Chase
SeatCottonwood Falls
Largest cityCottonwood Falls
Area
 • Total778 sq mi (2,020 km2)
 • Land773 sq mi (2,000 km2)
 • Water4.7 sq mi (12 km2)  0.6%%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2018)
2,629
 • Density3.6/sq mi (1.4/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Area code620
Congressional district1st
Websitechasecountyks.com

History

Early history
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. 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 1848, after the Mexican–American War, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo with Spain brought into the United States all or part of land for ten future states, including southwest Kansas. In 1854, the Kansas Territory was organized, then in 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state.

19th century

In 1806, Zebulon Pike led the Pike Expedition westward from St Louis, Missouri, of which part of their journey followed the Cottonwood River through modern Chase County.[3]

In 1859, Chase County was established within the Kansas Territory.

In 1871, the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway extended a main line from Emporia to Newton.[4] In 1887, Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway built a branch line from Neva (3 miles west of Strong City) to Superior, Nebraska. This branch line connected Strong City, Neva, Rockland, Diamond Springs, Burdick, Lost Springs, Jacobs, Hope, Navarre, Enterprise, Abilene, Talmage, Manchester, Longford, Oak Hill, Miltonvale, Aurora, Huscher, Concordia, Kackley, Courtland, Webber, Superior. At some point, the line from Neva to Lost Springs was pulled but the right of way has not been abandoned. This branch line was originally called "Strong City and Superior line" but later the name was shortened to the "Strong City line". In 1996, the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway merged with Burlington Northern Railroad and renamed to the current BNSF Railway.

The south-western border one mile "notch" into Marion County was established under unusual circumstances. A murder had occurred and Marion County didn't want to have the trial, so a section one mile wide and eighteen miles long was ceded to Chase County to ensure the murder had occurred there.[5] The one mile strip of land remains in Chase County to this day.

20th century

In 1931, Notre Dame coach Knute Rockne died in a plane crash a few miles southwest of Bazaar, in Chase County, Kansas.

In 1996, the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve was established in the county.

The county has been the subject of a book, PrairyErth (A Deep Map) by William Least Heat-Moon.

Historical markers
  • Landmark of Distinction - The Chase County Courthouse.[6]
  • Chase County and The Bluestem Pasture Region of Kansas.[7]
  • The Bluestem Pasture Region of Kansas.[8]
  • W. B. Strong Memorial Railroad Park.[9]

Historical maps
  • 1891 Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway route map from Grain Dealers and Shippers Gazetteer.
  • 1893 Railroad Map.
  • 1900-1905 Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway route map of regular stops
  • 1914 railroad map.
  • 2000 Kansas population map.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 778 square miles (2,020 km2), of which 773 square miles (2,000 km2) is land and 4.7 square miles (12 km2) (0.6%) is water.[10]

Chase County is centrally located in the eastern half of the state in the Flint Hills geologic region. It's located in the Neosho River drainage basin.[11]

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Major highways

Sources: National Atlas,[12] U.S. Census Bureau[13]

  • Interstate 35 All of I-35 in Chase County is part of the Kansas Turnpike and inaccessible to the general public from within the county. The closest access points are via U.S. Route 50 in Emporia or Kansas Highway 177 in Cassoday. There is a private interchange located southeast of Bazaar for loading cattle. The overpass names the interchange the "Bazaar Cattle Crossing."[14]
  • U.S. Route 50
  • K-150
  • K-177

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18601,046—
18701,97588.8%
18806,081207.9%
18908,23335.4%
19008,2460.2%
19107,527−8.7%
19207,144−5.1%
19306,952−2.7%
19406,345−8.7%
19504,831−23.9%
19603,921−18.8%
19703,408−13.1%
19803,309−2.9%
19903,021−8.7%
20003,0300.3%
20102,790−7.9%
Est. 20182,629[15]−5.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[16]
1790-1960[17] 1900-1990[18]
1990-2000[19] 2010-2016[1]
Population pyramid

As of the 2000 census,[20] there were 3,030 people, 1,246 households, and 817 families residing in the county. The population density was 4 people per square mile (2/km2). There were 1,529 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile (1/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 96.90% White, 1.02% Black or African American, 0.56% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 0.56% from other races, and 0.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.75% of the population.

There were 1,246 households, out of which 28.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.60% were married couples living together, 7.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.40% were non-families. 31.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.10% under the age of 18, 6.50% from 18 to 24, 26.60% from 25 to 44, 24.10% from 45 to 64, and 18.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,656, and the median income for a family was $39,848. Males had a median income of $27,402 versus $21,528 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,422. About 4.10% of families and 8.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.00% of those under age 18 and 6.30% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Presidential elections

Chase County Is a Republican Stronghold. The Last democrat to carry this county was Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1936.

Presidential Elections Results
Presidential Elections Results[21]
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2016 70.8% 969 23.1% 316 6.1% 84
2012 68.8% 875 28.2% 358 3.0% 38
2008 70.5% 976 27.7% 383 1.8% 25
2004 70.3% 1,055 27.9% 418 1.9% 28
2000 64.4% 848 29.7% 391 5.9% 78
1996 50.2% 778 32.0% 496 17.8% 276
1992 36.2% 610 27.9% 470 35.9% 605
1988 60.6% 884 36.9% 538 2.5% 36
1984 74.0% 1,162 25.0% 393 1.0% 15
1980 66.9% 1,073 25.8% 413 7.3% 117
1976 57.6% 922 40.2% 643 2.3% 36
1972 76.0% 1,184 20.2% 315 3.7% 58
1968 62.6% 1,038 27.9% 462 9.5% 158
1964 50.3% 902 49.4% 886 0.3% 5
1960 64.1% 1,276 35.5% 708 0.4% 8
1956 74.5% 1,553 25.4% 529 0.2% 4
1952 77.8% 1,815 22.0% 513 0.3% 6
1948 58.9% 1,432 39.6% 961 1.5% 37
1944 60.0% 1,510 39.7% 998 0.4% 9
1940 57.8% 1,871 41.5% 1,344 0.7% 23
1936 48.4% 1,610 51.3% 1,706 0.3% 9
1932 46.0% 1,485 52.7% 1,703 1.3% 43
1928 72.8% 2,079 25.9% 739 1.3% 38
1924 62.6% 1,822 26.1% 758 11.3% 330
1920 63.2% 1,659 34.4% 904 2.4% 64
1916 44.1% 1,356 51.6% 1,584 4.3% 132
1912 25.4% 476 43.4% 812 31.2% 585
1908 53.0% 1,021 43.3% 834 3.6% 70
1904 64.4% 1,217 29.7% 562 5.9% 111
1900 52.5% 1,084 46.3% 956 1.2% 25
1896 44.7% 812 54.1% 981 1.2% 22
1892 47.4% 891 52.7% 990
1888 54.1% 1,126 28.5% 593 17.4% 362

Laws

Following amendment to the Kansas Constitution in 1986, the county remained a prohibition, or "dry", county until 1988, when voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with a 30% food sales requirement.[22]

Education

Unified school districts
District Office In Neighboring County

Communities
2005 KDOT Map of Chase County (map legend)

Cities

Unincorporated places

Ghost towns

Townships

Chase County is divided into nine 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.

TownshipFIPSPopulation
center		 PopulationPopulation
density
/km2 (/sq mi)		 Land area
km2 (sq mi)		Water area
km2 (sq mi)		Water % Geographic coordinates
Bazaar04700810 (1)293 (113)0 (0)0.17%38°15′55″N 96°32′3″W
Cedar112251161 (2)142 (55)0 (0)0.22%38°8′54″N 96°46′30″W
Cottonwood158751841 (2)209 (81)0 (0)0.23%38°17′23″N 96°45′44″W
Diamond Creek179752371 (2)373 (144)1 (0)0.24%38°25′31″N 96°40′35″W
Falls22850Cottonwood Falls1,1639 (23)131 (51)1 (0)0.42%38°21′55″N 96°32′27″W
Homestead32950520 (1)141 (54)0 (0)0.27%38°10′56″N 96°42′14″W
Matfield451251550 (1)316 (122)1 (0)0.29%38°8′59″N 96°30′56″W
Strong68600Strong City7404 (11)172 (67)0 (0)0.24%38°24′20″N 96°32′18″W
Toledo707753021 (3)233 (90)1 (0)0.44%38°24′49″N 96°23′50″W
Sources: "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files". U.S. Census Bureau, Geography Division. Archived from the original on 2002-08-02.

Made famous by William Least Heat-Moon's epic book PrairyErth: A Deep Map (1991).

NRHP sites

The following sites in Chase County are listed on the National Register of Historic Places:

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gollark: On my *headless* Raspberry Pi.
gollark: Apparently the GPU acquired 76MB of memory for no apparent reason.

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 8, 2011. Retrieved July 22, 2014.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. "1806 Pike Expedition map through Marion County" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-03-17. Retrieved 2012-05-31.
  4. Santa Fe Rail History
  5. Kansas State Historical Society - Marion County
  6. A Landmark of Distinction - The Chase County Courthouse; Historical Marker; Blue Skyways (archived).
  7. Chase County & The Bluestem Pasture Region of Kansas; Historical Marker; Blue Skyways (archived).
  8. The Bluestem Pasture Region of Kansas; Historical Marker; Blue Skyways (archived).
  9. W. B. Strong Memorial Railroad Park; Historical Marker; Blue Skyways (archived).
  10. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  11.  Ripley, George; Dana, Charles A., eds. (1879). "Chase" . The American Cyclopædia.
  12. National Atlas Archived December 5, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  13. "U.S. Census Bureau TIGER shape files". Archived from the original on 2017-05-23. Retrieved 2017-12-05.
  14. Google Maps Street View
  15. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved December 23, 2019.
  16. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 22, 2014.
  17. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 22, 2014.
  18. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 22, 2014.
  19. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 22, 2014.
  20. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  21. http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS
  22. "Map of Wet and Dry Counties". Alcoholic Beverage Control, Kansas Department of Revenue. November 2006. Archived from the original on 2007-10-08. Retrieved 2007-12-26.

Further reading
See also: List of books about State of Kansas (which includes historical information about its counties and cities too)
  • William Least Heat-Moon. PrairyErth (A Deep Map). Mariner Books; Reissue edition (February 15, 1999). ISBN 9780395925690.
  • Chase County - Its Past, Present, and Future; Chase County Leader; May 28, 1914.
  • Plat Book of Chase County, Kansas; North West Publishing Co; 39 pages; 1901.
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