Cowley County, Kansas

Cowley County (county code CL) is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 36,311.[1] Its county seat is Winfield,[2] and its most populous city is Arkansas City.

Cowley County
County
Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
Kansas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates:
Country United States
State Kansas
FoundedFebruary 26, 1867
Named forMatthew R. Cowley
SeatWinfield
Largest cityArkansas City
Area
 • Total1,132 sq mi (2,930 km2)
 • Land1,126 sq mi (2,920 km2)
 • Water6.7 sq mi (17 km2)  0.6%%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2018)
35,218
 • Density32/sq mi (12/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Area code620
Congressional district4th
Websitecowleycounty.org

History

19th century

For millennia, the land now known as Kansas was inhabited by Native Americans. It was visited by the explorer DeSoto in 1537,[3] In 1803, most of modern Kansas was secured by the United States as part of the Louisiana Purchase. In 1854, the Kansas Territory was organized, then in 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state.

Cowley County was officially organized as a county, but reserved for the Osage Indians, by the Kansas Legislature in March 1867, originally named Hunter County for Robert Mercer Taliaferro Hunter (1809–1887), a Virginia Representative and Senator to Congress and Speaker of the House in the twenty-sixth Congress. In 1870, the county was renamed for Matthew Cowley, First Lieutenant in Company I, 9th Kansas Cavalry, who died at Little Rock, Arkansas, on October 7, 1864. Officially opened for settlement July 15, 1870, there was a lengthy and bitter disagreement between the towns of Winfield and Cresswell (the town now named Arkansas City) over the possession of the county seat of government. Finally settled after two special elections and numerous petitions to the Governor and Legislature, Winfield was determined to be the county seat and a courthouse was constructed in 1873 at a cost of $11,500.[4]

21st century

In 2010, the Keystone-Cushing Pipeline (Phase II) was constructed north to south through Cowley County. Controversy arose from the Kansas legislature's decision to grant the pipeline a ten-year exemption from property taxes; it was estimated that this would mean $15 million per year in lost revenue to the six counties through which the pipeline passed. The counties were unsuccessful in an attempt to eliminate the exemption.[5][6][7][8]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,132 square miles (2,930 km2), of which 1,126 square miles (2,920 km2) is land and 6.7 square miles (17 km2) (0.6%) is water.[9]

Adjacent counties

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1860158—
18701,175643.7%
188021,5381,733.0%
189034,47860.1%
190030,156−12.5%
191031,7905.4%
192035,15510.6%
193040,90316.4%
194038,139−6.8%
195036,905−3.2%
196037,8612.6%
197035,012−7.5%
198036,8245.2%
199036,9150.2%
200036,291−1.7%
201036,3110.1%
Est. 201835,218[10]−3.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]
1790-1960[12] 1900-1990[13]
1990-2000[14] 2010-2016[1]
Population pyramid

Cowley County comprises the Arkansas City-Winfield, KS Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Wichita-Arkansas City-Winfield, KS Combined Statistical Area.

As of the U.S. Census in 2000,[15] there were 36,291 people, 14,039 households, and 9,616 families residing in the county. The population density was 32 people per square mile (12/km2). There were 15,673 housing units at an average density of 14 per square mile (5/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 90.13% White, 2.70% Black or African American, 1.96% Native American, 1.53% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.36% from other races, and 2.30% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.59% of the population.

There were 14,039 households, out of which 32.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.20% were married couples living together, 9.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.50% were non-families. 27.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.00% under the age of 18, 9.90% from 18 to 24, 26.00% from 25 to 44, 22.20% from 45 to 64, and 15.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,406, and the median income for a family was $43,636. Males had a median income of $31,703 versus $21,341 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,509. About 9.20% of families and 12.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.00% of those under age 18 and 11.20% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Presidential elections
Presidential Elections Results
Presidential Elections Results[16]
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2016 65.5% 8,270 28.1% 3,551 6.3% 800
2012 63.6% 8,081 34.0% 4,319 2.4% 310
2008 61.6% 8,492 36.4% 5,012 2.1% 283
2004 65.1% 9,407 33.4% 4,818 1.5% 222
2000 56.9% 8,080 39.0% 5,535 4.2% 595
1996 50.8% 7,872 36.1% 5,588 13.2% 2,039
1992 34.4% 5,422 34.2% 5,405 31.4% 4,957
1988 54.4% 7,778 43.3% 6,186 2.3% 322
1984 65.0% 10,008 33.7% 5,193 1.3% 198
1980 57.1% 8,749 35.8% 5,474 7.1% 1,089
1976 50.3% 7,513 47.5% 7,095 2.2% 323
1972 70.5% 10,332 24.5% 3,592 5.0% 729
1968 54.3% 8,070 33.7% 5,014 12.0% 1,777
1964 47.9% 7,092 51.3% 7,591 0.8% 114
1960 62.0% 10,276 37.4% 6,205 0.6% 99
1956 63.9% 6,734 35.6% 3,753 0.4% 46
1952 68.1% 11,454 31.2% 5,242 0.7% 116
1948 52.1% 8,102 45.3% 7,042 2.6% 397
1944 55.9% 8,453 43.5% 6,577 0.6% 90
1940 54.0% 9,684 45.3% 8,115 0.8% 136
1936 43.5% 8,378 56.1% 10,805 0.4% 72
1932 44.7% 7,657 50.7% 8,681 4.6% 788
1928 80.8% 12,701 17.9% 2,818 1.3% 202
1924 58.5% 8,529 21.7% 3,161 19.8% 2,887
1920 59.2% 7,352 38.1% 4,733 2.7% 329
1916 43.9% 5,297 49.4% 5,962 6.8% 816
1912 15.8% 1,113 35.9% 2,539 48.3% 3,414[lower-alpha 1]
1908 42.4% 2,578 49.3% 2,995 8.3% 505
1904 61.3% 3,961 22.5% 1,456 16.1% 1,042
1900 50.5% 3,679 47.1% 3,436 2.4% 174
1896 45.1% 2,871 53.6% 3,410 1.2% 79
1892 49.1% 3,886 50.9% 4,023[lower-alpha 2]
1888 53.4% 4,112 25.1% 1,933 21.5% 1,654

Laws

Following amendment to the Kansas Constitution in 1986, the county remained a prohibition, or "dry", county until 1996, when voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink without a food sales requirement.[17]

Education

Unified school districts

Colleges

Communities
2005 KDOT Map of Cowley County (map legend)

Cities

Unincorporated communities

Townships

Cowley County is divided into twenty-five townships. The cities of Arkansas City and Winfield are considered governmentally independent and are 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.

TownshipFIPSPopulation
center		 PopulationPopulation
density
/km2 (/sq mi)		 Land area
km2 (sq mi)		Water area
km2 (sq mi)		Water % Geographic coordinates
Beaver050252443 (7)92 (36)2 (1)1.91%37°10′42″N 97°5′26″W
Bolton078751,75413 (33)136 (53)2 (1)1.59%37°3′1″N 97°4′0″W
Cedar11250440 (1)119 (46)1 (0)0.45%37°5′9″N 96°36′27″W
Creswell163752,09822 (56)97 (38)2 (1)2.07%37°4′42″N 97°1′3″W
Dexter179505063 (7)185 (71)0 (0)0.19%37°11′56″N 96°42′27″W
Fairview224752032 (6)93 (36)0 (0)0.29%37°21′22″N 96°58′50″W
Grant27550761 (2)116 (45)0 (0)0.09%37°3′49″N 96°41′3″W
Harvey305251171 (2)162 (63)0 (0)0.24%37°26′47″N 96°37′58″W
Liberty399502182 (5)124 (48)0 (0)0.02%37°9′3″N 96°50′31″W
Maple444507028 (20)91 (35)0 (0)0%37°25′59″N 97°6′7″W
Ninnescah506251,11412 (31)93 (36)0 (0)0.09%37°21′59″N 97°6′21″W
Omnia528503574 (10)93 (36)0 (0)0.22%37°26′13″N 96°46′25″W
Otter53625540 (1)135 (52)1 (0)0.68%37°11′25″N 96°33′0″W
Pleasant Valley565008387 (18)117 (45)0 (0)0.05%37°9′45″N 97°0′0″W
Richland592751782 (4)108 (42)0 (0)0%37°25′33″N 96°52′50″W
Rock Creek605252433 (7)92 (35)1 (0)0.55%37°26′5″N 96°59′25″W
Salem626253645 (14)66 (26)0 (0)0.27%37°20′9″N 96°53′20″W
Sheridan646501592 (4)93 (36)0 (0)0.01%37°15′44″N 96°45′51″W
Silver Creek655007708 (21)93 (36)0 (0)0.27%37°20′8″N 96°45′41″W
Silverdale655753272 (6)136 (53)0 (0)0.31%37°3′55″N 96°52′56″W
Spring Creek67400771 (2)115 (45)0 (0)0.26%37°4′31″N 96°47′10″W
Tisdale707253404 (11)78 (30)0 (0)0.13%37°16′6″N 96°52′25″W
Vernon735755025 (13)102 (39)1 (0)0.67%37°15′25″N 97°5′18″W
Walnut749256267 (18)89 (34)0 (0)0.18%37°15′17″N 96°57′27″W
Windsor798752111 (2)243 (94)0 (0)0.18%37°19′13″N 96°38′22″W
Sources: "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files". U.S. Census Bureau, Geography Division. Archived from the original on 2002-08-02.

Notable people
See List of people from Cowley County, Kansas

General Dean Coldwell Strother was a United States Air Force four-star general who served as U.S. Military Representative, NATO Military Committee (USMILREP), from 1962 to 1965; and as Commander in Chief, North American Air Defense Command/Commander in Chief, Continental Air Defense Command (CINCNORAD/CINCONAD), from 1965 to 1966.

Robert Docking was a successful banker and mayor of Arkansas City before he became the 38th Governor of Kansas.

Several college football head coaches have passed through Winfield that have gone on to become widely recognized. Jerry Kill is the current head coach for the Minnesota Golden Gophers—he played for the Southwestern Moundbuilders under Dennis Franchione when he was head coach. Jack Mitchell went on to coach several schools including the Kansas Jayhawks. Former head coach and for the Oklahoma Sooners and College Football Hall of Fame member Bennie Owen was born in Arkansas City.

Perhaps the most famous resident of Cowley County is the fictional character Mary Ann Summers from the television show Gilligan's Island. It is said on the show that she is "employed at the Winfield General Store."

gollark: I suppose it *is* hard to construct microprocessors, given the tolerances and stuff, but it could rent a VPS somewhere.
gollark: Why'd it still run on my server if it has magic robots which could construct another?
gollark: ... wait, but it might know that I probably won't, because I'm very lazy...
gollark: I can go check the server now for any extra noise prevention.
gollark: But it records *graphs* of CPU usage! Graphs! Also, I could hear the fans from this room if it was in jet engine mode.

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 9, 2011. Retrieved July 22, 2014.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. D. A. Millington and E. P. Greer, ”History of Cowley County Kansas”., Winfield Courier, January 1, 1901 Supplement
  4. "William G. Cutler's, History of the State of Kansas". A. T. Andreas Press, 1883.
  5. Davis, Dakotah. "Commissioners green light pipeline, sort of". Archived 2016-06-03 at the Wayback Machine NewsCow.net. Archived 2016-05-03 at the Wayback Machine May 19, 2010. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  6. "Counties to seek denial of pipeline tax exemption". Clay Center Dispatch. November 5, 2009. Archived December 16, 2009.
  7. "Court upholds pipeline tax exemption". Topeka Capital-Journal. May 18, 2012. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  8. Milburn, John. "Kansas appeals court upholds Keystone pipeline tax ruling". Kansas City Star. April 26, 2013. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  9. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  10. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved December 20, 2019.
  11. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 22, 2014.
  12. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 22, 2014.
  13. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 22, 2014.
  14. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 22, 2014.
  15. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  16. http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS
  17. "Map of Wet and Dry Counties". Alcoholic Beverage Control, Kansas Department of Revenue. November 2006. Archived from the original on February 19, 2008. Retrieved December 28, 2007.
Notes
  1. These comprised 2,594 votes for Progressive Theodore Roosevelt (who carried the county) and 820 for Socialist Eugene V. Debs.
  2. 3,896 of these votes were for Populist James B. Weaver (who was supported by the state’s Democrats) and 127 for Prohibition Party candidate John Bidwell.

Further reading
See also: List of books about State of Kansas (which includes historical information about its counties and cities too)
County
Historical
Maps
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