Republic County, Kansas

Republic County (standard abbreviation: RP) is a county located in the state of Kansas, south from the Nebraska state line. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 4,980.[1] The largest city, and the county seat, is Belleville.[2]

Republic County
County
Republic County Courthouse in Belleville (2010)
Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
Kansas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 39°57′34″N 97°25′28″W
Country United States
State Kansas
FoundedFebruary 27, 1860
Named forRepublican River
SeatBelleville
Largest cityBelleville
Area
 • Total720.31 sq mi (1,865.6 km2)
 • Land716.38 sq mi (1,855.4 km2)
 • Water3.93 sq mi (10.2 km2)  0.55%%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2018)
4,664
 • Density7.2/sq mi (2.8/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district1st
Websiterepubliccounty.org
June 24, 1947 flood of the Republican River on the border of Jewell County, Kansas and Republic County, Kansas near Hardy, Nebraska and Webber, Kansas, just south of Nebraska NE-8 on Kansas 1 Rd/CR-1 bridge over the Republican River. The normal flood stage for the river is at the tree line in the foreground.

History
1915 railroad map of Republic County

Early history
See also: History of Kansas

For millennia, the Great Plains of North America were inhabited by nomadic Native Americans. From the 16th to 18th centuries, the Kingdom of France claimed ownership of large parts of North America. In 1762, after the French and Indian War, France ceded New France to Spain, by the Treaty of Fontainebleau.

19th century

In 1802, Spain returned most of the land to France, keeping title to about 7,500 square miles. In 1803, the land that included modern day Kansas was acquired by the United States from France as part of the 828,000 square mile Louisiana Purchase.

Prior to the arrival of settlers of European ancestry, the area was inhabited by Indian tribes including the Pawnee, Iowa, and Otoe.[3] One should also consider that other nomadic Indian tribes pursuing the buffalo, including the Arapaho, Cheyenne, Comanche, Kansa, Kiowa, Osage, and Wichita, may have made the area their home at one time or another.[4]

In 1854, under the provisions of the Kansas–Nebraska Act, the Kansas Territory was organized. In 1860, Republic County was established by the Kansas legislature. And, in 1861, Kansas became the 34th U.S. state. The county is named for the Republican River, which enters at the northwestern corner of the county, flowing slightly east of south, and leaving the county about eight miles east of the southwest corner.[3]

Daniel and Conrad Myers were the first settlers of European ancestry, arriving in February 1861.[5] By 1868, Republic County was holding elections.[6] Daniel Myers was elected judge of the Probate court and Conrad Myers to a seat on the County commission. At the election in 1869, the permanent location of the county seat was voted on with the following result: Belleville 59 and New Scandinavia 42, with a couple of votes going to other locations.[7]

Following the Civil War and during the latter half of the 19th century, Belleville and the surrounding area became a destination for European immigrants, notably from Sweden and Bohemia (now Czech Republic).[8][9][10]

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 was renamed the BNSF Railway, although most locals still refer to this railroad as the "Santa Fe".

Geography

According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 720.31 square miles (1,865.6 km2), of which 716.38 square miles (1,855.4 km2) (or 99.45%) is land and 3.93 square miles (10.2 km2) (or 0.55%) is water.[11][12]

Adjacent counties

Demographics
Age pyramid
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18701,281—
188014,9131,064.2%
189019,00227.4%
190018,248−4.0%
191017,447−4.4%
192015,855−9.1%
193014,745−7.0%
194013,124−11.0%
195011,478−12.5%
19609,768−14.9%
19708,498−13.0%
19807,569−10.9%
19906,482−14.4%
20005,835−10.0%
20104,980−14.7%
Est. 20184,664[13]−6.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[14]
1790-1960[15] 1900-1990[16]
1990-2000[17] 2010-2016[1]

As of the census[18] of 2000, there were 5,835 people, 2,557 households, and 1,685 families residing in the county. The population density was 8 people per square mile (3/km²). There were 3,113 housing units at an average density of 4 per square mile (2/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.56% White, 0.26% Black or African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.33% from other races, and 0.46% from two or more races. 0.94% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 24.1% were of German, 13.6% Swedish, 12.4% Czech, 9.2% English, 9.0% Irish and 8.6% American ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 2,557 households out of which 25.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.80% were married couples living together, 4.80% had a woman householder with no husband present, and 34.10% were non-families. 31.80% 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 2.23 and the average family size was 2.80.

In the county, the population was spread out with 22.30% under the age of 18, 4.50% from 18 to 24, 22.10% from 25 to 44, 25.00% from 45 to 64, and 26.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 women there were 93.20 men. For every 100 women age 18 and over, there were 90.80 men.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,494, and the median income for a family was $39,215. Men had a median income of $25,260 versus $17,274 for women. The per capita income for the county was $17,433. About 6.00% of families and 9.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.40% of those under age 18 and 8.90% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Presidential elections
Presidential election results
Presidential election results[19]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2016 80.0% 2,024 14.8% 375 5.1% 130
2012 79.5% 2,134 17.8% 477 2.8% 75
2008 74.1% 1,978 24.0% 640 2.0% 53
2004 77.5% 2,238 21.0% 607 1.5% 44
2000 75.0% 2,239 20.2% 604 4.8% 142
1996 70.0% 2,283 21.1% 688 9.0% 292
1992 46.4% 1,767 24.7% 939 28.9% 1,100
1988 67.8% 2,346 30.9% 1,069 1.4% 47
1984 76.5% 3,009 22.6% 887 1.0% 38
1980 73.6% 3,031 20.6% 850 5.8% 239
1976 57.4% 2,294 40.5% 1,617 2.1% 83
1972 71.8% 2,921 26.0% 1,059 2.2% 88
1968 66.3% 2,841 27.7% 1,187 6.1% 260
1964 51.7% 2,414 47.5% 2,222 0.8% 38
1960 65.6% 3,358 33.7% 1,724 0.7% 35
1956 68.8% 3,621 30.6% 1,613 0.6% 32
1952 76.7% 4,573 22.8% 1,358 0.5% 30
1948 60.4% 3,375 37.8% 2,109 1.8% 102
1944 66.5% 3,802 33.1% 1,891 0.4% 22
1940 63.5% 4,450 35.9% 2,511 0.6% 42
1936 52.6% 3,830 47.1% 3,427 0.3% 23
1932 38.6% 2,655 59.6% 4,105 1.8% 127
1928 68.2% 4,324 30.9% 1,956 1.0% 61
1924 60.0% 3,671 26.4% 1,616 13.6% 835
1920 67.3% 3,661 30.7% 1,672 2.0% 107
1916 41.7% 2,882 55.0% 3,806 3.4% 232
1912 21.7% 895 44.1% 1,816 34.1% 1,405
1908 51.8% 2,156 45.8% 1,905 2.5% 102
1904 69.5% 2,658 24.6% 941 5.9% 225
1900 55.7% 2,499 42.9% 1,925 1.5% 65
1896 50.9% 2,033 47.9% 1,910 1.2% 49
1892 50.0% 2,167 50.0% 2,164
1888 63.8% 2,595 29.6% 1,205 6.6% 269

Republic County is overwhelmingly Republican. No Democratic presidential candidate has won the county, with the exception of Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1932 and Woodrow Wilson in 1912 and 1916. Since 1996, the Republican candidate has garnered seventy percent of the county's vote. The only Democrat since 1980 to exceed one quarter of the vote was Michael Dukakis in 1988.

Laws

Republic County was a prohibition ("dry") county until 1986, when the Kansas Constitution was amended, allowing the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with a 30 percent food sales requirement.[20]

Education

Unified school districts

Communities
2005 KDOT map of Republic County (map legend)

Incorporated cities

Unincorporated cities

Ghost town

Townships

Republic County is divided into twenty townships. The city of Belleville is considered governmentally independent and is 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.

Sources: 2000 U.S. Gazetteer from the U.S. Census Bureau.
TownshipFIPSPopulation
center		 PopulationPopulation
density
/km² (/sq mi)		 Land area
km² (sq mi)		Water area
km² (sq mi)		Water % Geographic coordinates
Albion009001742 (5)92 (36)0 (0)0.12%39°57′35″N 97°25′29″W
Beaver051501372 (4)91 (35)3 (1)3.04%39°42′17″N 97°51′59″W
Belleville056252313 (7)89 (34)0 (0)0.11%39°47′14″N 97°38′35″W
Big Bend065502423 (7)92 (35)1 (0)1.39%39°57′0″N 97°50′53″W
Courtland160504505 (12)94 (36)0 (0)0.06%39°46′56″N 97°52′51″W
Elk Creek202751752 (5)94 (36)0 (0)0.15%39°42′16″N 97°25′41″W
Fairview225751552 (4)94 (36)0 (0)0.49%39°52′50″N 97°31′54″W
Farmington23200811 (2)93 (36)0 (0)0.20%39°52′20″N 97°25′24″W
Freedom246751862 (5)90 (35)0 (0)0.28%39°51′31″N 97°38′26″W
Grant28050771 (2)95 (37)0 (0)0.15%39°42′5″N 97°32′31″W
Jefferson353251071 (3)95 (37)0 (0)0.05%39°47′29″N 97°32′33″W
Liberty40325521 (1)93 (36)0 (0)0.19%39°57′2″N 97°38′30″W
Lincoln410751031 (3)92 (36)0 (0)0.09%39°41′58″N 97°38′57″W
Norway515751632 (5)92 (36)1 (0)1.19%39°42′17″N 97°46′9″W
Richland595753183 (9)92 (36)0 (0)0.11%39°47′30″N 97°26′4″W
Rose Creek612001702 (5)94 (36)0 (0)0.44%39°57′27″N 97°32′13″W
Scandia633755416 (15)92 (36)1 (0)1.23%39°47′28″N 97°46′27″W
Union72300511 (1)93 (36)0 (0)0.18%39°52′0″N 97°46′5″W
Washington75700951 (3)93 (36)0 (0)0.24%39°57′57″N 97°45′14″W
White Rock77975881 (2)92 (36)1 (0)1.09%39°52′34″N 97°51′54″W

Notable people
Major League Baseball pitcher Larry Cheney

Arts and entertainment

Athletes

Clergy

Journalists

Medicine
  • C. M. Arbuthnot, early physician and pharmacist in the county[30]

Philanthropy

Politicians

Settlers
gollark: Yes, it is an obvious third amendment violation.
gollark: Fascinating.
gollark: Why would bots be made to randomly fetch links you send them?
gollark: How strange.
gollark: You have to pay to join sports teams? Weird.

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 28, 2014.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. Savage., I. O. (1901). Carolyn Ward, transcribed July 2006 (ed.). A history of Republic County, Kansas : embracing a full and complete account of all the leading events in its history, from its first settlement down to June 1, '01. Jones & Chubbic, Beloit, KS. p. 32.
  4. https://www.kshs.org/kansapedia/american-indians-in-kansas/17881
  5. Savage., I. O. (1901). Carolyn Ward, transcribed July 2006 (ed.). A history of Republic County, Kansas : embracing a full and complete account of all the leading events in its history, from its first settlement down to June 1, '01. Jones & Chubbic, Beloit, KS. p. 35.
  6. Savage., I. O. (1901). Carolyn Ward, transcribed July 2006 (ed.). A history of Republic County, Kansas : embracing a full and complete account of all the leading events in its history, from its first settlement down to June 1, '01. Jones & Chubbic, Beloit, KS. p. 115.
  7. Savage., I. O. (1901). Carolyn Ward, transcribed July 2006 (ed.). A history of Republic County, Kansas : embracing a full and complete account of all the leading events in its history, from its first settlement down to June 1, '01. Jones & Chubbic, Beloit, KS. p. 63.
  8. I. O. Savage, History of Republic County (1883), p. 68; New Scandinavia's Ninety-Three Years, 1868–1961 (Scandia, 1961), pp. 3-5.
  9. Nemcova, Bozena. "People of Czech Bohemian Descent in Republic County, Kansas." Master's thesis, University of Kansas, 1950. (Reel: LM 205).
  10. https://www.kshs.org/p/bohemians-czechs-and-moravians-to-kansas-a-bibliography/13535 |Kansas Historical Society, Bohemians, Czechs, Moravians Bibliography
  11. "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Counties". United States Census. Retrieved 2011-02-13.
  12. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  13. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved December 23, 2019.
  14. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 28, 2014.
  15. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 28, 2014.
  16. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 28, 2014.
  17. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 28, 2014.
  18. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  19. http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS
  20. "Map of Wet and Dry Counties". Alcoholic Beverage Control, Kansas Department of Revenue. November 2006. Archived from the original on 2007-10-08. Retrieved 2007-12-28.
  21. Greta Granstedt Biography on IMDb
  22. Harry A. Pollard on IMDb
  23. "Herb Bradley". Retrosheet.com. Retrieved March 25, 2012.
  24. "Tom Bushby". Pro Football Reference.com. Retrieved March 28, 2012.
  25. "Larry Cheney Stats". Baseball Almanac.com. Retrieved March 25, 2012.
  26. "KATS Hall of Fame". Kansas Athletic Trainers Society. Archived from the original on July 6, 2012. Retrieved September 14, 2012.
  27. "Tony Zuzzio". DatabaseFootball.com. Archived from the original on June 1, 2012. Retrieved March 28, 2012.
  28. "In memoriam: Allen Wikgren". The University of Chicago Chronicle. June 11, 1998. Retrieved March 27, 2012.
  29. Cutler, William (1883). "4". History of the State of Kansas. Chicago, Illinois: A. T. Andreas. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
  30. Cutler, William (1883). "3". History of the State of Kansas. Chicago, Illinois: A. T. Andreas.
  31. Savage, I. O. (1901). Carolyn Ward (Transcribed July 2006) (ed.). A history of Republic County, Kansas : embracing a full and complete account of all the leading events in its history, from its first settlement down to June 1, '01. Beloit, Kansas: Published by Jones & Chubbic. p. 11; 20. Retrieved March 25, 2012.
  32. Project Vote Smart - Rep. Aurand Biography
  33. "JOHNSON, Edwin Carl, (1884 - 1970)". United States Congress. Retrieved March 25, 2012.
  34. Former justice dies at age 85. Statesman Journal, November 1, 1985.
  35. "Kansas Legislators Past and Present > Saar to Scott". Kansas State Library. Retrieved March 25, 2012.
  36. Cutler, William (1883). "REPUBLIC COUNTY, Part 6: Scandia". History of the State of Kansas. Chicago, Illinois: A. T. Andreas. Retrieved April 3, 2012.
  37. Blackmar, Frank (1912). Kansas: a cyclopedia of state history, embracing events, institutions, industries, counties, cities, towns, prominent persons, etc. Chicago, Illinois: Standard Publishing Company. p. 907.
  38. "Lovewell Family Meets at Lovewell Lake". The Superior Express. June 7, 2007. Retrieved March 27, 2012.

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

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