Ellsworth County, Kansas

Ellsworth County (county code EW) is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 6,497.[1] Its county seat and most populous city is Ellsworth.[2]

Ellsworth County
County
Ellsworth County Courthouse in Ellsworth (2013)
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 forFort Ellsworth
SeatEllsworth
Largest cityEllsworth
Area
 • Total723 sq mi (1,870 km2)
 • Land716 sq mi (1,850 km2)
 • Water7.4 sq mi (19 km2)  1.0%%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2018)
6,196
 • Density9.1/sq mi (3.5/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Area code785
Congressional district1st
Websiteellsworthcounty.org

History
1915-1918 Railroad Map of Ellsworth County

Early history
See also: History of Kansas

From the 16th century to 18th century, the Kingdom of France claimed ownership of large parts of North America both east and west of the Mississippi River. In 1762, after losing the French and Indian War to Great Britain, France secretly ceded New France to Spain, per the Treaty of Fontainebleau. In 1763 France ceded its territories east of the Mississippi River to Great Britain.

It regained the western territory under Napoleon, who sold it in 1803 to the United States in the Louisiana Purchase. He had decided to get rid of the New World territories after failing to regain control of Saint-Domingue, where a slave rebellion had toppled colonial control. In 1804 Haiti declared independence as the second republic of the Western Hemisphere.

The Plains Indians retained control of much of their territory until the late 19th century, giving way finally before superior United States arms and technology. Their territories were invaded by settlers, and crossed by the development of improved routes for settlers' emigrant wagon trains to the West Coast, followed by more permanent construction of transcontinental railroads. These brought tens of thousands of settlers to the Plains.

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; and in 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state. Ellsworth County was established February 26, 1867. The county was named after the old Fort Ellsworth, named in honor of 2nd Lieutenant Allen Ellsworth of the 7th Iowa Cavalry (Company H), who supervised construction of the fort in 1864 during the American Civil War.[3] On November 17, 1866, the fort was renamed Fort Harker in honor of General Charles Garrison Harker who had died on June 27, 1864, from wounds received in an abortive offensive action in the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain. The fort was subsequently moved to a new site about one mile to the northeast, and the old fort's remaining buildings were ordered torn down in June 1867.

On March 22, 1869, Fourteen Pawnee Indians, including scouts who had been honorably discharged after working for the army, were traveling through Ellsworth County when they ran into U.S. cavalry troops. Though the Pawnees had discharge papers from the army, a fight ensued. The Indians retreated to a sandstone cave, known today as Palmer's Cave. Their attackers set fire to grass at the cave's entrance, and six to nine Pawnees were killed as they ran out. The others died from exposure without their possessions. A few days later, the post surgeon at nearby Fort Harker, in today's town of Kanopolis, removed six heads from their bodies, and shipped them to the Army Medical Museum in Washington, D.C., for cranial study.[4][5]

In the later 19th century, this area became known for cattle ranching and cattle drives. Town life was often riotous with cowboys celebrating after long drives.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 723 square miles (1,870 km2), of which 716 square miles (1,850 km2) is land and 7.4 square miles (19 km2) (1.0%) is water.[6] It is intersected by the Smoky Hill River.[7]

Adjacent counties

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18701,185—
18808,494616.8%
18909,2729.2%
19009,6263.8%
191010,4448.5%
192010,379−0.6%
193010,132−2.4%
19409,855−2.7%
19508,465−14.1%
19607,677−9.3%
19706,146−19.9%
19806,6408.0%
19906,586−0.8%
20006,525−0.9%
20106,497−0.4%
Est. 20186,196[8]−4.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11]
1990-2000[12] 2010-2016[1]
Population pyramid

As of the 2000 census,[13] there were 6,525 people, 2,481 households, and 1,639 families residing in the county. The population density was 9 people per square mile (4/km2). There were 3,228 housing units at an average density of 4 per square mile (2/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 93.67% White, 3.56% Black or African American, 0.48% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.86% from other races, and 1.18% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.59% of the population.

There were 2,481 households, out of which 27.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.20% were married couples living together, 6.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.90% were non-families. 31.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.88.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 21.40% under the age of 18, 7.30% from 18 to 24, 27.10% from 25 to 44, 23.80% from 45 to 64, and 20.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 111.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 114.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,772, and the median income for a family was $44,360. Males had a median income of $30,110 versus $20,486 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,569. About 4.00% of families and 7.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.50% of those under age 18 and 11.10% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Presidential elections
Presidential Elections Results
Presidential Elections Results[14]
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2016 73.5% 1,969 19.5% 521 7.1% 189
2012 71.2% 1,930 25.9% 702 3.0% 80
2008 68.8% 2,021 29.0% 851 2.3% 66
2004 72.8% 2,259 25.8% 801 1.4% 42
2000 65.0% 1,845 29.1% 825 6.0% 169
1996 64.1% 2,078 27.8% 899 8.1% 263
1992 37.0% 1,197 31.2% 1,010 31.9% 1,032
1988 57.0% 1,711 40.6% 1,219 2.3% 70
1984 71.4% 2,353 27.4% 905 1.2% 40
1980 65.9% 2,155 27.1% 886 7.0% 229
1976 49.9% 1,618 48.5% 1,573 1.7% 55
1972 65.2% 2,087 32.1% 1,028 2.7% 86
1968 57.5% 1,776 34.3% 1,060 8.1% 251
1964 39.8% 1,406 59.9% 2,118 0.4% 13
1960 59.4% 2,189 40.4% 1,488 0.3% 10
1956 64.9% 2,524 34.7% 1,351 0.4% 14
1952 74.7% 3,219 24.8% 1,068 0.6% 24
1948 52.8% 2,155 46.1% 1,879 1.1% 45
1944 57.6% 2,290 42.2% 1,678 0.2% 6
1940 54.1% 2,658 45.6% 2,237 0.3% 15
1936 40.7% 2,058 59.2% 2,990 0.1% 7
1932 35.0% 1,607 63.7% 2,928 1.4% 63
1928 60.2% 2,450 39.0% 1,588 0.7% 30
1924 58.8% 2,286 24.4% 950 16.8% 654
1920 65.6% 2,264 31.6% 1,090 2.8% 97
1916 48.3% 1,945 48.1% 1,936 3.6% 143
1912 15.3% 353 45.4% 1,045 39.3% 905
1908 53.0% 1,213 45.4% 1,039 1.7% 39
1904 68.4% 1,359 29.1% 578 2.5% 49
1900 56.7% 1,333 42.8% 1,006 0.6% 13
1896 50.9% 1,048 48.2% 992 0.9% 18
1892 49.8% 1,102 50.2% 1,111[lower-alpha 1]
1888 56.5% 1,159 40.5% 831 3.0% 61

Laws

Ellsworth County was a prohibition, or "dry", county until the Kansas Constitution was amended in 1986. Voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink, with a 30% food sales requirement.[15]

Education

Unified school districts

Communities
2005 KDOT Map of Ellsworth County (map legend)

Cities

Unincorporated communities

Ghost towns

Townships

Ellsworth County is divided into nineteen townships. The city of Ellsworth 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.

TownshipFIPSPopulation
center		 PopulationPopulation
density
/km2 (/sq mi)		 Land area
km2 (sq mi)		Water area
km2 (sq mi)		Water % Geographic coordinates
Ash Creek02575581 (2)93 (36)0 (0)0.51%38°39′17″N 98°12′47″W
Black Wolf07025871 (2)94 (36)0 (0)0.10%38°44′40″N 98°19′33″W
Carneiro10800571 (2)93 (36)0 (0)0.36%38°45′2″N 97°59′46″W
Clear Creek13725911 (3)94 (36)0 (0)0.17%38°44′10″N 98°6′16″W
Columbia15025601 (2)94 (36)0 (0)0.04%38°50′5″N 98°18′50″W
Ellsworth205257979 (23)88 (34)0 (0)0.23%38°43′6″N 98°10′58″W
Empire211501741 (3)171 (66)14 (6)7.79%38°39′6″N 98°1′7″W
Garfield25575270 (1)92 (36)0 (0)0.30%38°50′9″N 98°6′42″W
Green Garden28600Lorraine2112 (6)94 (36)0 (0)0.22%38°33′30″N 98°19′19″W
Langley38600761 (2)92 (35)2 (1)1.86%38°35′33″N 97°58′15″W
Lincoln40675621 (2)95 (37)0 (0)0.22%38°39′8″N 98°18′0″W
Mulberry49050440 (1)93 (36)0 (0)0.24%38°50′5″N 97°58′28″W
Noble50825901 (3)93 (36)0 (0)0.04%38°44′51″N 98°25′33″W
Palacky54100631 (2)94 (36)0 (0)0.08%38°38′51″N 98°25′56″W
Sherman64950651 (2)94 (36)0 (0)0.22%38°49′21″N 98°13′7″W
Thomas70450721 (2)93 (36)0 (0)0.21%38°33′56″N 98°11′33″W
Trivoli71525551 (2)93 (36)0 (0)0.38%38°35′7″N 98°4′23″W
Valley72800Holyrood5776 (16)93 (36)0 (0)0.14%38°34′22″N 98°24′56″W
Wilson79700Wilson89410 (25)93 (36)0 (0)0.06%38°49′34″N 98°27′23″W
Sources: "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files". U.S. Census Bureau, Geography Division. Archived from the original on 2002-08-02.

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 6, 2011. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 118.
  4. Wishart, David (1994). An Unspeakable Sadness: The Dispossession of the Nebraska Indians. U of Nebraska Press. pp. 182, 183.
  5. "Spencer Painting Symbolizes Dark Chapter of Kansas History Few Have Ever Read". Kansas Public Radio. 2017-01-27. Retrieved 2017-02-13.
  6. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  7.  Ripley, George; Dana, Charles A., eds. (1879). "Ellsworth, a central county of Kansas" . The American Cyclopædia.
  8. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved December 23, 2019.
  9. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  10. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  11. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  12. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  13. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  14. http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS
  15. "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.
  16. "Ellsworth County Extinct Towns". Legends of America. Retrieved 2016-06-23.
Notes
  1. This total comprises 1,097 votes (49.6%) were for Populist James B. Weaver (who was supported by the state’s Democrats) and 14 (0.6%) 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)
See also: List of books about Chisholm Trail
County
Other
Maps
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