Gray County, Kansas

Gray County (county code GY) is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 6,006.[1] Its county seat and most populous city is Cimarron.[2]

Gray County
County
Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
Kansas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°44′00″N 100°25′59″W
Country United States
State Kansas
FoundedMarch 13, 1881
Named forAlfred Gray
SeatCimarron
Largest cityCimarron
Area
 • Total869 sq mi (2,250 km2)
 • Land869 sq mi (2,250 km2)
 • Water0.4 sq mi (1 km2)  0.05%%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2018)
6,033
 • Density6.9/sq mi (2.7/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district1st
WebsiteGrayCo.org

History

Gray County was founded in 1881 and named for Alfred Gray.[3] Between 1887 and 1893, a county seat war took place in Gray County that involved several notable Old West figures, such as Bat Masterson, Bill Tilghman, and Ben Daniels. As a result of the dispute, Cimarron became the permanent county seat of Gray County.[4]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 869 square miles (2,250 km2), of which 869 square miles (2,250 km2) is land and 0.4 square miles (1.0 km2) (0.05%) is water.[5]

Since 2001, NextEra Energy Resources has operated the largest wind farm in Kansas—170 turbines with a generating capacity of 110 megawatts—on a 12,000-acre (49 km2) site near Montezuma.[6]

Adjacent counties

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18902,415—
19001,264−47.7%
19103,121146.9%
19204,71150.9%
19306,21131.8%
19404,773−23.2%
19504,8942.5%
19604,380−10.5%
19704,5163.1%
19805,13813.8%
19905,3965.0%
20005,9049.4%
20106,0061.7%
Est. 20186,033[7]0.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790–1960[9] 1900–1990[10]
1990–2000[11] 2010–2016[1]
Population pyramid

As of the 2000 census,[12] there were 5,904 people, 2,045 households, and 1,556 families residing in the county. The population density was 7 people per square mile (3/km2). There were 2,181 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile (1/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 92.31% White, 0.46% Native American, 0.19% Black or African American, 0.10% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 5.42% from other races, and 1.46% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.81% of the population.

There were 2,045 households, out of which 42.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.70% were married couples living together, 5.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.90% were non-families. 21.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.82 and the average family size was 3.31.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 31.60% under the age of 18, 8.30% from 18 to 24, 27.30% from 25 to 44, 20.20% from 45 to 64, and 12.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 100.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $40,000, and the median income for a family was $45,299. Males had a median income of $31,519 versus $21,563 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,632. About 6.50% of families and 9.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.80% of those under age 18 and 8.00% of those age 65 or over.

Religion

Gray County has by far the highest percentage of adherents of the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite in the US. There were 1,032 members of the Church in Gray County in 2010, which is 17.18% of the population. It is the largest Church in the county.[13]

Government

Presidential elections

Gray county is often carried by republican candidates. The last time a democratic candidate carried this county was in 1976 by Jimmy Carter.

Presidential Elections Results
Presidential Elections Results[14]
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2016 82.2% 1,698 12.7% 263 5.1% 105
2012 81.9% 1,603 16.6% 324 1.6% 31
2008 77.5% 1,643 20.6% 436 1.9% 40
2004 80.9% 1,816 18.2% 408 0.9% 21
2000 75.5% 1,631 22.3% 482 2.2% 47
1996 71.5% 1,457 19.8% 404 8.6% 176
1992 47.8% 1,039 20.4% 443 31.8% 691
1988 61.6% 1,180 36.3% 696 2.1% 41
1984 74.3% 1,580 24.2% 514 1.5% 32
1980 63.7% 1,310 28.3% 583 8.0% 164
1976 42.1% 837 55.9% 1,111 2.1% 41
1972 69.2% 1,235 28.6% 511 2.2% 40
1968 55.3% 952 35.5% 612 9.2% 159
1964 35.9% 643 63.4% 1,136 0.8% 14
1960 60.6% 1,150 39.2% 744 0.3% 5
1956 66.8% 1,278 32.8% 627 0.5% 9
1952 73.5% 1,515 26.1% 537 0.4% 9
1948 53.7% 1,035 45.1% 869 1.2% 24
1944 57.0% 1,057 41.8% 775 1.2% 22
1940 51.9% 1,056 47.3% 962 0.9% 18
1936 34.3% 764 65.6% 1,459 0.1% 2
1932 39.3% 910 58.2% 1,348 2.6% 59
1928 67.5% 1,294 31.6% 606 0.9% 18
1924 59.3% 959 28.7% 463 12.0% 194
1920 62.2% 962 32.8% 507 5.0% 78
1916 38.7% 660 52.1% 889 9.3% 158
1912 16.0% 112 34.6% 243 49.4% 347
1908 46.8% 372 42.5% 338 10.7% 85
1904 64.5% 285 25.6% 113 10.0% 44
1900 55.8% 188 43.0% 145 1.2% 4
1896 53.5% 153 46.5% 133 0.0% 0
1892 54.4% 274 45.6% 230
1888 53.8% 417 34.6% 268 11.6% 90

Laws

Although the Kansas Constitution was amended in 1986 to allow the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with the approval of voters, Gray County has remained a prohibition, or "dry", county.[15]

Education

Unified school districts

Communities
2005 KDOT Map of Gray County (map legend)

Cities and Towns

Unincorporated communities

Townships

Gray County is divided into seven 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
Cimarron13300Cimarron2,3799 (24)254 (98)0 (0)0.03%37°48′22″N 100°20′52″W
Copeland15500Copeland5402 (6)233 (90)0 (0)0.15%37°33′57″N 100°37′14″W
East Hess195253721 (3)281 (108)0 (0)0.03%37°37′45″N 100°15′39″W
Foote236751260 (1)310 (120)0 (0)0.02%37°55′44″N 100°20′46″W
Ingalls342506462 (5)349 (135)0 (0)0.03%37°47′43″N 100°30′23″W
Logan419002161 (2)309 (119)0 (0)0.04%37°55′20″N 100°33′52″W
Montezuma47900Montezuma1,6253 (8)514 (198)0 (0)0.07%37°35′56″N 100°26′11″W
Sources: "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files". U.S. Census Bureau, Geography Division. Archived from the original on 2002-08-02.

See also
  • Dry counties

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 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. 142.
  4. "Feudin' and Fightin' Friday: County Seat Wars – Diggin' History". Archived from the original on 2014-04-07. Retrieved 2014-04-06.
  5. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  6. "Gray County Wind Farm". Aquila, Inc. Retrieved 2007-06-02.
  7. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved December 23, 2019.
  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. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  13. Association of Religious Data Archives: Church of God in Christ, Mennonite Counties (2010) Retrieved May 2, 2015
  14. http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS
  15. "Map of Wet and Dry Counties". Alcoholic Beverage Control, Kansas Department of Revenue. November 2004. Archived from the original on 2007-10-08. Retrieved 2007-01-21.

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 Santa Fe Trail
County
Other
Maps

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