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Kiowa County, Kansas

Coordinates: 37°34′N 99°17′W / 37.567°N 99.283°W / 37.567; -99.283
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Not to be confused with Kiowa, Kansas.

Kiowa County
County
Renovated County Courthouse in Greensburg (2009) after a tornado damaged it in 2007. Construction of the building started in 1920.
Renovated County Courthouse in Greensburg (2009) after a tornado damaged it in 2007. Construction of the building started in 1920.
Map of Kansas highlighting Kiowa County
Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
Map of the United States highlighting Kansas
Kansas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°34′00″N 99°17′00″W / 37.5667°N 99.2833°W / 37.5667; -99.2833
Country United States
State Kansas
FoundedFebruary 26, 1867
Named forKiowa tribe
SeatGreensburg
Largest cityGreensburg
Area
 • Total
723 sq mi (1,870 km2)
 • Land723 sq mi (1,870 km2)
 • Water0.2 sq mi (0.5 km2)  0.03%
Population
 (2020)[1]
 • Total
2,460
 • Density3.4/sq mi (1.3/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district4th
Websitekiowacountyks.org

Kiowa County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat and largest city is Greensburg.[2] As of the 2020 census, the county population was 2,460.[1] The county is named after the Kiowa tribe.

History

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See also: History of Kansas

19th century

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In 1854, the Kansas Territory was organized, then in 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state. In 1867, Kiowa County was established and named after the Kiowa tribe.[3] In 1875. The county’s land was given to nearby county, but in 1886, Kiowa County was reestablished and organized.[4]

The Santa Fe Railroad was built into the county around the time it was organized. The Greensburg Well, one of the largest hand-dug wells in the world, was built in 1887-1888. It has been a popular tourist attraction since 1939. The well is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.[4]

The first oil well in Kiowa County was drilled in 1917.[4]

Mabel Chase ran for county sheriff after her husband’s time in the office was term-limited and became the state's first female sheriff. Her husband provided her the family’s armored 1926 Hudson Super Six, and she was the first sheriff in Kansas to be supplied with a Thompson submachine gun. Chase conducted raids on local stills.[4]

21st century

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On the evening of May 4, 2007, Greensburg was devastated by the 2007 Greensburg tornado. It killed 11 and destroyed 95% of the community.

The Kiowa County Courthouse was renovated with new windows and roof after the 2007 tornado damaged it. Originally, construction of the building started in 1920.

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 723 square miles (1,870 km2), of which 723 square miles (1,870 km2) is land and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km2) (0.03%) is water.[5]

Kiowa County has a large number of iron-rich meteorites in its soil due to the Brenham meteor fall over 10 thousand years ago.

Adjacent counties

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Major highways

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  • US 54
  • US 183
  • US 400

Kiowa County has only U.S. highways, no state highways.

Demographics

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Population pyramid based on 2000 census age data
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18902,873—
19002,365−17.7%
19106,174161.1%
19206,164−0.2%
19306,035−2.1%
19405,112−15.3%
19504,743−7.2%
19604,626−2.5%
19704,088−11.6%
19804,046−1.0%
19903,660−9.5%
20003,278−10.4%
20102,553−22.1%
20202,460−3.6%
2023 (est.)2,374[6]−3.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010-2020[1]

As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 3,278 people, 1,365 households, and 924 families residing in the county. The population density was 4 people per square mile (1.5 people/km2). There were 1,643 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile (0.77/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.19% White, 0.21% Black or African American, 0.61% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.98% from other races, and 0.73% from two or more races. 2.04% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,365 households, out of which 27.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.60% were married couples living together, 5.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.30% were non-families. 30.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.89.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.00% under the age of 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 21.80% from 25 to 44, 24.60% from 45 to 64, and 21.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 96.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,576, and the median income for a family was $40,950. Males had a median income of $29,063 versus $20,764 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,207. About 7.40% of families and 10.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.50% of those under age 18 and 8.70% of those age 65 or over.

Government

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Presidential elections

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Presidential election results
United States presidential election results for Kiowa County, Kansas[12]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 931 84.95% 151 13.78% 14 1.28%
2020 980 84.12% 156 13.39% 29 2.49%
2016 900 82.42% 114 10.44% 78 7.14%
2012 976 85.31% 163 14.25% 5 0.44%
2008 912 80.35% 200 17.62% 23 2.03%
2004 1,275 81.47% 256 16.36% 34 2.17%
2000 1,262 78.48% 294 18.28% 52 3.23%
1996 1,264 70.97% 331 18.59% 186 10.44%
1992 1,057 55.90% 355 18.77% 479 25.33%
1988 1,276 71.09% 485 27.02% 34 1.89%
1984 1,537 79.51% 361 18.68% 35 1.81%
1980 1,433 72.16% 438 22.05% 115 5.79%
1976 1,180 59.48% 764 38.51% 40 2.02%
1972 1,559 76.35% 406 19.88% 77 3.77%
1968 1,484 70.87% 481 22.97% 129 6.16%
1964 1,135 53.29% 970 45.54% 25 1.17%
1960 1,662 74.56% 555 24.90% 12 0.54%
1956 1,717 76.18% 517 22.94% 20 0.89%
1952 1,838 78.61% 432 18.48% 68 2.91%
1948 1,258 59.79% 722 34.32% 124 5.89%
1944 1,479 69.60% 618 29.08% 28 1.32%
1940 1,571 64.10% 844 34.43% 36 1.47%
1936 1,280 47.32% 1,417 52.38% 8 0.30%
1932 1,306 52.24% 1,159 46.36% 35 1.40%
1928 1,929 82.09% 406 17.28% 15 0.64%
1924 1,541 70.08% 498 22.65% 160 7.28%
1920 1,411 69.51% 587 28.92% 32 1.58%
1916 901 40.97% 956 43.47% 342 15.55%
1912 276 19.59% 506 35.91% 627 44.50%
1908 699 59.49% 409 34.81% 67 5.70%
1904 494 59.23% 251 30.10% 89 10.67%
1900 322 51.52% 293 46.88% 10 1.60%
1896 250 49.80% 245 48.80% 7 1.39%
1892 398 50.44% 0 0.00% 391 49.56%
1888 525 50.34% 381 36.53% 137 13.14%

Like all of the High Plains, Kiowa County is Republican. The only Democrat to ever win a majority in the county has been Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1936, who ironically achieved the feat against incumbent Kansas governor Alf Landon. Woodrow Wilson won a plurality in 1916, but since 1944 only three Democrats have reached thirty percent of the county's vote, and Michael Dukakis in 1988 during a major drought and consequent farm crisis is the last Democrat to receive so much as twenty percent.

Education

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Colleges

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Unified school districts

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Communities

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2005 map of Kiowa County (legend)[13]

List of current townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Kiowa County.[13]

Incorporated cities

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Unincorporated communities

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Townships

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Kiowa County has only one township, and none of the cities within the county are considered governmentally independent; all figures for the township include those of the cities.

Sources: 2000 U.S. Gazetteer from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Township FIPS Population Population
density
/km2 (/sq mi) 		Land area
km2 (sq mi)		 Water area
km2 (sq mi)		 Water % Geographic coordinates
Kiowa Rural 37185 3,278 2 (5) 1,871 (722) 1 (0) 0.03% 37°34′45″N 99°15′28″W / 37.57917°N 99.25778°W / 37.57917; -99.25778

See also

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Community information for Kansas

References

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  1. ^ a b c "QuickFacts; Kiowa County, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 18, 2021. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 176.
  4. ^ a b c d "Kiowa County, Kansas - Kansapedia - Kansas Historical Society". www.kshs.org. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
  5. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  6. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  7. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
  8. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
  9. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
  10. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
  11. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  12. ^ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
  13. ^ a b "General Highway Map of Kiowa County, Kansas" (PDF). Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT). July 2009. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 8, 2023.
Notes

Further reading

[edit]
See also: List of books about Kansas, including historical information about its counties and cities
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kiowa County, Kansas.
County
Historical
  • Kiowa County from American History and Genealogy Project (AHGP)
Maps

37°34′N 99°17′W / 37.567°N 99.283°W / 37.567; -99.283

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