Rawlins County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat and largest city is Atwood.[2] As of the 2020 census, the county population was 2,561.[1] It was named after John Rawlins, a general in the American Civil War.
Rawlins County | |
---|---|
Coordinates: 39°48′N 101°06′W / 39.800°N 101.100°W | |
Country | United States |
State | Kansas |
Founded | March 20, 1873 |
Named for | John Aaron Rawlins |
Seat | Atwood |
Largest city | Atwood |
Area | |
• Total | 1,070 sq mi (2,800 km2) |
• Land | 1,069 sq mi (2,770 km2) |
• Water | 0.2 sq mi (0.5 km2) 0.01% |
Population | |
• Total | 2,561 |
• Density | 2.4/sq mi (0.9/km2) |
Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
Area code | 785 |
Congressional district | 1st |
Website | County Website |
History
editEarly history
editFor many millennia, the Great Plains of North America was inhabited by nomadic Native Americans. From the 16th century to 18th century, the Kingdom of France claimed ownership of large parts of North America. In 1762, after the French and Indian War, France secretly ceded New France to Spain, per the Treaty of Fontainebleau.
19th century
editIn 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, then in 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state. In 1873, Rawlins County was established.
Geography
editAccording to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,070 square miles (2,800 km2), of which 1,069 square miles (2,770 km2) is land and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km2) (0.1%) is water.[3]
Major highways
editAdjacent counties
edit- Hitchcock County, Nebraska (north)
- Red Willow County, Nebraska (northeast)
- Decatur County (east)
- Thomas County (south)
- Sherman County (southwest/Mountain Time border)
- Cheyenne County (west)
- Dundy County, Nebraska (northwest/Mountain Time border)
Demographics
editCensus | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1880 | 1,623 | — | |
1890 | 6,756 | 316.3% | |
1900 | 5,241 | −22.4% | |
1910 | 6,380 | 21.7% | |
1920 | 6,799 | 6.6% | |
1930 | 7,362 | 8.3% | |
1940 | 6,618 | −10.1% | |
1950 | 5,728 | −13.4% | |
1960 | 5,279 | −7.8% | |
1970 | 4,393 | −16.8% | |
1980 | 4,105 | −6.6% | |
1990 | 3,404 | −17.1% | |
2000 | 2,966 | −12.9% | |
2010 | 2,519 | −15.1% | |
2020 | 2,561 | 1.7% | |
2023 (est.) | 2,463 | [4] | −3.8% |
U.S. Decennial Census[5] 1790-1960[6] 1900-1990[7] 1990-2000[8] 2010-2020[1] |
As of the census[9] of 2000, there were 2,966 people, 1,269 households, and 846 families residing in the county. The population density was 3 people per square mile (1.2 people/km2). There were 1,565 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile (0.77/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.52% White, 0.30% Black or African American, 0.30% Native American, 0.10% Asian, 0.07% from other races, and 0.71% from two or more races. 0.81% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 1,269 households, out of which 27.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.50% were married couples living together, 4.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.30% were non-families. 31.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.88.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.00% under the age of 18, 3.80% from 18 to 24, 21.50% from 25 to 44, 25.10% from 45 to 64, and 25.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 99.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.10 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $32,105, and the median income for a family was $40,074. Males had a median income of $26,719 versus $19,750 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,161. About 7.90% of families and 12.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.00% of those under age 18 and 8.90% of those age 65 or over.
Government
editPresidential elections
editYear | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
2024 | 1,186 | 85.20% | 173 | 12.43% | 33 | 2.37% |
2020 | 1,261 | 83.84% | 214 | 14.23% | 29 | 1.93% |
2016 | 1,220 | 82.88% | 163 | 11.07% | 89 | 6.05% |
2012 | 1,223 | 84.70% | 190 | 13.16% | 31 | 2.15% |
2008 | 1,247 | 80.50% | 273 | 17.62% | 29 | 1.87% |
2004 | 1,414 | 82.21% | 289 | 16.80% | 17 | 0.99% |
2000 | 1,349 | 77.53% | 306 | 17.59% | 85 | 4.89% |
1996 | 1,393 | 73.78% | 335 | 17.74% | 160 | 8.47% |
1992 | 1,023 | 52.87% | 393 | 20.31% | 519 | 26.82% |
1988 | 1,318 | 66.46% | 612 | 30.86% | 53 | 2.67% |
1984 | 1,625 | 78.05% | 412 | 19.79% | 45 | 2.16% |
1980 | 1,524 | 73.41% | 427 | 20.57% | 125 | 6.02% |
1976 | 1,148 | 53.87% | 903 | 42.37% | 80 | 3.75% |
1972 | 1,553 | 70.46% | 560 | 25.41% | 91 | 4.13% |
1968 | 1,438 | 65.90% | 553 | 25.34% | 191 | 8.75% |
1964 | 1,292 | 57.14% | 959 | 42.41% | 10 | 0.44% |
1960 | 1,560 | 61.73% | 951 | 37.63% | 16 | 0.63% |
1956 | 1,668 | 69.88% | 711 | 29.79% | 8 | 0.34% |
1952 | 2,120 | 75.82% | 670 | 23.96% | 6 | 0.21% |
1948 | 1,389 | 55.08% | 1,095 | 43.42% | 38 | 1.51% |
1944 | 1,569 | 61.72% | 955 | 37.57% | 18 | 0.71% |
1940 | 1,758 | 58.02% | 1,247 | 41.16% | 25 | 0.83% |
1936 | 1,364 | 40.07% | 2,029 | 59.61% | 11 | 0.32% |
1932 | 1,064 | 31.08% | 2,245 | 65.59% | 114 | 3.33% |
1928 | 1,668 | 57.78% | 1,164 | 40.32% | 55 | 1.91% |
1924 | 1,213 | 45.79% | 742 | 28.01% | 694 | 26.20% |
1920 | 1,236 | 64.81% | 495 | 25.96% | 176 | 9.23% |
1916 | 803 | 35.05% | 1,271 | 55.48% | 217 | 9.47% |
1912 | 220 | 16.63% | 568 | 42.93% | 535 | 40.44% |
1908 | 719 | 47.36% | 732 | 48.22% | 67 | 4.41% |
1904 | 749 | 61.14% | 405 | 33.06% | 71 | 5.80% |
1900 | 577 | 45.90% | 668 | 53.14% | 12 | 0.95% |
1896 | 439 | 41.77% | 609 | 57.94% | 3 | 0.29% |
1892 | 592 | 43.79% | 0 | 0.00% | 760 | 56.21% |
1888 | 1,023 | 57.31% | 633 | 35.46% | 129 | 7.23% |
The county is part of the highly Republican Kansas's 1st congressional district. It has favored the Republican candidate for president in each of the last eighteen elections. The last Democrat to carry the county was Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1936, when the GOP standard bearer was Kansas Governor Alf Landon.[11] As of 2024, Bill Clinton in 1992 remains the last Democratic nominee to exceed even 20% of the county's vote.
Law
editFollowing amendment to the Kansas Constitution in 1986, the county remained a prohibition, or "dry", county until 2002, when voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with a 30% food sales requirement.[12]
Education
editUnified school districts
editCommunities
editList of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Rawlins County.[13]
† means a community is designated a Census-Designated Place (CDP) by the United States Census Bureau.
Cities
editUnincorporated communities
editGhost towns
editTownships
editRawlins County is divided into ten 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.
Township | FIPS | Population center |
Population | Population density /km2 (/sq mi) |
Land area km2 (sq mi) |
Water area km2 (sq mi) |
Water % | Geographic coordinates |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Achilles | 00175 | 83 | 1 (2) | 132 (51) | 0 (0) | 0.02% | 39°42′13″N 100°48′38″W / 39.70361°N 100.81056°W | |
Atwood | 03175 | 1,330 | 74 (192) | 18 (7) | 0 (0) | 0.88% | 39°48′38″N 101°2′34″W / 39.81056°N 101.04278°W | |
Center | 12037 | 363 | 1 (1) | 690 (266) | 0 (0) | 0% | 39°43′11″N 101°3′56″W / 39.71972°N 101.06556°W | |
Driftwood | 18675 | 84 | 0 (1) | 185 (72) | 0 (0) | 0% | 39°57′56″N 101°4′59″W / 39.96556°N 101.08306°W | |
Herl | 31462 | 386 | 1 (2) | 491 (190) | 0 (0) | 0% | 39°49′24″N 100°49′54″W / 39.82333°N 100.83167°W | |
Jefferson | 35300 | 34 | 0 (1) | 124 (48) | 0 (0) | 0.04% | 39°36′42″N 100°48′31″W / 39.61167°N 100.80861°W | |
Ludell | 43200 | 136 | 1 (4) | 92 (35) | 0 (0) | 0.01% | 39°51′30″N 100°57′1″W / 39.85833°N 100.95028°W | |
Mirage | 47175 | 43 | 0 (1) | 185 (71) | 0 (0) | 0% | 39°38′53″N 101°14′2″W / 39.64806°N 101.23389°W | |
Rocewood | 60362 | 448 | 1 (2) | 742 (287) | 0 (0) | 0% | 39°48′17″N 101°18′59″W / 39.80472°N 101.31639°W | |
Union | 72275 | 59 | 1 (1) | 111 (43) | 0 (0) | 0% | 39°46′51″N 100°53′55″W / 39.78083°N 100.89861°W |
See also
edit- Community information for Kansas
References
edit- ^ a b c "QuickFacts; Rawlins County, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 19, 2021. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
- ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
- ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 28, 2014.
- ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 28, 2014.
- ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 28, 2014.
- ^ "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 28, 2014.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ^ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
- ^ Geographie Electorale
- ^ "Map of Wet and Dry Counties". Alcoholic Beverage Control, Kansas Department of Revenue. November 2006. Archived from the original on October 8, 2007. Retrieved December 26, 2007.
- ^ a b "General Highway Map of Rawlins County, Kansas" (PDF). Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT). July 2009. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 7, 2023.
Further reading
edit- Standard Atlas of Rawlins County, Kansas; Geo. A. Ogle & Co; 64 pages; 1906.
External links
edit- County
- Rawlins County - Official Website
- Rawlins County - Directory of Public Officials
- Rawlins County - Community Development
- Other
- Rawlins County Square Deal News, newspaper
- Maps