Ellsworth County, Kansas | |
|---|---|
 Ellsworth County Courthouse inEllsworth (2013) | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofKansas | |
 Kansas's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:38°42′N98°12′W / 38.700°N 98.200°W /38.700; -98.200 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Kansas |
| Founded | February 26, 1867 |
| Named after | Fort Ellsworth |
| Seat | Ellsworth |
| Largest city | Ellsworth |
| Area | |
• Total | 723 sq mi (1,870 km2) |
| • Land | 716 sq mi (1,850 km2) |
| • Water | 7.4 sq mi (19 km2) 1.0% |
| Population | |
• Total | 6,376 |
• Estimate (2023)[2] | 6,357 |
| • Density | 8.9/sq mi (3.4/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Area code | 785 |
| Congressional district | 1st |
| Website | ellsworthcounty.org |
Ellsworth County is acounty located in theU.S. state ofKansas. Itscounty seat and most populous city isEllsworth.[3] As of the2020 census, the county population was 6,376.[1] The county was named afterFort Ellsworth.
From the 16th century to 18th century, theKingdom of France claimed ownership of large parts ofNorth America both east and west of the Mississippi River. In 1762, after losing theFrench and Indian War to Great Britain, France secretly cededNew France toSpain, per theTreaty of Fontainebleau. In 1763 France ceded its territories east of the Mississippi River to Great Britain.
It regained the western territory underNapoleon, who sold it in 1803 to the United States in theLouisiana Purchase. He had decided to get rid of the New World territories after failing to regain control ofSaint-Domingue, where a slave rebellion had toppled colonial control. In 1804Haiti 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.[citation needed]
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 formodern day Kansas was acquired by the United States from France as part of the 828,000 square mileLouisiana Purchase for 2.83cents peracre.
In 1854, theKansas Territory was organized; and in 1861Kansas became the 34thU.S. state.Ellsworth County was established February 26, 1867. The county was named after the oldFort 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 theAmerican Civil War.[4] On November 17, 1866, the fort was renamedFort Harker in honor of GeneralCharles Garrison Harker who had died on June 27, 1864, from wounds received in an abortive offensive action in theBattle 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.[citation needed]
On March 22, 1869, FourteenPawnee 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 nearbyFort Harker, in today's town ofKanopolis, removed six heads from their bodies, and shipped them to the Army Medical Museum in Washington, D.C., for cranial study.[5][6]
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.
According to theU.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.[7] It is intersected by theSmoky Hill River.[8]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 1,185 | — | |
| 1880 | 8,494 | 616.8% | |
| 1890 | 9,272 | 9.2% | |
| 1900 | 9,626 | 3.8% | |
| 1910 | 10,444 | 8.5% | |
| 1920 | 10,379 | −0.6% | |
| 1930 | 10,132 | −2.4% | |
| 1940 | 9,855 | −2.7% | |
| 1950 | 8,465 | −14.1% | |
| 1960 | 7,677 | −9.3% | |
| 1970 | 6,146 | −19.9% | |
| 1980 | 6,640 | 8.0% | |
| 1990 | 6,586 | −0.8% | |
| 2000 | 6,525 | −0.9% | |
| 2010 | 6,497 | −0.4% | |
| 2020 | 6,376 | −1.9% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 6,357 | [9] | −0.3% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[10] 1790-1960[11] 1900-1990[12] 1990-2000[13] 2010-2020[1] | |||
As of the2000 census,[14] there were 6,525 people, 2,481 households, and 1,639 families residing in the county. Thepopulation density was 9 people per square mile (3.5 people/km2). There were 3,228 housing units at an average density of 4 per square mile (1.5/km2). Theracial makeup of the county was 93.67%White, 3.56%Black orAfrican American, 0.48%Native American, 0.25%Asian, 0.02%Pacific Islander, 0.86% from other races, and 1.18% fromtwo or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 3.59% of the population.
There were 2,481households, out of which 27.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.20% weremarried 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.
Themedian 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. Theper capita income for the county was $16,569. About 4.00% of families and 7.20% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 7.50% of those under age 18 and 11.10% of those age 65 or over.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1888 | 1,159 | 56.51% | 831 | 40.52% | 61 | 2.97% |
| 1892 | 1,102 | 49.80% | 0 | 0.00% | 1,111 | 50.20% |
| 1896 | 1,048 | 50.92% | 992 | 48.20% | 18 | 0.87% |
| 1900 | 1,333 | 56.68% | 1,006 | 42.77% | 13 | 0.55% |
| 1904 | 1,359 | 68.43% | 578 | 29.10% | 49 | 2.47% |
| 1908 | 1,213 | 52.95% | 1,039 | 45.35% | 39 | 1.70% |
| 1912 | 353 | 15.33% | 1,045 | 45.38% | 905 | 39.30% |
| 1916 | 1,945 | 48.33% | 1,936 | 48.11% | 143 | 3.55% |
| 1920 | 2,264 | 65.60% | 1,090 | 31.59% | 97 | 2.81% |
| 1924 | 2,286 | 58.77% | 950 | 24.42% | 654 | 16.81% |
| 1928 | 2,450 | 60.23% | 1,588 | 39.04% | 30 | 0.74% |
| 1932 | 1,607 | 34.95% | 2,928 | 63.68% | 63 | 1.37% |
| 1936 | 2,058 | 40.71% | 2,990 | 59.15% | 7 | 0.14% |
| 1940 | 2,658 | 54.13% | 2,237 | 45.56% | 15 | 0.31% |
| 1944 | 2,290 | 57.62% | 1,678 | 42.22% | 6 | 0.15% |
| 1948 | 2,155 | 52.83% | 1,879 | 46.07% | 45 | 1.10% |
| 1952 | 3,219 | 74.67% | 1,068 | 24.77% | 24 | 0.56% |
| 1956 | 2,524 | 64.90% | 1,351 | 34.74% | 14 | 0.36% |
| 1960 | 2,189 | 59.37% | 1,488 | 40.36% | 10 | 0.27% |
| 1964 | 1,406 | 39.75% | 2,118 | 59.88% | 13 | 0.37% |
| 1968 | 1,776 | 57.53% | 1,060 | 34.34% | 251 | 8.13% |
| 1972 | 2,087 | 65.20% | 1,028 | 32.11% | 86 | 2.69% |
| 1976 | 1,618 | 49.85% | 1,573 | 48.46% | 55 | 1.69% |
| 1980 | 2,155 | 65.90% | 886 | 27.09% | 229 | 7.00% |
| 1984 | 2,353 | 71.35% | 905 | 27.44% | 40 | 1.21% |
| 1988 | 1,711 | 57.03% | 1,219 | 40.63% | 70 | 2.33% |
| 1992 | 1,197 | 36.96% | 1,010 | 31.18% | 1,032 | 31.86% |
| 1996 | 2,078 | 64.14% | 899 | 27.75% | 263 | 8.12% |
| 2000 | 1,845 | 64.99% | 825 | 29.06% | 169 | 5.95% |
| 2004 | 2,259 | 72.82% | 801 | 25.82% | 42 | 1.35% |
| 2008 | 2,021 | 68.79% | 851 | 28.97% | 66 | 2.25% |
| 2012 | 1,930 | 71.17% | 702 | 25.88% | 80 | 2.95% |
| 2016 | 1,969 | 72.76% | 521 | 19.25% | 216 | 7.98% |
| 2020 | 2,148 | 75.29% | 648 | 22.71% | 57 | 2.00% |
| 2024 | 2,078 | 75.34% | 636 | 23.06% | 44 | 1.60% |
Ellsworth County was a prohibition, or"dry", county until theKansas Constitution was amended in 1986. Voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink, with a 30% food sales requirement.[16]
List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Ellsworth County.[17]
Ellsworth County is divided into nineteentownships. The city ofEllsworth is consideredgovernmentally 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.
Places adjacent to Ellsworth County, Kansas | ||||||||||||||||
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Municipalities and communities ofEllsworth County, Kansas,United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Ghost towns | ||
| Townships | ||
| International | |
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