Anderson County, Kansas | |
|---|---|
 Anderson County Courthouse inGarnett (2016) | |
 Logo | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofKansas | |
 Kansas's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:38°12′N95°17′W / 38.200°N 95.283°W /38.200; -95.283 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Kansas |
| Founded | August 25, 1855 |
| Named after | Joseph C. Anderson |
| Seat | Garnett |
| Largest city | Garnett |
| Area | |
• Total | 584 sq mi (1,510 km2) |
| • Land | 580 sq mi (1,500 km2) |
| • Water | 7.1 sq mi (18 km2) 0.7% |
| Population | |
• Total | 7,836 |
• Estimate (1023) | 7,838 |
| • Density | 14/sq mi (5.2/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Area code | 785 |
| Congressional district | 3rd |
| Website | AndersonCountyKS.org |
Anderson County is acounty located inEast CentralKansas, in theCentral United States. Itscounty seat and most populous city isGarnett.[2] As of the2020 census, the county population was 7,836.[1] The county was named forJoseph C. Anderson, a Kansas territorial legislator and border ruffian during the "Bleeding Kansas" era.
In 1854, theKansas Territory was organized, and in 1855, Anderson County was established as one of the original 33 counties of the Kansas Territory, named for territorial legislatorJoseph C. Anderson.[3] The initial settlement began in 1854 with individuals such as Valentine Gerth and Francis Meyer staking claims near what would becomeGreeley. The settlers discovered fields previously worked by the Potawatomi, who had been relocated there in 1833.[4] The early years were fraught with conflict during "Bleeding Kansas," with Anderson County men engaging in battles such as that atOsawatomie, where the clash over slavery was intense.[4]
The county's administrative center was initially established at Shannon, but disputes over the location of the county seat resulted in its move to Garnett in 1859, where it has remained.[3] The agrarian economy suffered from natural disasters, including the severe drought of 1860, which left the county in distress.[4] Subsequent years brought the infamous grasshopper plagues of 1874–1875, which devastated crops, yet the resolve of the settlers saw them through these hardships. The introduction of wheat farming helped stabilize the region.[4]
In 1861Kansas became the 34thU.S. state. TheCivil War period saw Anderson County's men volunteer for Union forces, with the war also temporarily halting the cattle drives fromTexas that had introduced Spanish fever to the local cattle. Post-war, the county experienced a resurgence in agricultural development, with the arrival of the railroad playing a crucial role in economic growth by opening up markets. As Anderson County moved towards the 20th century, its economy was based on farming, with some coal mining activities due to local deposits. The onset ofWorld War I saw the community rallying to support the war effort, with many local men enlisting for service overseas. This era marked the beginning of a transition period, where traditional farming practices would soon give way to technological advancements in agriculture.
In 1884, the first photograph of atornado was taken in Anderson County.[5]
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 584 square miles (1,510 km2), of which 580 square miles (1,500 km2) is land and 4.1 square miles (11 km2) (0.7%) is water.[6]
Sources: National Atlas,[7] U.S. Census Bureau[8]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1860 | 2,400 | — | |
| 1870 | 5,220 | 117.5% | |
| 1880 | 9,057 | 73.5% | |
| 1890 | 14,203 | 56.8% | |
| 1900 | 13,938 | −1.9% | |
| 1910 | 13,829 | −0.8% | |
| 1920 | 12,986 | −6.1% | |
| 1930 | 13,355 | 2.8% | |
| 1940 | 11,658 | −12.7% | |
| 1950 | 10,267 | −11.9% | |
| 1960 | 9,035 | −12.0% | |
| 1970 | 8,501 | −5.9% | |
| 1980 | 8,749 | 2.9% | |
| 1990 | 7,803 | −10.8% | |
| 2000 | 8,110 | 3.9% | |
| 2010 | 8,102 | −0.1% | |
| 2020 | 7,836 | −3.3% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 7,838 | [9] | 0.0% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[10] 1790-1960[11] 1900-1990[12] 1990-2000[13] 2010-2020[1] | |||
As of the2000 census,[14] there were 8,110 people, 3,221 households, and 2,264 families residing in the county. Thepopulation density was 14 people per square mile (5.4 people/km2). There were 3,596 housing units at an average density of 6 units per square mile (2.3 units/km2). Theracial makeup of the county was 97.41%White, 0.32%Black orAfrican American, 0.74%Native American, 0.22%Asian, 0.02%Pacific Islander, 0.33% from other races, and 0.95% fromtwo or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 1.09% of the population. 35.0% were ofGerman, 20.4%American, 10.4%English and 9.9%Irish ancestry.
There were 3,221households, out of which 31.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.90% weremarried couples living together, 6.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.70% were non-families. 26.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.20% under the age of 18, 7.00% from 18 to 24, 24.60% from 25 to 44, 22.10% from 45 to 64, and 20.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 96.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.50 males.
Themedian income for a household in the county was $33,244, and the median income for a family was $39,101. Males had a median income of $30,102 versus $20,705 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $16,458. About 10.60% of families and 12.80% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 16.30% of those under age 18 and 11.00% of those age 65 or over.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1888 | 1,843 | 55.13% | 960 | 28.72% | 540 | 16.15% |
| 1892 | 1,638 | 51.06% | 0 | 0.00% | 1,570 | 48.94% |
| 1896 | 1,780 | 47.57% | 1,890 | 50.51% | 72 | 1.92% |
| 1900 | 1,846 | 50.40% | 1,757 | 47.97% | 60 | 1.64% |
| 1904 | 1,891 | 58.26% | 1,043 | 32.13% | 312 | 9.61% |
| 1908 | 1,722 | 51.25% | 1,512 | 45.00% | 126 | 3.75% |
| 1912 | 618 | 19.88% | 1,365 | 43.92% | 1,125 | 36.20% |
| 1916 | 2,386 | 43.95% | 2,739 | 50.45% | 304 | 5.60% |
| 1920 | 3,068 | 62.82% | 1,708 | 34.97% | 108 | 2.21% |
| 1924 | 3,101 | 60.98% | 1,421 | 27.94% | 563 | 11.07% |
| 1928 | 3,562 | 64.94% | 1,874 | 34.17% | 49 | 0.89% |
| 1932 | 2,408 | 39.63% | 3,580 | 58.92% | 88 | 1.45% |
| 1936 | 3,452 | 54.64% | 2,767 | 43.80% | 99 | 1.57% |
| 1940 | 3,886 | 64.41% | 2,114 | 35.04% | 33 | 0.55% |
| 1944 | 3,060 | 64.89% | 1,649 | 34.97% | 7 | 0.15% |
| 1948 | 2,787 | 56.85% | 2,071 | 42.25% | 44 | 0.90% |
| 1952 | 3,672 | 73.18% | 1,333 | 26.56% | 13 | 0.26% |
| 1956 | 3,080 | 69.01% | 1,369 | 30.67% | 14 | 0.31% |
| 1960 | 2,665 | 62.35% | 1,589 | 37.18% | 20 | 0.47% |
| 1964 | 1,692 | 44.76% | 2,058 | 54.44% | 30 | 0.79% |
| 1968 | 2,168 | 56.84% | 1,242 | 32.56% | 404 | 10.59% |
| 1972 | 2,718 | 70.86% | 1,035 | 26.98% | 83 | 2.16% |
| 1976 | 1,872 | 48.70% | 1,886 | 49.06% | 86 | 2.24% |
| 1980 | 2,363 | 62.63% | 1,170 | 31.01% | 240 | 6.36% |
| 1984 | 2,462 | 67.14% | 1,155 | 31.50% | 50 | 1.36% |
| 1988 | 1,781 | 54.25% | 1,466 | 44.65% | 36 | 1.10% |
| 1992 | 1,218 | 33.03% | 1,178 | 31.95% | 1,291 | 35.01% |
| 1996 | 1,636 | 46.66% | 1,367 | 38.99% | 503 | 14.35% |
| 2000 | 1,984 | 57.04% | 1,327 | 38.15% | 167 | 4.80% |
| 2004 | 2,500 | 64.72% | 1,295 | 33.52% | 68 | 1.76% |
| 2008 | 2,362 | 65.14% | 1,175 | 32.40% | 89 | 2.45% |
| 2012 | 2,276 | 68.66% | 944 | 28.48% | 95 | 2.87% |
| 2016 | 2,435 | 72.69% | 672 | 20.06% | 243 | 7.25% |
| 2020 | 2,929 | 77.24% | 782 | 20.62% | 81 | 2.14% |
| 2024 | 2,998 | 78.85% | 732 | 19.25% | 72 | 1.89% |
Anderson County has, in common with other rural areas of Kansas, voted predominantly Republican in presidential elections, with the last Democratic candidate to carry thecounty beingLyndon B. Johnson in1964.
Following amendment to theKansas Constitution in 1986, the county remained a prohibition, or"dry", county until 1996, when voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with a 30 percent food sales requirement.[16]
List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Anderson County.[17]
† means a community is designated aCensus-Designated Place (CDP) by theUnited States Census Bureau.
Anderson County is divided into fourteentownships. The city ofGarnett 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.
Anderson County Review is a weekly newspaper.[18]
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Places adjacent to Anderson County, Kansas | |
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Municipalities and communities ofAnderson County, Kansas,United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
| CDPs | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Ghost towns | ||
| Townships | ||
| International | |
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| National | |
| Other | |
