Dickinson County, Kansas | |
|---|---|
 Dickinson County Courthouse inAbilene (2009) | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofKansas | |
 Kansas's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:38°53′N97°10′W / 38.883°N 97.167°W /38.883; -97.167 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Kansas |
| Founded | February 20, 1857 |
| Named after | Daniel S. Dickinson |
| Seat | Abilene |
| Largest city | Abilene |
| Area | |
• Total | 852 sq mi (2,210 km2) |
| • Land | 847 sq mi (2,190 km2) |
| • Water | 4.9 sq mi (13 km2) 0.6% |
| Population | |
• Total | 18,402 |
• Estimate (2023)[2] | 18,445 |
| • Density | 21.7/sq mi (8.4/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Area code | 785 |
| Congressional district | 1st |
| Website | DkCoKS.org |
Dickinson County is acounty in CentralKansas. Itscounty seat and most populous city isAbilene.[3] As of the2020 census, the county population was 18,402.[1] The county was named in honor ofDaniel Dickinson, a U.S. Senator from New York that was a Kansas statehood advocate.[4]
For manymillennia, theGreat Plains ofNorth America was inhabited bynomadicNative Americans. From the 16th century to 18th century, theKingdom of France claimed ownership of large parts ofNorth America. In 1762, after theFrench and Indian War, France secretly cededNew France toSpain, per theTreaty of Fontainebleau. 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 1848, after theMexican–American War, theTreaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo withSpain brought into the United States all or part of land for ten future states, including southwest Kansas. In 1854, theKansas Territory was organized, then in 1861Kansas became the 34thU.S. state.
In 1857,Dickinson County was founded.
The first railroad in Dickinson County was built through that territory in 1866.[5]
In 1887, Mr. Herington got theChicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway to build throughHerington. He gave the land and right-of-way for Herington to become a division point with shops, two round houses, freight house, bridge yards, telegraph office and many other buildings. He furnished the limestone for the freight house, and for a two-story depot that was 28 by 66 feet (8.5 m × 20.1 m) and later enlarged to 28 by 105 feet (8.5 m × 32.0 m).[6]
In 1887, theChicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway built a main line fromTopeka toHerington.[7] This main line connectedTopeka,Valencia,Willard,Maple Hill,Vera,Paxico,McFarland,Alma,Volland,Alta Vista,Dwight,White City,Latimer,Herington.
In 1887, theChicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway extended its main line fromHerington toPratt.[7] This main line connectedHerington,Ramona,Tampa,Durham,Waldeck,Canton,Galva,McPherson,Groveland,Inman,Medora,Hutchinson,Whiteside,Partridge,Arlington,Langdon,Turon,Preston,Natrona,Pratt. In 1888, this main line was extended toLiberal. Later, this line was extended toTucumcari, New Mexico andEl Paso, Texas. This line is called the "Golden State Limited".
In 1887, theChicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway built a branch line north–south fromHerington toCaldwell.[7] This branch line connectedHerington,Lost Springs,Lincolnville,Antelope,Marion,Aulne,Peabody,Elbing,Whitewater,Furley,Kechi,Wichita,Peck,Corbin,Wellington,Caldwell. By 1893, this branch line was incrementally built toFort Worth, Texas. This line is called the "OKT".
TheChicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway was foreclosed in 1891 and was taken over byChicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway, which shut down in 1980 and reorganized asOklahoma, Kansas and Texas Railroad, merged in 1988 withMissouri Pacific Railroad, merged in 1997 withUnion Pacific Railroad. Most locals still refer to this railroad as the "Rock Island".
In 1887,Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway built a branch line fromNeva (3 miles west ofStrong City) toSuperior, Nebraska. This branch line connectedStrong City,Neva,Rockland,Diamond Springs,Burdick,Lost Springs,Jacobs,Hope,Navarre,Enterprise,Abilene,Talmage,Manchester,Longford,Oak Hill,Miltonvale,Aurora,Huscher,Concordia,Kackley,Courtland,Webber,Superior. At some point, the line fromNeva toLost Springs was pulled but the right of way has not been abandoned. This branch line was originally called "Strong City and Superior line" but later the name was shortened to the "Strong City line".
In 1996, theAtchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway merged withBurlington Northern Railroad and renamed to the currentBNSF Railway. Most locals still refer to this railroad as the "Santa Fe".
In 2010, theKeystone-Cushing Pipeline (Phase II) was constructed north to south through Dickinson County, with much controversy over tax exemption and environmental concerns.[8][9] A pumping station namedHope was built along the pipeline.
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 852 square miles (2,210 km2), of which 847 square miles (2,190 km2) is land and 4.9 square miles (13 km2) (0.6%) is water.[10]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1860 | 378 | — | |
| 1870 | 3,043 | 705.0% | |
| 1880 | 15,251 | 401.2% | |
| 1890 | 22,273 | 46.0% | |
| 1900 | 21,816 | −2.1% | |
| 1910 | 24,361 | 11.7% | |
| 1920 | 25,777 | 5.8% | |
| 1930 | 25,870 | 0.4% | |
| 1940 | 22,929 | −11.4% | |
| 1950 | 21,190 | −7.6% | |
| 1960 | 21,572 | 1.8% | |
| 1970 | 19,993 | −7.3% | |
| 1980 | 20,175 | 0.9% | |
| 1990 | 18,958 | −6.0% | |
| 2000 | 19,344 | 2.0% | |
| 2010 | 19,754 | 2.1% | |
| 2020 | 18,402 | −6.8% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 18,445 | [11] | 0.2% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[12] 1790-1960[13] 1900-1990[14] 1990-2000[15] 2010-2020[1] | |||
As of the2000 census,[16] there were 19,344 people, 7,903 households, and 5,421 families residing in the county. Thepopulation density was 23 people per square mile (8.9 people/km2). There were 8,686 housing units at an average density of 10 per square mile (3.9/km2). The county'sracial makeup was 96.44%White, 0.58%Black orAfrican American, 0.49%Native American, 0.30%Asian, 0.01%Pacific Islander, 0.82% from other races, and 1.36% fromtwo or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 2.30% of the population.
There were 7,903households, of which 31.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.90% weremarried couples living together, 7.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.40% were non-families. 28.10% of households were made up of individuals, and 14.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.70% under the age of 18, 6.30% from 18 to 24, 26.30% from 25 to 44, 23.10% from 45 to 64, and 18.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 95.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.60 males.
The county'smedian household income was $35,975, and the median family income was $43,952. Males had a median income of $30,889 versus $18,526 for females. Theper capita income in the county was $17,780. About 5.30% of families and 7.50% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 8.70% of those under age 18 and 11.30% of those age 65 or over.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1888 | 2,746 | 54.15% | 1,695 | 33.43% | 630 | 12.42% |
| 1892 | 2,419 | 47.14% | 0 | 0.00% | 2,712 | 52.86% |
| 1896 | 2,291 | 48.31% | 2,399 | 50.59% | 52 | 1.10% |
| 1900 | 2,771 | 52.93% | 2,352 | 44.93% | 112 | 2.14% |
| 1904 | 3,185 | 66.88% | 1,219 | 25.60% | 358 | 7.52% |
| 1908 | 2,886 | 53.31% | 2,282 | 42.15% | 246 | 4.54% |
| 1912 | 988 | 18.31% | 2,182 | 40.44% | 2,225 | 41.24% |
| 1916 | 4,323 | 45.06% | 4,974 | 51.85% | 296 | 3.09% |
| 1920 | 5,761 | 69.10% | 2,387 | 28.63% | 189 | 2.27% |
| 1924 | 6,178 | 64.58% | 1,690 | 17.67% | 1,698 | 17.75% |
| 1928 | 7,758 | 77.04% | 2,246 | 22.30% | 66 | 0.66% |
| 1932 | 5,320 | 49.04% | 5,339 | 49.21% | 190 | 1.75% |
| 1936 | 5,936 | 52.61% | 5,313 | 47.09% | 34 | 0.30% |
| 1940 | 6,931 | 63.25% | 3,957 | 36.11% | 70 | 0.64% |
| 1944 | 6,227 | 65.92% | 3,190 | 33.77% | 29 | 0.31% |
| 1948 | 5,918 | 59.98% | 3,815 | 38.66% | 134 | 1.36% |
| 1952 | 8,969 | 81.78% | 1,967 | 17.94% | 31 | 0.28% |
| 1956 | 7,422 | 74.91% | 2,452 | 24.75% | 34 | 0.34% |
| 1960 | 6,956 | 69.18% | 3,054 | 30.37% | 45 | 0.45% |
| 1964 | 4,704 | 53.17% | 4,070 | 46.00% | 73 | 0.83% |
| 1968 | 5,574 | 64.32% | 2,399 | 27.68% | 693 | 8.00% |
| 1972 | 6,515 | 75.34% | 1,957 | 22.63% | 175 | 2.02% |
| 1976 | 4,759 | 55.23% | 3,672 | 42.61% | 186 | 2.16% |
| 1980 | 5,654 | 67.64% | 2,108 | 25.22% | 597 | 7.14% |
| 1984 | 6,487 | 73.96% | 2,168 | 24.72% | 116 | 1.32% |
| 1988 | 5,121 | 63.28% | 2,870 | 35.47% | 101 | 1.25% |
| 1992 | 3,851 | 41.76% | 2,518 | 27.31% | 2,852 | 30.93% |
| 1996 | 5,174 | 60.53% | 2,423 | 28.35% | 951 | 11.13% |
| 2000 | 5,243 | 64.79% | 2,413 | 29.82% | 436 | 5.39% |
| 2004 | 6,295 | 71.61% | 2,364 | 26.89% | 132 | 1.50% |
| 2008 | 6,081 | 70.16% | 2,422 | 27.95% | 164 | 1.89% |
| 2012 | 5,832 | 72.52% | 2,020 | 25.12% | 190 | 2.36% |
| 2016 | 6,029 | 73.43% | 1,609 | 19.60% | 572 | 6.97% |
| 2020 | 7,126 | 76.22% | 2,060 | 22.03% | 163 | 1.74% |
| 2024 | 7,014 | 76.71% | 1,989 | 21.75% | 141 | 1.54% |
Dickinson County was a prohibition, or"dry", county until theKansas Constitution was amended in 1986 and voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with a 30% food sales requirement.[18]
School districts covering the county include:[19]
List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Dickinson County.[20]
‡ means a community has portions in an adjacent county.
† means a community is designated aCensus-Designated Place (CDP) by theUnited States Census Bureau.
Dickinson County is divided into twenty-fourtownships. The cities ofAbilene andHerington are consideredgovernmentally independent and are 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.
TheEisenhower Library is in Abilene. In addition to exhibits relating to the life and presidency of the 34th US president, the site is also the location of the tombs of President Eisenhower, First LadyMamie Eisenhower, and their son who died in infancy.
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was born inTexas but moved to Abilene at an early age and considered Abilene home. He was the34thPresident of the United States from 1953 until 1961. Prior to that he was afive-star general in theUnited States Army. DuringWorld War II, asSupreme Commander of theAllied Forces in Europe; he planned and supervised the invasion ofNorth Africa inOperation Torch in 1942–43 and theinvasion of France andGermany in 1944–45, from theWestern Front. In 1951, he became the firstsupreme commander of NATO.[21] TheEisenhower Library (see above) is in Abilene.
Joe Engle is a retiredU.S. Air Force colonel and a formerNASAastronaut. Engle helped to flight test the joint NASA-Air ForceX-15 rocket airplane. During testing, Engle earned his USAF astronaut wings, aDistinguished Flying Cross and other awards. He was one of the first astronauts in theSpace Shuttle program and flight tested theSpace Shuttle Enterprise in 1977. He was commander of the second orbital test flight of theSpace Shuttle Columbia in 1981. Engle was born and raised in Chapman.
Several figures from theAmerican Old West spent time in the county. Folk heroJames Butler "Wild Bill" Hickok, gunfighterJohn Wesley Hardin, and dance hall girl/prostituteLibby Thompson all made their mark in Abilene when it was in its wild cattle-town days.
US ArmyChaplainsJohn H. Eastwood andEmil Kapaun were stationed atHerington Army Airfield for part of their tour of duty duringWorld War II.
Pop Hollinger pioneered the industry ofcomic book collecting and also managed to secure several patents. He grew up in Chapman.
Places adjacent to Dickinson County, Kansas | ||||||||||||||||
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Municipalities and communities ofDickinson County, Kansas,United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cities |  | |
| CDPs | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Townships | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Other | |
