Graham County, Kansas | |
|---|---|
_N_shelter_1.JPG) Antelope Lake Park nearMorland (2014) | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofKansas | |
| Coordinates:39°21′N99°53′W / 39.35°N 99.88°W /39.35; -99.88 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Kansas |
| Founded | February 26, 1887 |
| Named after | John L. Graham |
| Seat | Hill City |
| Largest city | Hill City |
| Area | |
• Total | 899 sq mi (2,330 km2) |
| • Land | 899 sq mi (2,330 km2) |
| • Water | 0.2 sq mi (0.52 km2) 0.03% |
| Population | |
• Total | 2,415 |
| • Density | 2.7/sq mi (1.0/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 1st |
| Website | grahamcountyks.com |
Graham County is acounty located in theU.S. state ofKansas. Itscounty seat and most populous city isHill City.[2] As of the2020 census, the county population was 2,415.[1] The county was named for John Graham, a captain in theCivil War who died during theBattle of Chickamauga. The county is home toNicodemus, founded in 1877, which is the only remaining western town established byAfrican Americans during theReconstruction period following the Civil War.
For many millennia, theGreat Plains of North America was inhabited by nomadicNative Americans. From the 16th century to 18th century, theKingdom of France claimed ownership of large parts of North America. In 1762, after theFrench and Indian War, France secretly cededNew France to Spain, 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 1854, theKansas Territory was organized, then in 1861Kansas became the 34thU.S. state. Graham County was organized in 1880.[3] In 1887,Graham County was established and named for Captain John L. Graham,[4] a Union soldier killed in action at theBattle of Chickamauga inTennessee on September 19, 1863.[5]
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 899 square miles (2,330 km2), of which 899 square miles (2,330 km2) is land and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km2) (0.03%) is water.[6]
Graham County roughly contains 3600 quarter sections, and is the fourth county east ofColorado line and the second county south of theNebraska line. The100th meridian west passes nearly through its center. The average elevation in the county is 2,700 feet (820 m) above sea level.It is intersected by the south fork ofSolomon River, and drained bySaline River.[7]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | 4,258 | — | |
| 1890 | 5,029 | 18.1% | |
| 1900 | 5,173 | 2.9% | |
| 1910 | 8,700 | 68.2% | |
| 1920 | 7,624 | −12.4% | |
| 1930 | 7,772 | 1.9% | |
| 1940 | 6,071 | −21.9% | |
| 1950 | 5,020 | −17.3% | |
| 1960 | 5,586 | 11.3% | |
| 1970 | 4,751 | −14.9% | |
| 1980 | 3,995 | −15.9% | |
| 1990 | 3,543 | −11.3% | |
| 2000 | 2,946 | −16.9% | |
| 2010 | 2,597 | −11.8% | |
| 2020 | 2,415 | −7.0% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 2,376 | [8] | −1.6% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[9] 1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11] 1990-2000[12] 2010-2020[1] | |||
As of the2020 census, the county had a population of 2,415 and a median age of 50.4 years; 21.0% of residents were under the age of 18 while 27.7% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 98.8 males and 95.7 males for every 100 females age 18 and over. None of the population lived in urban areas while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[13][14]
The racial makeup of the county was 91.6% White, 2.4%Black or African American, 0.6%American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%Asian, 0.1%Native Hawaiian andPacific Islander, 0.6% from some other race, and 4.2% fromtwo or more races.Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.6% of the population.[15]
There were 1,103 households in the county, of which 24.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 24.8% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 34.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[13]
There were 1,422 housing units, of which 22.4% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 74.7% were owner-occupied and 25.3% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.4%.[13]
As of the2000 census,[16] there were 2,946 people, 1,263 households, and 847 families residing in the county. Thepopulation density was 3 people per square mile (1.2 people/km2). There were 1,553 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile (0.77/km2). Theracial makeup of the county was 94.91%White, 3.22%Black orAfrican American, 0.34%Native American, 0.27%Asian, 0.03%Pacific Islander, 0.41% from other races, and 0.81% fromtwo or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 0.78% of the population.
There were 1,263households, out of which 27.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.50% weremarried couples living together, 5.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.90% were non-families. 30.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.84.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.50% under the age of 18, 5.30% from 18 to 24, 23.10% from 25 to 44, 25.40% from 45 to 64, and 23.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 95.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.20 males.
Themedian income for a household in the county was $31,286, and the median income for a family was $38,036. Males had a median income of $26,642 versus $18,222 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $18,050. About 8.60% of families and 11.50% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 13.60% of those under age 18 and 10.40% of those age 65 or over.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1888 | 797 | 49.35% | 342 | 21.18% | 476 | 29.47% |
| 1892 | 436 | 44.40% | 0 | 0.00% | 546 | 55.60% |
| 1896 | 343 | 34.33% | 648 | 64.86% | 8 | 0.80% |
| 1900 | 561 | 44.03% | 694 | 54.47% | 19 | 1.49% |
| 1904 | 921 | 64.72% | 244 | 17.15% | 258 | 18.13% |
| 1908 | 911 | 52.24% | 723 | 41.46% | 110 | 6.31% |
| 1912 | 327 | 20.27% | 636 | 39.43% | 650 | 40.30% |
| 1916 | 1,150 | 35.63% | 1,801 | 55.79% | 277 | 8.58% |
| 1920 | 1,658 | 64.06% | 762 | 29.44% | 168 | 6.49% |
| 1924 | 1,631 | 53.78% | 629 | 20.74% | 773 | 25.49% |
| 1928 | 1,832 | 61.68% | 1,087 | 36.60% | 51 | 1.72% |
| 1932 | 1,284 | 37.07% | 2,082 | 60.10% | 98 | 2.83% |
| 1936 | 1,462 | 45.66% | 1,734 | 54.15% | 6 | 0.19% |
| 1940 | 1,804 | 60.97% | 1,135 | 38.36% | 20 | 0.68% |
| 1944 | 1,651 | 66.52% | 814 | 32.80% | 17 | 0.68% |
| 1948 | 1,380 | 59.28% | 913 | 39.22% | 35 | 1.50% |
| 1952 | 1,859 | 72.62% | 686 | 26.80% | 15 | 0.59% |
| 1956 | 1,676 | 69.49% | 725 | 30.06% | 11 | 0.46% |
| 1960 | 1,572 | 62.96% | 918 | 36.76% | 7 | 0.28% |
| 1964 | 1,194 | 49.58% | 1,193 | 49.54% | 21 | 0.87% |
| 1968 | 1,308 | 60.72% | 597 | 27.72% | 249 | 11.56% |
| 1972 | 1,440 | 73.32% | 488 | 24.85% | 36 | 1.83% |
| 1976 | 1,112 | 53.26% | 936 | 44.83% | 40 | 1.92% |
| 1980 | 1,450 | 70.90% | 473 | 23.13% | 122 | 5.97% |
| 1984 | 1,423 | 74.00% | 480 | 24.96% | 20 | 1.04% |
| 1988 | 1,139 | 60.97% | 702 | 37.58% | 27 | 1.45% |
| 1992 | 752 | 39.33% | 554 | 28.97% | 606 | 31.69% |
| 1996 | 1,031 | 63.41% | 432 | 26.57% | 163 | 10.02% |
| 2000 | 1,058 | 71.78% | 346 | 23.47% | 70 | 4.75% |
| 2004 | 1,082 | 75.14% | 334 | 23.19% | 24 | 1.67% |
| 2008 | 1,060 | 74.49% | 325 | 22.84% | 38 | 2.67% |
| 2012 | 1,056 | 78.81% | 256 | 19.10% | 28 | 2.09% |
| 2016 | 1,025 | 79.83% | 188 | 14.64% | 71 | 5.53% |
| 2020 | 1,080 | 80.78% | 228 | 17.05% | 29 | 2.17% |
| 2024 | 1,055 | 81.97% | 210 | 16.32% | 22 | 1.71% |
Following amendment to theKansas Constitution in 1986, Graham County remained a prohibition, or"dry", county until 1992, when voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink without a food sales requirement.[18]
List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Graham County.[19]
† means a community is designated aCensus-Designated Place (CDP) by theUnited States Census Bureau.
Graham County is divided into thirteentownships. None of the cities within the county are consideredgovernmentally 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.
Noted regional artistBirger Sandzén frequently painted landscapes in Graham County, where his wife's parents moved in 1906.[20] Examples includeStill Water currently profiled in the collection at Kansas State University'sMarianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art which depictsWild Horse Creek in the county.[20]
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Places adjacent to Graham County, Kansas | ||||||||||||||||
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Municipalities and communities ofGraham County, Kansas,United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
| CDP | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Ghost towns | ||
| Townships | ||
| International | |
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| National | |
| Other | |
