Reno County, Kansas | |
|---|---|
 Reno County Courthouse inHutchinson (2008) | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofKansas | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Kansas |
| Founded | February 26, 1867 |
| Named after | Jesse Lee Reno |
| Seat | Hutchinson |
| Largest city | Hutchinson |
| Area | |
• Total | 1,272 sq mi (3,290 km2) |
| • Land | 1,255 sq mi (3,250 km2) |
| • Water | 17 sq mi (44 km2) 1.3% |
| Population | |
• Total | 61,898 |
• Estimate (2023)[2] | 61,497 |
| • Density | 49.3/sq mi (19.0/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Area code | 620 |
| Congressional district | 1st |
| Website | renocountyks.gov |
Reno County is acounty located in theU.S. state ofKansas. Itscounty seat and largest city isHutchinson.[3] As of the2020 census, the population was 61,898.[1] The county is named forJesse Reno, a general during theCivil War.
For many millennia, theGreat Plains ofNorth America were inhabited by nomadicNative 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 1854, theKansas Territory was organized, then in 1861Kansas became the 34thU.S. state.
In 1867, Reno County was established, named for GeneralJesse L. Reno.
In 1887, theChicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway extended its main line fromHerington toPratt.[4] This main line connected Herington,Ramona,Tampa,Durham,Waldeck,Canton,Galva,McPherson,Groveland,Inman,Medora,Hutchinson,Whiteside,Partridge,Arlington,Langdon,Turon,Preston,Natrona and 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".
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,272 square miles (3,290 km2), of which 1,255 square miles (3,250 km2) is land and 17 square miles (44 km2) (1.3%) is water.[5] It is the third-largest county by area in Kansas.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | 12,826 | — | |
| 1890 | 27,079 | 111.1% | |
| 1900 | 29,027 | 7.2% | |
| 1910 | 37,853 | 30.4% | |
| 1920 | 44,423 | 17.4% | |
| 1930 | 47,785 | 7.6% | |
| 1940 | 52,165 | 9.2% | |
| 1950 | 54,058 | 3.6% | |
| 1960 | 59,055 | 9.2% | |
| 1970 | 60,765 | 2.9% | |
| 1980 | 64,983 | 6.9% | |
| 1990 | 62,389 | −4.0% | |
| 2000 | 64,790 | 3.8% | |
| 2010 | 64,511 | −0.4% | |
| 2020 | 61,898 | −4.1% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 61,497 | [6] | −0.6% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[7] 1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9] 1990-2000[10] 2010-2020[1] | |||
The HutchinsonMicropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Reno County.
As of the2020 census, the county had a population of 61,898. The median age was 41.0 years. 22.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 20.5% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 102.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 101.6 males age 18 and over.[11][12]
The racial makeup of the county was 85.2% White, 3.0%Black or African American, 0.8%American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%Asian, 0.1%Native Hawaiian andPacific Islander, 2.9% from some other race, and 7.4% fromtwo or more races.Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 9.8% of the population.[12]
68.6% of residents lived in urban areas, while 31.4% lived in rural areas.[13]
There were 25,189 households in the county, of which 27.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 26.4% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 31.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[11]
There were 28,289 housing units, of which 11.0% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 68.0% were owner-occupied and 32.0% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 11.3%.[11]
As of thecensus of 2000, there were 64,790 people, 25,498 households, and 17,313 families residing in the county. Thepopulation density was 52 people per square mile (20 people/km2). There were 27,625 housing units at an average density of 22 per square mile (8.5/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 91.56%White, 2.88%Black orAfrican American, 0.58%Native American, 0.45%Asian, 0.04%Pacific Islander, 2.69% fromother races, and 1.81% from two or more races. 5.65% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
There were 25,498 households, out of which 30.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.90% weremarried couples living together, 8.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.10% were non-families. 27.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.50% under the age of 18, 9.30% from 18 to 24, 26.90% from 25 to 44, 22.90% from 45 to 64, and 16.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 100.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.00 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $35,510, and the median income for a family was $42,643. Males had a median income of $31,495 versus $21,329 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $18,520. About 8.10% of families and 10.90% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 13.90% of those under age 18 and 8.50% of those age 65 or over.
Reno County is strongly Republican. The last time a Democratic candidate won the county was in 1976 whenJimmy Carter did so. However, 1988 was somewhat close asMichael Dukakis lost the county by only 5 percentage points due to a persistent drought and farm crisis.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1888 | 3,398 | 56.61% | 1,841 | 30.67% | 763 | 12.71% |
| 1892 | 3,166 | 50.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 3,166 | 50.00% |
| 1896 | 3,373 | 51.96% | 3,051 | 47.00% | 67 | 1.03% |
| 1900 | 3,769 | 56.02% | 2,859 | 42.49% | 100 | 1.49% |
| 1904 | 4,245 | 69.33% | 1,423 | 23.24% | 455 | 7.43% |
| 1908 | 4,092 | 52.72% | 3,381 | 43.56% | 289 | 3.72% |
| 1912 | 1,668 | 20.92% | 3,360 | 42.13% | 2,947 | 36.95% |
| 1916 | 6,870 | 46.05% | 6,683 | 44.80% | 1,366 | 9.16% |
| 1920 | 9,649 | 67.12% | 4,385 | 30.50% | 341 | 2.37% |
| 1924 | 10,339 | 65.23% | 3,675 | 23.18% | 1,837 | 11.59% |
| 1928 | 12,872 | 76.31% | 3,843 | 22.78% | 153 | 0.91% |
| 1932 | 8,972 | 47.30% | 9,351 | 49.29% | 647 | 3.41% |
| 1936 | 8,607 | 37.59% | 14,203 | 62.03% | 88 | 0.38% |
| 1940 | 12,448 | 53.64% | 10,543 | 45.43% | 217 | 0.94% |
| 1944 | 11,004 | 58.71% | 7,604 | 40.57% | 135 | 0.72% |
| 1948 | 11,187 | 51.87% | 9,957 | 46.17% | 423 | 1.96% |
| 1952 | 15,762 | 68.58% | 6,555 | 28.52% | 666 | 2.90% |
| 1956 | 15,057 | 66.56% | 7,461 | 32.98% | 102 | 0.45% |
| 1960 | 14,655 | 60.21% | 9,557 | 39.27% | 127 | 0.52% |
| 1964 | 8,829 | 36.83% | 14,936 | 62.30% | 208 | 0.87% |
| 1968 | 11,804 | 50.29% | 9,872 | 42.06% | 1,798 | 7.66% |
| 1972 | 15,714 | 63.81% | 8,183 | 33.23% | 731 | 2.97% |
| 1976 | 11,212 | 42.29% | 14,620 | 55.14% | 680 | 2.56% |
| 1980 | 13,804 | 52.85% | 9,615 | 36.81% | 2,702 | 10.34% |
| 1984 | 16,568 | 63.34% | 9,229 | 35.28% | 362 | 1.38% |
| 1988 | 12,753 | 51.11% | 11,545 | 46.27% | 656 | 2.63% |
| 1992 | 11,377 | 40.10% | 9,257 | 32.63% | 7,738 | 27.27% |
| 1996 | 14,275 | 54.28% | 9,108 | 34.63% | 2,917 | 11.09% |
| 2000 | 15,179 | 59.69% | 9,025 | 35.49% | 1,226 | 4.82% |
| 2004 | 17,748 | 64.95% | 9,114 | 33.36% | 462 | 1.69% |
| 2008 | 16,112 | 60.57% | 9,916 | 37.28% | 574 | 2.16% |
| 2012 | 15,718 | 64.36% | 8,085 | 33.11% | 619 | 2.53% |
| 2016 | 15,513 | 63.23% | 6,837 | 27.87% | 2,186 | 8.91% |
| 2020 | 18,443 | 65.73% | 8,886 | 31.67% | 731 | 2.61% |
| 2024 | 17,847 | 65.94% | 8,554 | 31.60% | 666 | 2.46% |
Reno 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 percent food sales requirement. The food sales requirement was removed with voter approval in 2004.[15]
There are three private schools in Hutchinson:
List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Reno County.[16]
† means a community is designated aCensus-Designated Place (CDP) by theUnited States Census Bureau.
Reno County is divided into thirty-onetownships. The cities ofHutchinson andNickerson 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.
Places adjacent to Reno County, Kansas | |
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Municipalities and communities ofReno County, Kansas,United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
| CDP | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Ghost town |
| |
| Townships | ||
| International | |
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| National | |
| Geographic | |
| Other | |
