Edwards County, Kansas

Edwards County (county code ED) is a county located in the U.S. states of Kansas. Its county seat and most populous city is Kinsley.[2] As of the 2020 census, the county population was 2,907,[1] The county was founded in 1874 and named for W. C. Edwards, of Hutchinson, a pioneer settler who owned much land in the area.[3]

Edwards County
County
Watertower in Kinsley (2009)
Watertower in Kinsley (2009)
Map of Kansas highlighting Edwards County
Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
Map of the United States highlighting Kansas
Kansas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°53′N 99°16′W
Country United States
State Kansas
FoundedMarch 18, 1874
Named forW. C. Edwards
SeatKinsley
Largest cityKinsley
Area
 • Total622 sq mi (1,610 km2)
 • Land622 sq mi (1,610 km2)
 • Water0.1 sq mi (0.3 km2)  0.01%
Population
 (2020)[1]
 • Total2,907
 • Density4.7/sq mi (1.8/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Area code620
Congressional district4th
Websiteedwardscounty.org

History
See also: History of Kansas and Timeline of Kansas history

For many millennia, the Great Plains of North America was inhabited by nomadic Native Americans.

In 1854, the Kansas Territory was organized, then in 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state.

In 1873, Edwards County was established, and named for W. C. Edwards, of Hutchinson, a pioneer settler who owned much land in the area and built the first brick building in Kinsley.[4]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 622 square miles (1,610 km2), of which 622 square miles (1,610 km2) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2) (0.01%) is water.[5]

Geographic Features

The Arkansas River flows through Edwards County from the southwest corner to the Pawnee County line near U.S. Route 56.

Major highways

Three U.S. Routes run through Edwards County, all meeting in Kinsley. An east–west route, U.S. Route 50 circumvents Belpre and Lewis before joining with westbound U.S. Route 56 in Kinsley. The single road then passes through Offerle and west into Ford County. U.S. Route 183 runs from Kiowa County in the south to Kinsley, where it joins eastbound U.S. 56, running as a single highway to Pawnee County. K-19 starts at U.S. Route 50 near Belpre, and travels north into Pawnee County.

Adjacent counties

Demographics
Population pyramid based on 2000 census age data
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18802,409—
18903,60049.4%
19003,6822.3%
19107,03391.0%
19207,0570.3%
19307,2953.4%
19406,377−12.6%
19505,936−6.9%
19605,118−13.8%
19704,581−10.5%
19804,271−6.8%
19903,787−11.3%
20003,449−8.9%
20103,037−11.9%
20202,907−4.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2020[1]

As of the 2000 census,[10] there were 3,449 people, 1,455 households, and 955 families residing in the county. The population density was 6 people per square mile (2.3 people/km2). There were 1,754 housing units at an average density of 3 per square mile (1.2/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 92.52% White, 0.32% Black or African American, 0.49% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 5.57% from other races, and 0.78% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.71% of the population.

There were 1,455 households, out of which 28.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.30% were married couples living together, 6.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.30% were non-families. 32.00% 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 2.33 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.60% under the age of 18, 6.70% from 18 to 24, 25.10% from 25 to 44, 22.80% from 45 to 64, and 20.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 97.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,530, and the median income for a family was $38,250. Males had a median income of $27,050 versus $20,132 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,586. About 7.00% of families and 10.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.40% of those under age 18 and 8.00% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Presidential elections
Presidential election results
United States presidential election results for Edwards County, Kansas[11]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 1,141 79.73% 271 18.94% 19 1.33%
2016 1,037 78.62% 212 16.07% 70 5.31%
2012 1,059 76.46% 298 21.52% 28 2.02%
2008 995 73.32% 333 24.54% 29 2.14%
2004 1,084 72.46% 386 25.80% 26 1.74%
2000 1,062 67.95% 447 28.60% 54 3.45%
1996 1,088 59.94% 539 29.70% 188 10.36%
1992 769 39.95% 567 29.45% 589 30.60%
1988 993 53.88% 792 42.97% 58 3.15%
1984 1,352 67.53% 606 30.27% 44 2.20%
1980 1,409 63.93% 616 27.95% 179 8.12%
1976 1,001 42.47% 1,304 55.32% 52 2.21%
1972 1,534 64.54% 757 31.85% 86 3.62%
1968 1,243 54.90% 832 36.75% 189 8.35%
1964 932 39.21% 1,427 60.03% 18 0.76%
1960 1,588 61.46% 986 38.16% 10 0.39%
1956 1,816 69.93% 771 29.69% 10 0.39%
1952 2,192 76.40% 647 22.55% 30 1.05%
1948 1,627 58.15% 1,083 38.71% 88 3.15%
1944 1,669 65.09% 876 34.17% 19 0.74%
1940 1,886 60.14% 1,219 38.87% 31 0.99%
1936 1,394 41.21% 1,986 58.71% 3 0.09%
1932 1,420 44.40% 1,693 52.94% 85 2.66%
1928 2,171 73.37% 768 25.95% 20 0.68%
1924 1,929 66.98% 548 19.03% 403 13.99%
1920 1,782 70.16% 681 26.81% 77 3.03%
1916 1,158 40.80% 1,431 50.42% 249 8.77%
1912 276 16.05% 764 44.42% 680 39.53%
1908 773 50.23% 704 45.74% 62 4.03%
1904 816 64.30% 328 25.85% 125 9.85%
1900 523 50.10% 502 48.08% 19 1.82%
1896 322 39.85% 479 59.28% 7 0.87%
1892 399 45.55% 0 0.00% 477 54.45%
1888 541 53.62% 334 33.10% 134 13.28%

Laws

Edwards County was a prohibition, or "dry", county until the Kansas Constitution was amended in 1986 and voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with a 30% food sales requirement.[12]

Education

Unified school districts

Communities
2005 KDOT Map of Edwards County (map legend)

Cities

Unincorporated communities

Townships

Edwards County is divided into ten townships. The city of Kinsley is considered governmentally 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.

TownshipFIPSPopulation
center		 PopulationPopulation
density
/km2 (/sq mi)		 Land area
km2 (sq mi)		Water area
km2 (sq mi)		Water % Geographic coordinates
Belpre058501861 (3)140 (54)0 (0)0.01%37°57′14″N 99°6′12″W
Franklin24350930 (1)191 (74)0 (0)0%37°48′55″N 99°11′12″W
Jackson34750981 (1)187 (72)0 (0)0.05%37°59′35″N 99°30′18″W
Kinsley371001601 (3)121 (47)0 (0)0.01%37°56′27″N 99°24′0″W
Lincoln406501431 (2)193 (74)0 (0)0%37°49′17″N 99°4′39″W
Logan41875420 (1)93 (36)0 (0)0%38°3′5″N 99°23′47″W
North Brown51100670 (1)163 (63)0 (0)0.05%37°51′43″N 99°21′34″W
South Brown66550900 (1)251 (97)0 (0)0%37°47′5″N 99°22′5″W
Trenton714003062 (6)136 (53)0 (0)0%37°52′50″N 99°32′31″W
Wayne761256065 (12)132 (51)0 (0)0%37°56′28″N 99°15′30″W
Sources: "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files". U.S. Census Bureau, Geography Division. Archived from the original on August 2, 2002.

See also
Community information for Kansas

References
  1. "QuickFacts; Edwards County, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 16, 2021. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on July 12, 2012. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 115.
  4. Edwards County, Kansas; Kansas Historical Society.
  5. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  6. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  7. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  8. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  9. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  10. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  11. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
  12. "Map of Wet and Dry Counties". Alcoholic Beverage Control, Kansas Department of Revenue. November 2006. Archived from the original on October 8, 2007. Retrieved December 28, 2007.

Further reading
See also: List of books about Kansas, including historical information about its counties and cities
See also: List of books about Santa Fe Trail
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