Graham County, Kansas

Graham County (county code GH) is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat and most populous city is Hill City.[2] As of the 2020 census, the county population was 2,415.[1] The county was named for John Graham, a captain in the American Civil War that died during the Battle of Chickamauga. The county is home to Nicodemus, founded 1877, which is the only remaining western town established by African Americans during the Reconstruction Period following the American Civil War.

Graham County
County
Antelope Lake Park near Morland (2014)
Antelope Lake Park near Morland (2014)
Map of Kansas highlighting Graham County
Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
Map of the United States highlighting Kansas
Kansas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 39°21′N 99°53′W
Country United States
State Kansas
FoundedFebruary 26, 1887
Named forJohn L. Graham
SeatHill City
Largest cityHill City
Area
 • Total899 sq mi (2,330 km2)
 • Land899 sq mi (2,330 km2)
 • Water0.2 sq mi (0.5 km2)  0.03%
Population
 (2020)[1]
 • Total2,415
 • Density2.7/sq mi (1.0/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district1st
Websitegrahamcountyks.com

History

Early history
See also: History of Kansas

For many millennia, the Great Plains of North America was inhabited by nomadic Native Americans. From the 16th century to 18th century, the Kingdom of France claimed ownership of large parts of North America. In 1762, after the French and Indian War, France secretly ceded New France to Spain, per the Treaty of Fontainebleau.

19th century

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 for modern day Kansas was acquired by the United States from France as part of the 828,000 square mile Louisiana Purchase for 2.83 cents per acre.

In 1854, the Kansas Territory was organized, then in 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.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 the Battle of Chickamauga in Tennessee on September 19, 1863.

Geography

According to the U.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.[5]

Graham County roughly contains 3600 quarter sections, and is the fourth county east of Colorado line and the second county south of the Nebraska line. The 100th 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 of Solomon River, and drained by Saline River.[6]

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Demographics
Population pyramid based on 2000 census age data
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18804,258—
18905,02918.1%
19005,1732.9%
19108,70068.2%
19207,624−12.4%
19307,7721.9%
19406,071−21.9%
19505,020−17.3%
19605,58611.3%
19704,751−14.9%
19803,995−15.9%
19903,543−11.3%
20002,946−16.9%
20102,597−11.8%
20202,415−7.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010-2020[1]

As of the 2000 census,[11] there were 2,946 people, 1,263 households, and 847 families residing in the county. The population 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). The racial makeup of the county was 94.91% White, 3.22% Black or African American, 0.34% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.41% from other races, and 0.81% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.78% of the population.

There were 1,263 households, out of which 27.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.50% were married 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.

The median 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. The per capita income for the county was $18,050. About 8.60% of families and 11.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.60% of those under age 18 and 10.40% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Presidential elections
Presidential election results
United States presidential election results for Graham County, Kansas[12]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 1,080 80.78% 228 17.05% 29 2.17%
2016 1,025 79.83% 188 14.64% 71 5.53%
2012 1,056 78.81% 256 19.10% 28 2.09%
2008 1,060 74.49% 325 22.84% 38 2.67%
2004 1,082 75.14% 334 23.19% 24 1.67%
2000 1,058 71.78% 346 23.47% 70 4.75%
1996 1,031 63.41% 432 26.57% 163 10.02%
1992 752 39.33% 554 28.97% 606 31.69%
1988 1,139 60.97% 702 37.58% 27 1.45%
1984 1,423 74.00% 480 24.96% 20 1.04%
1980 1,450 70.90% 473 23.13% 122 5.97%
1976 1,112 53.26% 936 44.83% 40 1.92%
1972 1,440 73.32% 488 24.85% 36 1.83%
1968 1,308 60.72% 597 27.72% 249 11.56%
1964 1,194 49.58% 1,193 49.54% 21 0.87%
1960 1,572 62.96% 918 36.76% 7 0.28%
1956 1,676 69.49% 725 30.06% 11 0.46%
1952 1,859 72.62% 686 26.80% 15 0.59%
1948 1,380 59.28% 913 39.22% 35 1.50%
1944 1,651 66.52% 814 32.80% 17 0.68%
1940 1,804 60.97% 1,135 38.36% 20 0.68%
1936 1,462 45.66% 1,734 54.15% 6 0.19%
1932 1,284 37.07% 2,082 60.10% 98 2.83%
1928 1,832 61.68% 1,087 36.60% 51 1.72%
1924 1,631 53.78% 629 20.74% 773 25.49%
1920 1,658 64.06% 762 29.44% 168 6.49%
1916 1,150 35.63% 1,801 55.79% 277 8.58%
1912 327 20.27% 636 39.43% 650 40.30%
1908 911 52.24% 723 41.46% 110 6.31%
1904 921 64.72% 244 17.15% 258 18.13%
1900 561 44.03% 694 54.47% 19 1.49%
1896 343 34.33% 648 64.86% 8 0.80%
1892 436 44.40% 0 0.00% 546 55.60%
1888 797 49.35% 342 21.18% 476 29.47%

Laws

Following amendment to the Kansas 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.[13]

Education

Unified school districts

Communities
2005 KDOT Map of Graham County (map legend)

† means a community is designated a Census-Designated Place (CDP) by the United States Census Bureau.

Cities

Unincorporated communities

Ghost towns

Townships

Graham County is divided into thirteen townships. None of the cities within the county are considered governmentally 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.

TownshipFIPSPopulation
center		 PopulationPopulation
density
/km2 (/sq mi)		 Land area
km2 (sq mi)		Water area
km2 (sq mi)		Water % Geographic coordinates
Allodium01325460 (1)175 (67)0 (0)0.06%39°29′23″N 100°4′42″W
Bryant088501150 (1)233 (90)0 (0)0.04%39°11′22″N 100°5′7″W
Gettysburg26175830 (1)227 (88)0 (0)0.04%39°23′11″N 100°1′50″W
Graham27175530 (1)186 (72)0 (0)0.02%39°31′3″N 99°47′51″W
Happy29950720 (1)233 (90)0 (0)0.05%39°12′17″N 99°53′7″W
Hill City32200Hill City1,74716 (41)112 (43)0 (0)0.15%39°22′17″N 99°50′29″W
Indiana34000420 (1)174 (67)0 (0)0.01%39°29′28″N 99°57′59″W
Millbrook466251501 (2)159 (62)0 (0)0.04%39°19′1″N 99°55′2″W
Morland48250680 (1)286 (111)0 (0)0.05%39°13′46″N 99°41′15″W
Nicodemus50575521 (2)84 (32)0 (0)0.03%39°24′40″N 99°38′55″W
Pioneer55900570 (1)161 (62)0 (0)0.02%39°31′1″N 99°40′2″W
Solomon66300Morland2091 (3)159 (61)0 (0)0.01%39°18′57″N 100°4′44″W
Wildhorse79225Bogue2522 (5)137 (53)0 (0)0.06%39°20′45″N 99°40′13″W
Sources: "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files". U.S. Census Bureau, Geography Division. Archived from the original on August 2, 2002.

In art

Noted regional artist Birger Sandzén frequently painted landscapes in Graham County, where his wife's parents moved in 1906.[14] Examples include Still Water currently profiled in the collection at Kansas State University's Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art which depicts Wild Horse Creek in the county.[14]

See also
Community information for Kansas

References
  1. "QuickFacts; Graham 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 May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. Blackmar, Frank Wilson (1912). Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, Embracing Events, Institutions, Industries, Counties, Cities, Towns, Prominent Persons, Etc. Standard Publishing Company. p. 771. ISBN 9780722249055.
  4. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 140.
  5. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  6. Ripley, George; Dana, Charles A., eds. (1879). "Graham. II. A N. W. unsettled county of Kansas" . The American Cyclopædia.
  7. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  9. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  10. "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.
  11. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  12. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
  13. "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.
  14. North, 24-27
Notes

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

    39°21′N 99°53′W

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