Scott County, Kansas

Scott County (standard abbreviation: SC) is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat is Scott City,[3] the only incorporated city in the county. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 5,151.[2] The county was named after Winfield Scott, a general in the United States Army from 1814 to 1861.

Scott County
County
Monument at Battle Canyon, site of the Battle of Punished Woman's Fork during the Northern Cheyenne Exodus of 1878
Monument at Battle Canyon, site of the Battle of Punished Woman's Fork during the Northern Cheyenne Exodus of 1878
Map of Kansas highlighting Scott County
Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
Map of the United States highlighting Kansas
Kansas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 38°28′00″N 100°54′00″W
Country United States
State Kansas
FoundedMarch 20, 1873
Named forWinfield Scott[1]
SeatScott City
Largest cityScott City
Area
 • Total718 sq mi (1,860 km2)
 • Land718 sq mi (1,860 km2)
 • Water0.1 sq mi (0.3 km2)  0.02%
Population
 (2020)[2]
 • Total5,151
 • Density7.2/sq mi (2.8/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district1st
WebsiteCounty Website

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. In 1873, Scott County was established.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 718 square miles (1,860 km2), of which 718 square miles (1,860 km2) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2) (0.02%) is water.[4]

Adjacent counties

Demographics
Population pyramid based on 2000 census age data
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
188043—
18901,2622,834.9%
19001,098−13.0%
19103,047177.5%
19203,1212.4%
19303,97627.4%
19403,773−5.1%
19504,92130.4%
19605,2286.2%
19705,6067.2%
19805,7823.1%
19905,289−8.5%
20005,120−3.2%
20104,936−3.6%
20205,1514.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
1790-1960[6] 1900-1990[7]
1990-2000[8] 2010-2020[2]

As of the census[9] of 2000, there were 5,120 people, 2,045 households, and 1,435 families residing in the county. The population density was 7 people per square mile (2.7 people/km2). There were 2,291 housing units at an average density of 3 per square mile (1.2/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 95.47% White, 0.10% Black or African American, 0.55% Native American, 0.12% Asian, 2.75% from other races, and 1.02% from two or more races. 6.31% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,045 households, out of which 33.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.00% were married couples living together, 6.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.80% were non-families. 27.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.10% under the age of 18, 6.60% from 18 to 24, 25.30% from 25 to 44, 24.40% from 45 to 64, and 16.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 97.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $40,534, and the median income for a family was $50,549. Males had a median income of $32,166 versus $20,221 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,443. About 2.10% of families and 5.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.00% of those under age 18 and 8.10% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Presidential elections

Prior to 1940, Scott County was a swing county, voting for the national winner in every presidential election from 1904 to 1936. From 1940 on, it has become one of the most Republican counties in the entire nation, with Barry Goldwater in 1964 being the lone Republican candidate since then to be held to single-digit margin of victory in the county. In addition, each of the last six presidential elections have resulted in the Republican candidate winning over 70 percent of the county's vote & the Democratic candidate being held under 20 percent.

Presidential election results
United States presidential election results for Scott County, Kansas[10]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 2,014 85.56% 299 12.70% 41 1.74%
2016 1,865 84.70% 236 10.72% 101 4.59%
2012 1,728 84.21% 277 13.50% 47 2.29%
2008 1,823 83.66% 321 14.73% 35 1.61%
2004 1,924 83.69% 347 15.09% 28 1.22%
2000 1,811 78.64% 418 18.15% 74 3.21%
1996 1,750 73.41% 458 19.21% 176 7.38%
1992 1,426 56.27% 480 18.94% 628 24.78%
1988 1,590 66.95% 717 30.19% 68 2.86%
1984 2,017 81.13% 427 17.18% 42 1.69%
1980 1,829 75.64% 456 18.86% 133 5.50%
1976 1,195 54.74% 919 42.10% 69 3.16%
1972 1,547 74.30% 449 21.57% 86 4.13%
1968 1,374 66.25% 500 24.11% 200 9.64%
1964 1,143 52.50% 1,016 46.67% 18 0.83%
1960 1,514 71.28% 598 28.15% 12 0.56%
1956 1,376 75.11% 451 24.62% 5 0.27%
1952 1,681 78.33% 443 20.64% 22 1.03%
1948 1,040 56.86% 739 40.40% 50 2.73%
1944 903 60.93% 565 38.12% 14 0.94%
1940 988 57.24% 717 41.54% 21 1.22%
1936 625 36.25% 1,096 63.57% 3 0.17%
1932 595 34.04% 1,092 62.47% 61 3.49%
1928 886 65.78% 450 33.41% 11 0.82%
1924 734 50.87% 445 30.84% 264 18.30%
1920 636 58.51% 379 34.87% 72 6.62%
1916 416 33.15% 684 54.50% 155 12.35%
1912 56 9.24% 247 40.76% 303 50.00%
1908 324 47.09% 294 42.73% 70 10.17%
1904 275 62.64% 79 18.00% 85 19.36%
1900 128 44.14% 159 54.83% 3 1.03%
1896 91 35.97% 161 63.64% 1 0.40%
1892 142 45.95% 0 0.00% 167 54.05%
1888 294 54.65% 182 33.83% 62 11.52%

Laws

Although the Kansas Constitution was amended in 1986 to allow the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with the approval of voters, Scott County has remained a prohibition, or "dry", county,[11] with 3.2% cereal-malt beverages available in grocery stores.

Education

Unified school districts

Library

The Scott County Public Library is located at 110 West 8th in Scott City. The Scott County Library was the first free county public library in the state of Kansas. It was started in September 1923 with the five members of the library committee each checking out a book for herself and one for her husband thus the library checked out ten books on the first day that it was open. Two rooms on the second floor of the Cretcher Lumber Company office building were made available for the library. L. W. Cretcher, owner of the lumber yard, gave the library a boost by painting the rooms, furnishing a stove, shelves, cupboards, lights, and free rent. In November 1924 a proposal was placed on the ballot for the library to be a county funded entity. A room was set aside in the basement of the newly built courthouse for the library, which at that time possessed 861 books. The library in the courthouse was opened to the public in July 1925. The library remained in the basement of the Scott County Courthouse until a separate library building was constructed at 110 West 8th Street in 1964. This building was 4,150 square feet (386 m2) with a 660-square-foot (61 m2) meeting room available to the public. In 2004, the Scott County Library Board began a fundraising effort for a Library Building expansion of 7,350 feet (2,240 m). The Library expansion and remodel to 12,160 square feet (1,130 m2) was completed in May 2009.[12]

Communities
2005 KDOT Map of Scott County (map legend)

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

Cities

Unincorporated communities

Townships

Scott County is divided into seven townships. Scott City 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.

Sources: 2000 U.S. Gazetteer from the U.S. Census Bureau.
TownshipFIPSPopulation
center		 PopulationPopulation
density
/km2 (/sq mi)		 Land area
km2 (sq mi)		Water area
km2 (sq mi)		Water % Geographic coordinates
Beaver051753021 (3)309 (119)0 (0)0.10%38°37′11″N 100°59′58″W
Isbel345751101 (1)206 (80)0 (0)0%38°28′52″N 101°2′52″W
Keystone366001061 (1)206 (80)0 (0)0%38°30′17″N 100°45′4″W
Lake37850950 (1)311 (120)0 (0)0%38°20′23″N 100°49′39″W
Michigan46175880 (1)308 (119)0 (0)0%38°36′23″N 100°48′23″W
Scott635753092 (4)202 (78)0 (0)0%38°29′31″N 100°55′0″W
Valley731252551 (2)311 (120)0 (0)0%38°21′6″N 100°58′13″W

See also
Community information for Kansas

References
  1. "Welcome to the Scott County website". Scott County, Kansas. Retrieved November 4, 2012.
  2. "QuickFacts; Scott County, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 19, 2021. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
  3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  5. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  6. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  7. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  8. "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 29, 2014.
  9. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  10. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
  11. "Map of Wet and Dry Counties". Alcoholic Beverage Control, Kansas Department of Revenue. November 2004. Archived from the original on October 8, 2007. Retrieved January 21, 2007.
  12. History of Early Scott County, Scott County Historical Society, 1977. pp. 306-307.
Notes

    Further reading
    See also: List of books about Kansas, including historical information about its counties and cities
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    38°28′N 100°54′W

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