Sedgwick County, Kansas

Sedgwick County (county code: SG) is located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat is Wichita,[3] the most populous city in the state. As of the 2020 census, the population was 523,824,[1] making it the second-most populous county in Kansas. The county was named for John Sedgwick, the highest ranking Union general killed during the American Civil War.

Not to be confused with Sedgwick, Kansas.

Sedgwick County
County
Old Sedgwick County Courthouse in Wichita (2009)
Old Sedgwick County Courthouse in Wichita (2009)
Map of Kansas highlighting Sedgwick 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°43′N 97°27′W
Country United States
State Kansas
FoundedFebruary 26, 1867
Named forJohn Sedgwick
SeatWichita
Largest cityWichita
Area
 • Total1,009 sq mi (2,610 km2)
 • Land998 sq mi (2,580 km2)
 • Water12 sq mi (30 km2)  1.2%
Population
 (2020)[1]
 • Total523,824
 • Estimate 
(2021)[2]
523,828 Increase
 • Density524.9/sq mi (202.7/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Area code316
Congressional district4th
Websitesedgwickcounty.org

History
1915 railroad map of Sedgwick County

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. In 1802, Spain returned most of the land to France.

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 1848, after the Mexican–American War, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo with Spain brought into the United States all or part of land for ten future states, including southwest Kansas. In 1854, the Kansas Territory was organized, and in 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state.

19th century
See also: History of Wichita, Kansas

Sedgwick County was founded in 1867, and named after John Sedgwick, who was a major general in the Union Army during the American Civil War.[4]

In 1887, the Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway built a branch line north–south from Herington to Caldwell.[5] This branch line connected Herington, Lost Springs, Lincolnville, Antelope, Marion, Aulne, Peabody, Elbing, Whitewater, Furley, Kechi, Wichita, Peck, Corbin, Wellington, Caldwell. By 1893, this branch line was incrementally built to Fort Worth, Texas. This line is called the "OKT". The Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway was foreclosed in 1891 and was taken over by Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway, which shut down in 1980 and reorganized as Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas Railroad, merged in 1988 with Missouri Pacific Railroad, and finally merged in 1997 with Union Pacific Railroad. Most locals still refer to this railroad as the "Rock Island".

20th century

Sedgwick County was the setting for the murders committed by the BTK strangler from 1974 until 1991. Dennis Rader, an employee of the Sedgwick County city of Park City was arrested in early 2005 after he began sending incriminating letters taunting the police in 2004. He had not been heard from since 1979. Ken Landwehr of the Wichita Police Department led the task force which captured Rader, setting a new standard of serial crime detection in the process, which is still studied by police departments across the world. Rader is serving 10 life sentences at the El Dorado Correctional Facility in El Dorado.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,009 square miles (2,610 km2), of which 998 square miles (2,580 km2) is land and 12 square miles (31 km2) (1.2%) is water.[6]

Adjacent counties

Demographics
Population pyramid based on 2000 census age data
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18701,095—
188018,7531,612.6%
189043,626132.6%
190044,0370.9%
191073,09566.0%
192092,23426.2%
1930136,33047.8%
1940143,3115.1%
1950222,29055.1%
1960343,23154.4%
1970350,6942.2%
1980366,5314.5%
1990403,66210.1%
2000452,86912.2%
2010498,36510.0%
2020523,8245.1%
2021 (est.)523,828[2]0.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900–1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010–2020[1]

Sedgwick County is part of the Wichita, KS Metropolitan Statistical Area.

As of the census of 2000, there were 452,869 people, 176,444 households, and 117,688 families residing in the county. The population density was 453 inhabitants per square mile (175/km2). There were 191,133 housing units at an average density of 191 per square mile (74/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 79.38% White, 9.13% Black or African American, 1.11% Native American, 3.34% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 4.17% from other races, and 2.81% from two or more races. 8.04% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 176,444 households, out of which 34.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.70% were married couples living together, 10.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.30% were non-families. 28.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.14.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 28.20% under the age of 18, 9.50% from 18 to 24, 30.30% from 25 to 44, 20.60% from 45 to 64, and 11.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $42,485, and the median income for a family was $51,645. Males had a median income of $37,770 versus $26,153 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,907. About 7.00% of families and 9.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.90% of those under age 18 and 7.00% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

It is the birthplace of famous restaurants such as White Castle and Pizza Hut.[11] It is also the aviation headquarters of well-known Cessna and Learjet.[12]

Government

Presidential elections
Presidential election results
United States presidential election results for Sedgwick County, Kansas[13]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 122,416 54.44% 95,870 42.64% 6,576 2.92%
2016 104,353 54.41% 69,627 36.30% 17,818 9.29%
2012 106,506 58.23% 71,977 39.35% 4,412 2.41%
2008 106,849 55.15% 82,337 42.50% 4,544 2.35%
2004 110,381 62.12% 64,839 36.49% 2,459 1.38%
2000 93,724 57.35% 62,561 38.28% 7,132 4.36%
1996 93,397 56.06% 59,643 35.80% 13,559 8.14%
1992 75,577 40.53% 62,670 33.61% 48,228 25.86%
1988 86,124 55.30% 65,618 42.13% 4,003 2.57%
1984 95,874 62.53% 55,263 36.05% 2,178 1.42%
1980 75,317 51.79% 55,105 37.89% 15,009 10.32%
1976 69,828 50.74% 63,989 46.49% 3,812 2.77%
1972 83,949 65.74% 39,220 30.71% 4,532 3.55%
1968 60,853 51.80% 44,041 37.49% 12,575 10.70%
1964 52,592 43.76% 66,372 55.23% 1,217 1.01%
1960 73,501 55.23% 58,887 44.25% 696 0.52%
1956 72,292 61.08% 45,732 38.64% 336 0.28%
1952 70,983 66.47% 34,926 32.71% 879 0.82%
1948 39,165 49.56% 38,621 48.87% 1,243 1.57%
1944 38,896 52.78% 34,442 46.73% 360 0.49%
1940 32,160 48.05% 34,219 51.13% 547 0.82%
1936 21,654 35.29% 39,503 64.39% 197 0.32%
1932 21,815 41.48% 29,344 55.79% 1,435 2.73%
1928 32,132 74.40% 10,649 24.66% 405 0.94%
1924 21,144 57.23% 8,712 23.58% 7,087 19.18%
1920 16,642 59.15% 10,998 39.09% 494 1.76%
1916 10,899 41.79% 13,391 51.34% 1,792 6.87%
1912 1,419 9.77% 5,752 39.61% 7,350 50.62%
1908 6,756 50.25% 6,049 44.99% 640 4.76%
1904 6,697 60.77% 2,869 26.03% 1,455 13.20%
1900 5,363 50.03% 5,144 47.99% 212 1.98%
1896 4,122 42.68% 5,434 56.26% 102 1.06%
1892 4,770 46.68% 0 0.00% 5,448 53.32%
1888 6,071 55.51% 4,025 36.80% 841 7.69%
1884 3,464 53.56% 2,467 38.14% 537 8.30%
1880 2,288 57.11% 1,354 33.80% 364 9.09%

Sedgwick County is fairly conservative for an urban county. It has only gone Democratic in a presidential election once since 1944. Democratic strength is concentrated in Wichita, while the suburban areas are strongly Republican. However, the county often backs Democrats for governorship - most recently Laura Kelly in 2022. This makes it a bellwether in local Kansas elections, with the statewide winner almost always winning the county.[14] The last Democratic Senate candidate to win the county was Bill Roy in 1974, while Kansas as a whole has not been represented by a Democrat in the Senate since 1938.[15]

Laws

Sedgwick 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 percent food sales requirement. The food sales requirement was removed with voter approval in 1988.[16]

Despite its conservative reputation, Sedgwick County voted "No" on the 2022 Kansas Value Them Both Amendment, an anti-abortion ballot measure, by 58% to 42% despite backing Donald Trump with 54% of the vote to Joe Biden's 43% in the 2020 presidential election.[17]

Transportation

Airports

The following public-use airports are located in Sedgwick County:

The following are closed airports:

Education

Colleges and universities

Unified school districts

Points of interest

Communities
2005 KDOT map of Sedgwick County (map legend)

‡ means a community has portions in an adjacent county. † means a community is designated a Census-Designated Place (CDP) by the United States Census Bureau.

Cities

Unincorporated communities

Ghost towns
  • Davidson
  • Hatfield
  • Huckle
  • Jamesburg
  • Marshall
  • Oatville
  • Wichita Heights

Townships
Map of townships in Sedgwick County

Sedgwick County is divided into twenty-seven townships. The cities of Bel Aire and Wichita are considered governmentally 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. The county used to have one more township, Wichita Township, but it no longer exists.[19]

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
Afton004251,29014 (37)91 (35)2 (1)1.73%37°36′10″N 97°37′54″W
Attica03125Goddard4,95962 (161)80 (31)0 (0)0.23%37°40′44″N 97°32′16″W
Delano1737519625 (64)8 (3)1 (0)13.81%37°43′2″N 97°25′13″W
Eagle19250Bentley1,06912 (30)92 (36)1 (1)1.44%37°51′48″N 97°32′26″W
Erie215501061 (3)94 (36)0 (0)0.03%37°31′24″N 97°44′51″W
Garden Plain25400Garden Plain1,78019 (50)92 (36)0 (0)0.15%37°40′25″N 97°39′47″W
Grand River273006077 (17)91 (35)2 (1)2.20%37°40′6″N 97°45′14″W
Grant28125Valley Center (part)3,71040 (104)93 (36)0 (0)0.47%37°50′55″N 97°20′23″W
Greeley28400Mount Hope1,09412 (31)93 (36)1 (1)1.43%37°52′21″N 97°39′17″W
Gypsum293005,82264 (164)92 (35)0 (0)0.51%37°36′26″N 97°12′34″W
Illinois337751,62018 (45)93 (36)0 (0)0.12%37°35′54″N 97°31′53″W
Kechi36250Park City8,041143 (370)56 (22)0 (0)0.23%37°47′35″N 97°19′14″W
Lincoln411504735 (13)91 (35)0 (0)0.12%37°52′35″N 97°11′53″W
Minneha47125Eastborough5,084117 (304)43 (17)1 (0)1.49%37°41′11″N 97°11′25″W
Morton48550Cheney2,38026 (67)91 (35)1 (0)1.14%37°37′24″N 97°46′33″W
Ninnescah50725Clearwater2,91331 (81)93 (36)0 (0)0.47%37°30′51″N 97°31′28″W
Ohio524501,14612 (32)94 (36)0 (0)0.14%37°31′56″N 97°25′21″W
Park54425Maize4,12851 (131)82 (32)2 (1)2.04%37°46′26″N 97°26′13″W
Payne550751,11914 (36)80 (31)0 (0)0.21%37°46′58″N 97°12′22″W
Riverside60125Haysville (part)
Derby (part)
Oaklawn-Sunview CDP		15,694333 (862)47 (18)1 (0)1.98%37°34′56″N 97°18′22″W
Rockford60675Derby (part)20,019198 (514)101 (39)1 (0)0.99%37°31′55″N 97°14′47″W
Salem62675Haysville (part)8,411102 (263)83 (32)1 (0)0.95%37°32′23″N 97°20′11″W
Sherman65100Andale1,36214 (37)96 (37)0 (0)0.22%37°47′23″N 97°38′4″W
Union72375Colwich2,15623 (60)93 (36)0 (0)0.23%37°46′55″N 97°32′8″W
Valley Center73275Valley Center (part)3,64239 (100)94 (36)0 (0)0.16%37°51′22″N 97°24′10″W
Viola74050Viola5476 (15)93 (36)1 (0)0.98%37°30′41″N 97°39′3″W
Waco743003,38145 (117)75 (29)0 (0)0.12%37°36′35″N 97°24′57″W

See also
Community information for Kansas

References
  1. "QuickFacts; Sedgwick County, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 15, 2021. Retrieved August 15, 2021.
  2. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2021". Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. Kansas State Historical Society (1916). Biennial Report of the Board of Directors of the Kansas State Historical Society. Kansas State Printing Plant. pp. 205.
  5. "Rock Island Rail History". Archived from the original on June 19, 2011. Retrieved April 18, 2011.
  6. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  7. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  9. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 29, 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 29, 2014.
  11. "The White Castle Story: The Birth Of Fast Food & The Burger Revolution". Consumerist. July 14, 2015. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
  12. "Learjet Inc". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  13. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  14. "2018 Gubernatorial General Election Results - Kansas". Dave's Election Atlas.
  15. "1974 Senatorial General Election Results - Kansas". Dave's Election Atlas.
  16. "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.
  17. Panetta, Grace (August 3, 2022). "14 of the 19 Kansas counties that rejected an anti-abortion amendment voted for Trump in 2020". Business Insider. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  18. "U.S. Board on Geographic Names | U.S. Geological Survey". Usgs.gov. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  19. "Historical Atlas of Sedgwick County, Kansas - 5 - Kansas Memory". Kansasmemory.org. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
Notes

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