Seward County, Kansas

Seward County (standard abbreviation: SW) is a county of the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat and largest city is Liberal.[2] As of the 2020 census, the county population was 21,964.[1] The county was formed on March 20, 1873, and named after William Seward, a politician and Secretary of State under Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson.

Not to be confused with Seward, Kansas.

Seward County
County
Seward County Courthouse in Liberal (2010)
Seward County Courthouse in Liberal (2010)
Map of Kansas highlighting Seward 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°12′N 100°50′W
Country United States
State Kansas
FoundedMarch 20, 1873
Named forWilliam H. Seward
SeatLiberal
Largest cityLiberal
Area
 • Total640 sq mi (1,700 km2)
 • Land639 sq mi (1,660 km2)
 • Water1.0 sq mi (3 km2)  0.2%
Population
 (2020)[1]
 • Total21,964
 • Density34.4/sq mi (13.3/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Area code620
Congressional district1st
WebsiteSewardCountyKS.org

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

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

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

In 1873, Seward County was established, although it was administered from one of several neighboring counties until the county commissioners of Finney County organized Seward County as a municipal township of Finney County on June 10, 1885, with the temporary seat of government at Sunset City. The township was divided into two voting precincts - one headquartered at Sunset City and the other at Fargo Springs. The county was organized on June 17, 1886, with Governor John A. Martin designating Springfield the county seat and appointing men from Fargo Springs as county officers as not to favor one town over the other.[3] Rivalry between Fargo Springs and Springfield became so intense both towns sent armed bodies of men to the other to prevent their voters from reaching the polls, causing a disputed election in 1885.[3]

The county seat dispute was finally settled when the railroads bypassed both Fargo Springs and Springfield in favor of an alignment through southern Seward County, spurring the rapid growth of Liberal, which won the final election for county seat in on December 8, 1892, by 125 votes. [3]

In the 1930s, the prosperity of the area was severely affected by its location within the Dust Bowl. This catastrophe intensified the economic impact of the Great Depression in the region.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 640 square miles (1,700 km2), of which 639 square miles (1,660 km2) is land and 1.0 square mile (2.6 km2) (0.2%) is water.[4] It borders Oklahoma to the south.

Adjacent counties

Demographics
Population pyramid based on 2000 census age data
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18805—
18901,50329,960.0%
1900822−45.3%
19104,091397.7%
19206,22052.0%
19308,07529.8%
19406,540−19.0%
19509,97252.5%
196015,93059.7%
197015,744−1.2%
198017,0718.4%
199018,7439.8%
200022,51020.1%
201022,9522.0%
202021,964−4.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
1790-1960[6] 1900-1990[7]
1990-2000[8] 2010-2020[1]

The Liberal, KS Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Seward County.

As of the census[9] of 2000, there were 22,510 people, 7,419 households, and 5,504 families residing in the county. The population density was 35 people per square mile (14 people/km2). There were 8,027 housing units at an average density of 13 per square mile (5.0/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 65.44% White, 3.78% Black or African American, 0.77% Native American, 2.86% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 23.81% from other races, and 3.27% from two or more races. 42.14% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 7,419 households, out of which 43.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.60% were married couples living together, 10.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.80% were non-families. 20.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.98 and the average family size was 3.46.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 32.00% under the age of 18, 11.70% from 18 to 24, 30.50% from 25 to 44, 16.90% from 45 to 64, and 8.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females, there were 105.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,752, and the median income for a family was $41,134. Males had a median income of $29,765 versus $21,889 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,059. About 13.90% of families and 16.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.00% of those under age 18 and 7.30% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Presidential elections
Presidential election results
United States presidential election results for Seward County, Kansas[10]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 3,372 63.69% 1,833 34.62% 89 1.68%
2016 3,159 62.70% 1,628 32.31% 251 4.98%
2012 3,617 69.88% 1,490 28.79% 69 1.33%
2008 3,791 71.05% 1,493 27.98% 52 0.97%
2004 4,272 78.54% 1,122 20.63% 45 0.83%
2000 3,869 75.92% 1,126 22.10% 101 1.98%
1996 3,812 68.40% 1,309 23.49% 452 8.11%
1992 3,477 51.09% 1,488 21.86% 1,841 27.05%
1988 4,089 70.54% 1,655 28.55% 53 0.91%
1984 5,222 80.54% 1,198 18.48% 64 0.99%
1980 4,385 70.83% 1,460 23.58% 346 5.59%
1976 3,604 64.19% 1,907 33.96% 104 1.85%
1972 3,866 77.27% 989 19.77% 148 2.96%
1968 3,065 62.32% 1,291 26.25% 562 11.43%
1964 2,910 53.28% 2,520 46.14% 32 0.59%
1960 3,974 70.44% 1,654 29.32% 14 0.25%
1956 2,885 70.95% 1,162 28.58% 19 0.47%
1952 3,136 72.79% 1,146 26.60% 26 0.60%
1948 1,829 52.00% 1,614 45.89% 74 2.10%
1944 1,590 53.92% 1,342 45.51% 17 0.58%
1940 1,503 49.65% 1,474 48.70% 50 1.65%
1936 1,108 35.64% 1,997 64.23% 4 0.13%
1932 1,297 43.64% 1,576 53.03% 99 3.33%
1928 1,873 76.98% 538 22.11% 22 0.90%
1924 1,184 52.00% 676 29.69% 417 18.31%
1920 1,290 61.52% 722 34.43% 85 4.05%
1916 678 34.52% 1,105 56.26% 181 9.22%
1912 155 14.98% 394 38.07% 486 46.96%
1908 427 48.09% 413 46.51% 48 5.41%
1904 152 65.52% 62 26.72% 18 7.76%
1900 122 60.40% 77 38.12% 3 1.49%
1896 100 55.87% 78 43.58% 1 0.56%
1892 156 57.14% 0 0.00% 117 42.86%
1888 400 61.16% 207 31.65% 47 7.19%

Seward County has voted Republican since 1940.[11] The last time Seward County voted for a Democratic candidate for president was when it favored incumbent Democrat Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1936 over Kansas governor Alf Landon.[12] In the Kansas Senate it is currently represented by Republican Garrett Love. In the Kansas House of Representatives it is represented by Republicans Bill Light and Carl Holmes.[13]

In 2016, Hillary Clinton became the first Democrat to break 30% in Seward County since Jimmy Carter in 1976. Four years later, Democrat Joe Biden would receive 34.6% of the vote, the highest share for a Democrat since Lyndon B. Johnson received 46.1% in Seward County in 1964.

Laws

Following amendment to the Kansas Constitution in 1986, the county remained a prohibition, or "dry", county until 1996, when voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with a 30% food sales requirement.[14]

Education

Unified school districts

Communities
2005 KDOT Map of Seward County (map legend)

Cities

Unincorporated communities

Ghost towns

Townships
Area affected by the Dust Bowl between 1935 and 1938.

Seward County is divided into three townships. The city of Liberal 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
Fargo230001,6843 (8)570 (220)2 (1)0.29%37°9′1″N 100°45′3″W
Liberal398508032 (4)502 (194)0 (0)0.03%37°5′52″N 100°56′58″W
Seward640753571 (2)556 (215)0 (0)0.06%37°18′55″N 100°50′34″W

See also
Community information for Kansas

References
  1. "QuickFacts; Seward County, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 19, 2021. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. Brush, William L. (1954). The Early History of Seward County (PDF) (Master's Thesis). Wichita, KS. pp. 8–12.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  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. David Leip's Atlas of US Elections
  12. Geographie Electorale
  13. Institute for Policy and Social Research Archived 2010-06-16 at the Wayback Machine
  14. "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 26, 2007.
Notes

    Further reading
    See also: List of books about Kansas, including historical information about its counties and cities
    Wikimedia Commons has media related to Seward County, Kansas.
    County
    Historical railroad trestle - "Samson of the Cimarron"
    Maps
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