Morton County, Kansas

Morton County (standard abbreviation: MT) is a county in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat and largest city is Elkhart.[2] As of the 2020 census, the county population was 2,701.[1] The county was named after Oliver Morton, the 14th governor of the state of Indiana.

Not to be confused with Norton County, Kansas.

Morton County
County
Morton County Courthouse in Elkhart (2009)
Morton County Courthouse in Elkhart (2009)
Map of Kansas highlighting Morton 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 101°48′W
Country United States
State Kansas
FoundedFebruary 20, 1886
Named forOliver Morton
SeatElkhart
Largest cityElkhart
Area
 • Total730 sq mi (1,900 km2)
 • Land730 sq mi (1,900 km2)
 • Water0.2 sq mi (0.5 km2)  0.03%
Population
 (2020)[1]
 • Total2,701
 • Density3.7/sq mi (1.4/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Area code620
Congressional district1st
Websitemtcoks.com

History

Early 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. 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 1848, after the Mexican–American War, the territorial gain in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo with Mexico brought into the United States all or part of land for ten future states, including southwest Kansas.

From 1821 to late 1860s, the Santa Fe Trail was active across Morton County.

In 1854, the Kansas Territory was organized, then in 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state. In 1886, Morton County was established, and named for Oliver Morton, who was a United States senator from Indiana from 1867 to 1877.[3] In 1886, the community of Richfield was established as the county seat.[4]

20th century
Dust storm in Rolla on May 6, 1935
Area affected by the Dust Bowl between 1935 and 1938.

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. Morton County was the most devastated county in the Dust Bowl and lost almost one-half of its population in the 1930s. The U.S. government purchased some of the impacted and abandoned land and eventually incorporated it into the Comanche National Grassland.[5]

In 1961, the county seat was moved from Richfield to Elkhart.[4]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 730 square miles (1,900 km2), of which 730 square miles (1,900 km2) is land and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km2) (0.03%) is water.[6] The county is the location of the 8 Mile Corner tripoint, where Kansas borders Colorado and Oklahoma.

Major highways

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Demographics
Population pyramid based on 2000 census age data
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1890724—
1900304−58.0%
19101,333338.5%
19203,177138.3%
19304,09228.8%
19402,186−46.6%
19502,61019.4%
19603,35428.5%
19703,5766.6%
19803,454−3.4%
19903,4800.8%
20003,4960.5%
20103,233−7.5%
20202,701−16.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010-2020[1]

As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 3,496 people, 1,306 households, and 961 families residing in the county. The population density was 5 people per square mile (1.9 people/km2). There were 1,519 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile (0.77/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 88.39% White, 0.20% Black or African American, 1.14% Native American, 1.06% Asian, 7.52% from other races, and 1.69% from two or more races. 14.10% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,306 households, out of which 36.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.20% were married couples living together, 6.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.40% were non-families. 24.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.15.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 29.30% under the age of 18, 8.00% from 18 to 24, 27.20% from 25 to 44, 21.50% from 45 to 64, and 13.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 94.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,232, and the median income for a family was $43,494. Males had a median income of $31,875 versus $19,474 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,076. About 8.50% of families and 10.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.00% of those under age 18 and 5.20% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Morton County is usually won by the Republican candidate for president. Jimmy Carter almost carried the county in 1976, but Gerald Ford eventually won by .2%. The last time a Democrat won Morton County was Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964.

Presidential elections
Presidential election results
United States presidential election results for Morton County, Kansas[12]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 1,034 86.31% 150 12.52% 14 1.17%
2016 995 82.92% 147 12.25% 58 4.83%
2012 1,072 83.88% 189 14.79% 17 1.33%
2008 1,153 82.24% 229 16.33% 20 1.43%
2004 1,287 81.66% 276 17.51% 13 0.82%
2000 1,203 77.26% 321 20.62% 33 2.12%
1996 1,073 67.87% 376 23.78% 132 8.35%
1992 915 54.79% 398 23.83% 357 21.38%
1988 1,074 64.35% 569 34.09% 26 1.56%
1984 1,533 81.80% 322 17.18% 19 1.01%
1980 1,157 69.61% 414 24.91% 91 5.48%
1976 738 48.91% 735 48.71% 36 2.39%
1972 1,165 72.68% 363 22.65% 75 4.68%
1968 770 51.03% 475 31.48% 264 17.50%
1964 609 39.01% 938 60.09% 14 0.90%
1960 918 60.67% 586 38.73% 9 0.59%
1956 814 64.76% 436 34.69% 7 0.56%
1952 893 69.93% 362 28.35% 22 1.72%
1948 624 52.61% 545 45.95% 17 1.43%
1944 617 62.51% 367 37.18% 3 0.30%
1940 643 55.72% 503 43.59% 8 0.69%
1936 636 41.81% 876 57.59% 9 0.59%
1932 621 34.63% 1,093 60.96% 79 4.41%
1928 1,010 78.78% 259 20.20% 13 1.01%
1924 669 55.02% 286 23.52% 261 21.46%
1920 783 72.97% 266 24.79% 24 2.24%
1916 405 42.41% 457 47.85% 93 9.74%
1912 120 33.99% 144 40.79% 89 25.21%
1908 154 50.49% 140 45.90% 11 3.61%
1904 53 54.08% 44 44.90% 1 1.02%
1900 51 60.00% 34 40.00% 0 0.00%
1896 52 58.43% 36 40.45% 1 1.12%
1892 106 57.61% 0 0.00% 78 42.39%
1888 333 58.01% 205 35.71% 36 6.27%

Laws

The Kansas Constitution was amended in 1986 to allow the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with the approval of voters, either with or without a minimum of 30% of sales coming from food. Morton County is one of 35 counties in the state that allows for the sale of liquor by the drink without the minimum food sales stipulation.[13]

Education

Unified school districts

Communities
2005 KDOT Map of Morton County (map legend)

Cities

Unincorporated community

Townships

Morton County is divided into six 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.

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
Cimarron13350670 (1)173 (67)0 (0)0%37°4′11″N 101°46′45″W
Jones35650170 (0)140 (54)0 (0)0%37°1′4″N 101°56′56″W
Richfield592252180 (1)649 (251)0 (0)0%37°14′37″N 101°42′36″W
Rolla60925Rolla6502 (5)373 (144)0 (0)0%37°6′46″N 101°37′42″W
Taloga69975Elkhart2,43717 (44)142 (55)0 (0)0%37°0′22″N 101°53′42″W
Westola772251070 (1)412 (159)0 (0)0.01%37°14′19″N 101°58′40″W

See also
Community information for Kansas

References
  1. "QuickFacts; Morton County, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 18, 2021. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. "Kansas Newspapers History by County". Archived from the original on November 21, 2008. Retrieved April 17, 2010.
  4. Morton County Facts; mtcoks.com
  5. "Cimarron National Grassland". Natural Kansas. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
  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 27, 2014.
  8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
  9. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 27, 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 27, 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" (PDF). Kansas Department of Revenue Alcoholic Beverage Control. December 30, 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 4, 2020. Retrieved November 4, 2020.

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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