Smith County, Kansas

Smith County (standard abbreviation: SM) is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the population was 3,853 with a 2018 estimate of 3,603.[1][2] Its county seat is Smith Center.[3] The county is named in memory of Maj. J. Nelson Smith, who was part of the 2nd Colorado Cavalry, killed in action at the Battle of Westport on October 21, 1864.

Smith County
County
Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
Kansas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 39°50′00″N 98°45′00″W
Country United States
State Kansas
Founded1872
Named forJ. Nelson Smith
SeatSmith Center
Largest citySmith Center
Area
 • Total897 sq mi (2,320 km2)
 • Land895 sq mi (2,320 km2)
 • Water1.5 sq mi (4 km2)  0.2%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total3,853
 • Estimate 
(2018)
3,603
 • Density4.3/sq mi (1.7/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district1st
WebsiteSmithCoKS.com

The geographic center of the contiguous United States is located within the county, near Lebanon.[4]

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 1872, Smith County was established. The first homestead in Smith County was in 1871 and there were 3,800 inhabitants by 1875. The county grew to 15,000 people by 1889. Corn was the main crop at first but drought and grasshopper plagues severely hurt the crops. When hardy Winter wheat was introduced to Kansas by Russian settlers, it eventually became the predominant crop in Smith County. The population of the county has slowly declined since 1900 due in large part because of advanced farming techniques that require less human labor.

Brewster Higley wrote the song "Home on the Range" in 1873 in a cabin 9 miles northwest of Smith Center. It later became the Kansas State song.[5][6]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 897 square miles (2,320 km2), of which 895 square miles (2,320 km2) is land and 1.5 square miles (3.9 km2) (0.2%) is water.[7] The county is divided into 25 townships, each of which is listed below in the subdivisions section of this article.

The geographic center of the 48 contiguous states is located within the county, near the city of Lebanon.[8] The geographic center of North America is located in neighboring Osborne County.

The Solomon River runs through the southern part of the county and provides a flat basin and water for irrigated crops.

Major highways

There are two major highways serving the county. The main east–west route is U.S. Highway 36, which travels through Athol, Kensington, and Smith Center. The main north–south route is U.S. Highway 281, which intersects US-36 in Smith Center. Kansas state highways K-8, K-9 and K-180 serve other areas of the county.

Adjacent counties

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
187066—
188013,88320,934.8%
189015,61312.5%
190016,3844.9%
191015,365−6.2%
192014,985−2.5%
193013,545−9.6%
194010,582−21.9%
19508,846−16.4%
19607,776−12.1%
19706,757−13.1%
19805,947−12.0%
19905,078−14.6%
20004,536−10.7%
20103,853−15.1%
2018 (est.)3,603[9]−6.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]
1790-1960[11] 1900-1990[12]
1990-2000[13] 2010-2016[2]
Age pyramid

As of the census[14] of 2000, there were 4,536 people, 1,953 households, and 1,322 families residing in the county. The population density was 5 people per square mile (2/km2). There were 2,326 housing units at an average density of 3 per square mile (1/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.79% White, 0.11% Black or African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.04% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 0.22% from other races, and 0.49% from two or more races. 0.73% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,953 households, out of which 25.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.60% were married couples living together, 4.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.30% were non-families. 30.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.78.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 21.70% under the age of 18, 4.70% from 18 to 24, 22.10% from 25 to 44, 23.60% from 45 to 64, and 27.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 92.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,486, and the median income for a family was $36,951. Males had a median income of $25,089 versus $18,608 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,983. About 8.80% of families and 10.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.80% of those under age 18 and 9.50% of those age 65 or over.

The population distribution by township is as follows according to the 2000 census: Banner 54; Beaver 60; Blaine 60; Cedar 619; Center 2,094; Cora 38; Crystal Plains 40; Dor 46; Garfield 33; German 34; Harlan 100; Harvey 130; Houston 206; Lane 134; Lincoln 73; Logan 47; Martin 24; Oak 399; Pawnee 35; Pleasant 34; Swan 42; Valley 75; Washington 63; Webster 47; White Rock 49.

Government

Presidential elections
Presidential Elections Results
Presidential Elections Results[15]
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2016 81.3% 1,661 14.5% 297 4.1% 84
2012 80.3% 1,624 17.7% 358 2.0% 41
2008 77.8% 1,719 20.2% 446 2.0% 45
2004 76.1% 1,803 22.8% 540 1.1% 27
2000 70.2% 1,534 24.5% 534 5.3% 116
1996 65.4% 1,628 25.6% 638 9.0% 224
1992 43.3% 1,236 27.7% 789 29.0% 827
1988 65.3% 1,951 33.6% 1,004 1.1% 33
1984 75.7% 2,332 22.2% 684 2.1% 63
1980 71.7% 2,415 21.4% 719 6.9% 234
1976 58.5% 2,009 38.8% 1,333 2.7% 94
1972 74.3% 2,600 23.4% 818 2.4% 83
1968 67.5% 2,558 24.8% 939 7.7% 293
1964 52.3% 2,026 46.7% 1,809 0.9% 36
1960 71.9% 3,013 27.6% 1,157 0.5% 22
1956 73.0% 3,142 26.5% 1,139 0.6% 26
1952 77.8% 3,623 21.2% 986 1.1% 51
1948 61.9% 2,760 35.7% 1,590 2.4% 106
1944 69.9% 3,282 29.3% 1,377 0.7% 34
1940 65.6% 3,630 33.5% 1,855 0.9% 50
1936 53.5% 3,292 46.3% 2,847 0.3% 17
1932 46.5% 2,870 51.1% 3,155 2.3% 144
1928 74.3% 4,021 24.7% 1,338 0.9% 50
1924 57.2% 3,226 29.0% 1,634 13.8% 777
1920 66.1% 3,251 31.2% 1,535 2.7% 132
1916 41.1% 2,605 54.1% 3,431 4.8% 306
1912 25.8% 970 40.9% 1,534 33.3% 1,250
1908 51.7% 1,843 44.7% 1,593 3.7% 132
1904 66.0% 2,254 17.5% 596 16.5% 564
1900 46.5% 1,770 51.9% 1,978 1.6% 61
1896 40.2% 1,385 58.6% 2,019 1.1% 39
1892 41.3% 1,389 58.7% 1,972
1888 51.7% 1,726 23.3% 777 25.0% 835

Smith County is overwhelmingly Republican. No Democratic Presidential candidate has won Smith County since Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1932. Since 1940 the only Democrat to win forty percent of the county's vote has been Lyndon Johnson during his 1964 landslide, and the last to pass thirty percent was Michael Dukakis during the drought-affected 1988 election

Laws

Following amendment to the Kansas Constitution in 1986, the county remained a prohibition, or "dry", county until 1992, when voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with a 30 percent food sales requirement.[16]

Education

Unified school districts

Communities
2005 KDOT Map of Smith County (map legend)

Cities

Unincorporated communities

Townships

Smith County is divided into twenty-five 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
Banner04100540.58 (1.50)93.29 (36.02)0 (0)0%39°42′3″N 98°47′13″W
Beaver05200600.65 (1.67)92.89 (35.86)0.27 (0.10)0.29%39°56′50″N 98°46′34″W
Blaine07200600.64 (1.67)93.24 (36.00)0.04 (0.01)0.04%39°47′20″N 98°40′48″W
Cedar11350Kensington6196.68 (17.29)92.71 (35.80)0.08 (0.03)0.09%39°46′10″N 99°1′50″W
Center12175Smith Center2,09422.48 (58.22)93.15 (35.97)0.04 (0.02)0.05%39°46′47″N 98°47′7″W
Cora15525380.41 (1.06)92.96 (35.89)0.17 (0.06)0.18%39°52′45″N 98°40′7″W
Crystal Plains16575400.43 (1.11)93.00 (35.91)0.05 (0.02)0.05%39°41′27″N 98°40′52″W
Dor18300460.50 (1.29)92.55 (35.73)0.30 (0.11)0.32%39°37′33″N 99°0′4″W
Garfield25825330.35 (0.92)92.96 (35.89)0.04 (0.02)0.04%39°35′48″N 98°40′21″W
German26150340.37 (0.96)91.78 (35.44)0.27 (0.10)0.29%39°56′41″N 99°0′39″W
Harlan301001001.07 (2.78)93.03 (35.92)0.05 (0.02)0.05%39°36′25″N 98°46′42″W
Harvey30550Cedar1301.40 (3.63)92.86 (35.85)0.00 (0.00)0%39°41′10″N 98°55′32″W
Houston33225Gaylord2062.22 (5.74)92.94 (35.88)0.14 (0.05)0.15%39°37′38″N 98°52′12″W
Lane38450Athol1341.44 (3.73)92.98 (35.90)0.03 (0.01)0.04%39°46′49″N 98°53′30″W
Lincoln41200730.79 (2.04)92.80 (35.83)0.15 (0.06)0.16%39°36′13″N 98°33′23″W
Logan42275470.51 (1.32)92.50 (35.72)0.14 (0.05)0.15%39°57′5″N 98°34′4″W
Martin45000240.26 (0.67)92.49 (35.71)0.25 (0.10)0.27%39°56′40″N 98°54′21″W
Oak51650Lebanon3994.30 (11.13)92.88 (35.86)0.07 (0.03)0.07%39°48′10″N 98°33′29″W
Pawnee54825350.38 (0.98)92.13 (35.57)0.41 (0.16)0.44%39°57′7″N 98°39′50″W
Pleasant56300340.37 (0.95)92.69 (35.79)0.05 (0.02)0.05%39°51′28″N 98°54′28″W
Swan69625420.46 (1.18)92.00 (35.52)0.23 (0.09)0.25%39°52′56″N 99°1′12″W
Valley73175750.81 (2.09)92.82 (35.84)0.015 (0.006)0.02%39°41′28″N 98°59′59″W
Washington75775630.68 (1.76)92.87 (35.86)0 (0)0%39°52′54″N 98°46′24″W
Webster76275470.51 (1.31)92.76 (35.82)0.02 (0.01)0.02%39°42′27″N 98°34′8″W
White Rock78000490.53 (1.37)92.88 (35.86)0.04 (0.02)0.04%39°52′37″N 98°33′5″W

See also

References
  1. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/smithcountykansas/PST045218
  2. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  4. "Population and Geographic Centers" (PDF). www.census.gov. Retrieved March 6, 2014.
  5. Kansas Historical Society (October 2015). "Smith County, Kansas". Kansapedia. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  6. Kansas Historical Society (December 2014). "Brewster Higley". Kansapedia. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  7. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  8. Geographic Center of the Lower 48 United States
  9. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved November 29, 2019.
  10. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  11. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  12. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  13. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  14. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  15. http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS
  16. "Map of Wet and Dry Counties". Alcoholic Beverage Control, Kansas Department of Revenue. November 2006. Archived from the original on 2007-10-08. Retrieved 2007-12-26.

Further reading
See also: List of books about State of Kansas (which includes historical information about its counties and cities too)
County
Other
Maps

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