Wallace County, Kansas

Wallace County, Kansas
County

Wallace County courthouse in Sharon Springs
Map of Kansas highlighting Wallace County
Location in the U.S. state of Kansas
Map of the United States highlighting Kansas
Kansas's location in the U.S.
Founded 1868
Named for W. H. L. Wallace
Seat Sharon Springs
Largest city Sharon Springs
Area
 • Total 914 sq mi (2,367 km2)
 • Land 914 sq mi (2,367 km2)
 • Water 0.05 sq mi (0 km2), 0.01%
Population
 • (2010) 1,485
 • Density 1.6/sq mi (1/km²)
Congressional district 1st
Time zone Mountain: UTC-7/-6
Website WallaceCounty.net

Coordinates: 38°55′N 101°46′W / 38.917°N 101.767°W / 38.917; -101.767

"Mount Sunflower," the highest point in Kansas, is located in Wallace County

Wallace County (standard abbreviation: WA) is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 1,485,[1] making it the second-least populous county in Kansas. Its county seat is Sharon Springs.[2] The county was created in 1868 and named in honor of Brigadier general W.H.L. Wallace who was a veteran of the Mexican-American War and a casualty of the Battle of Shiloh.

Wallace County has the second lowest population of any county in Kansas. Greeley County, which borders on the south, has the lowest. It is one of four Kansas counties to practice Mountain Standard Time rather than Central Standard Time.

Wallace County is home to Mount Sunflower, the highest point in Kansas at 4,039 feet (1,231 meters). Mount Sunflower is located approximately 15 miles (24 km) north-northwest of Weskan, less than one mile (1.6 km) from the Colorado state line.

History

Early 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 1854, the Kansas Territory was organized, then in 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state. In 1868, Wallace County was established.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 914 square miles (2,370 km2), of which 914 square miles (2,370 km2) is land and 0.05 square miles (0.13 km2) (0.01%) is water.[3]

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1870538—
188068627.5%
18902,468259.8%
19001,178−52.3%
19102,759134.2%
19202,424−12.1%
19302,88218.9%
19402,216−23.1%
19502,50813.2%
19602,069−17.5%
19702,2157.1%
19802,045−7.7%
19901,821−11.0%
20001,749−4.0%
20101,485−15.1%
Est. 20151,518[4]2.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
1790-1960[6] 1900-1990[7]
1990-2000[8] 2010-2013[1]
Age pyramid

As of the census[9] of 2000, there were 1,749 people, 674 households, and 477 families residing in the county. The population density was 2 people per square mile (1/km²). There were 791 housing units at an average density of 1 per square mile (0/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 94.63% White, 0.63% Black or African American, 0.80% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 2.52% from other races, and 1.26% from two or more races. 4.80% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 674 households out of which 33.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.60% were married couples living together, 4.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.20% were non-families. 27.60% 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 2.56 and the average family size was 3.12.

In the county the population was spread out with 29.10% under the age of 18, 6.50% from 18 to 24, 23.60% from 25 to 44, 22.80% from 45 to 64, and 18.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 99.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,000, and the median income for a family was $42,022. Males had a median income of $25,610 versus $18,333 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,016. About 10.70% of families and 16.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.50% of those under age 18 and 12.70% of those age 65 or over.

Law and government

Although the Kansas Constitution was amended in 1986 to allow the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with the approval of voters, Wallace County has remained a prohibition, or "dry", county.[10]

Education

Unified school districts

Communities

Map of Wallace County from KDOT (map legend)

Cities

Census-designated places

Townships

Wallace County is divided into four 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.
Township FIPS Population
center		 Population Population
density
/km² (/sq mi)		 Land area
km² (sq mi) 		Water area
km² (sq mi) 		Water % Geographic coordinates
Harrison 30450 85 0 (1) 210 (81) 0 (0) 0% 38°45′53″N 101°34′34″W / 38.76472°N 101.57611°W / 38.76472; -101.57611
Sharon Springs 64400 Sharon Springs 1,096 1 (3) 885 (342) 0 (0) 0% 38°54′12″N 101°45′3″W / 38.90333°N 101.75083°W / 38.90333; -101.75083
Wallace 74775 175 0 (1) 488 (188) 0 (0) 0.01% 38°58′15″N 101°33′35″W / 38.97083°N 101.55972°W / 38.97083; -101.55972
Weskan 76700 Wallace 393 1 (1) 784 (303) 0 (0) 0.01% 38°53′8″N 101°56′10″W / 38.88556°N 101.93611°W / 38.88556; -101.93611

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  4. ↑ "County Totals Dataset: Population, Population Change and Estimated Components of Population Change: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  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. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  9. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  10. ↑ "Map of Wet and Dry Counties". Alcoholic Beverage Control, Kansas Department of Revenue. November 2004. Retrieved 2007-01-21.

Further reading

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