Gray County, Kansas

Gray County
County
Former Gray County Courthouse in Cimarron (2015)
Former Gray County Courthouse in Cimarron (2015)
Map of Kansas highlighting Gray 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°44′00″N 100°25′59″W / 37.7333°N 100.433°W / 37.7333; -100.433
Country United States
State Kansas
FoundedMarch 13, 1881
Named forAlfred Gray
SeatCimarron
Largest cityCimarron
Area
 • Total
869 sq mi (2,250 km2)
 • Land869 sq mi (2,250 km2)
 • Water0.4 sq mi (1 km2)  0.05%
Population
 (2020)[1]
 • Total
5,653
 • Density6.5/sq mi (2.5/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district1st
WebsiteGrayCo.org

Gray County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat and most populous city is Cimarron.[2] As of the 2020 census, the county population was 5,653.[1] The county was named after Alfred Gray, a 19th century Kansas politician.

History

[edit]
See also: History of Kansas

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.

Gray County was founded in 1881 and named for Alfred Gray.[3] Between 1887 and 1893, a county seat war took place in Gray County that involved several notable Old West figures, such as Bat Masterson, Bill Tilghman, and Ben Daniels. As a result of the dispute, Cimarron became the permanent county seat of Gray County.[4]

Geography

[edit]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 869 square miles (2,250 km2), of which 869 square miles (2,250 km2) is land and 0.4 square miles (1.0 km2) (0.05%) is water.[5]

Since 2001, NextEra Energy Resources has operated the largest wind farm in Kansas—170 turbines with a generating capacity of 110 megawatts—on a 12,000-acre (49 km2) site near Montezuma.[6]

Adjacent counties

[edit]

Demographics

[edit]
Population pyramid based on 2000 census age data
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18902,415—
19001,264−47.7%
19103,121146.9%
19204,71150.9%
19306,21131.8%
19404,773−23.2%
19504,8942.5%
19604,380−10.5%
19704,5163.1%
19805,13813.8%
19905,3965.0%
20005,9049.4%
20106,0061.7%
20205,653−5.9%
2023 (est.)5,743[7]1.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790–1960[9] 1900–1990[10]
1990–2000[11] 2010–2020[1]

As of the 2000 census,[12] there were 5,904 people, 2,045 households, and 1,556 families residing in the county. The population density was 7 people per square mile (2.7 people/km2). There were 2,181 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile (0.77/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 92.31% White, 0.46% Native American, 0.19% Black or African American, 0.10% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 5.42% from other races, and 1.46% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.81% of the population.

There were 2,045 households, out of which 42.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.70% were married couples living together, 5.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.90% were non-families. 21.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.82 and the average family size was 3.31.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 31.60% under the age of 18, 8.30% from 18 to 24, 27.30% from 25 to 44, 20.20% from 45 to 64, and 12.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 100.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $40,000, and the median income for a family was $45,299. Males had a median income of $31,519 versus $21,563 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,632. About 6.50% of families and 9.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.80% of those under age 18 and 8.00% of those age 65 or over.

Religion

[edit]

Gray County has by far the highest percentage of adherents of the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite in the US. There were 1,032 members of the Church in Gray County in 2010, which is 17.18% of the population. It is the largest Church in the county.[13]

Government

[edit]

Presidential elections

[edit]

Gray county is often carried easily by Republican candidates. The last time a Democratic candidate carried this county was in 1976 by Jimmy Carter.

Presidential election results
United States presidential election results for Gray County, Kansas[14]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 1,799 83.67% 319 14.84% 32 1.49%
2020 1,911 83.52% 341 14.90% 36 1.57%
2016 1,698 82.19% 263 12.73% 105 5.08%
2012 1,603 81.87% 324 16.55% 31 1.58%
2008 1,643 77.54% 436 20.58% 40 1.89%
2004 1,816 80.89% 408 18.17% 21 0.94%
2000 1,631 75.51% 482 22.31% 47 2.18%
1996 1,457 71.53% 404 19.83% 176 8.64%
1992 1,039 47.81% 443 20.39% 691 31.80%
1988 1,180 61.55% 696 36.31% 41 2.14%
1984 1,580 74.32% 514 24.18% 32 1.51%
1980 1,310 63.68% 583 28.34% 164 7.97%
1976 837 42.08% 1,111 55.86% 41 2.06%
1972 1,235 69.15% 511 28.61% 40 2.24%
1968 952 55.25% 612 35.52% 159 9.23%
1964 643 35.86% 1,136 63.36% 14 0.78%
1960 1,150 60.56% 744 39.18% 5 0.26%
1956 1,278 66.77% 627 32.76% 9 0.47%
1952 1,515 73.51% 537 26.06% 9 0.44%
1948 1,035 53.68% 869 45.07% 24 1.24%
1944 1,057 57.01% 775 41.80% 22 1.19%
1940 1,056 51.87% 962 47.25% 18 0.88%
1936 764 34.34% 1,459 65.57% 2 0.09%
1932 910 39.27% 1,348 58.18% 59 2.55%
1928 1,294 67.47% 606 31.60% 18 0.94%
1924 959 59.34% 463 28.65% 194 12.00%
1920 962 62.18% 507 32.77% 78 5.04%
1916 660 38.66% 889 52.08% 158 9.26%
1912 112 15.95% 243 34.62% 347 49.43%
1908 372 46.79% 338 42.52% 85 10.69%
1904 285 64.48% 113 25.57% 44 9.95%
1900 188 55.79% 145 43.03% 4 1.19%
1896 153 53.50% 133 46.50% 0 0.00%
1892 274 54.37% 0 0.00% 230 45.63%
1888 417 53.81% 268 34.58% 90 11.61%

Laws

[edit]

Although the Kansas Constitution was amended in 1986 to allow the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with the approval of voters, Gray County has remained a prohibition, or "dry", county.[15]

Education

[edit]

Unified school districts

[edit]

Communities

[edit]
2005 map of Gray County[16] (map legend)

List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Gray County.[16]

Cities and Towns

[edit]

Unincorporated communities

[edit]

Townships

[edit]

Gray County is divided into seven 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.

Township FIPS Population
center 		Population Population
density
/km2 (/sq mi) 		Land area
km2 (sq mi)		 Water area
km2 (sq mi)		 Water % Geographic coordinates
Cimarron 13300 Cimarron 2,379 9 (24) 254 (98) 0 (0) 0.03% 37°48′22″N 100°20′52″W / 37.80611°N 100.34778°W / 37.80611; -100.34778
Copeland 15500 Copeland 540 2 (6) 233 (90) 0 (0) 0.15% 37°33′57″N 100°37′14″W / 37.56583°N 100.62056°W / 37.56583; -100.62056
East Hess 19525 372 1 (3) 281 (108) 0 (0) 0.03% 37°37′45″N 100°15′39″W / 37.62917°N 100.26083°W / 37.62917; -100.26083
Foote 23675 126 0 (1) 310 (120) 0 (0) 0.02% 37°55′44″N 100°20′46″W / 37.92889°N 100.34611°W / 37.92889; -100.34611
Ingalls 34250 646 2 (5) 349 (135) 0 (0) 0.03% 37°47′43″N 100°30′23″W / 37.79528°N 100.50639°W / 37.79528; -100.50639
Logan 41900 216 1 (2) 309 (119) 0 (0) 0.04% 37°55′20″N 100°33′52″W / 37.92222°N 100.56444°W / 37.92222; -100.56444
Montezuma 47900 Montezuma 1,625 3 (8) 514 (198) 0 (0) 0.07% 37°35′56″N 100°26′11″W / 37.59889°N 100.43639°W / 37.59889; -100.43639
Sources: "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files". U.S. Census Bureau, Geography Division. Archived from the original on August 2, 2002.

See also

[edit]
Community information for Kansas

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c "QuickFacts; Gray County, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 16, 2021. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 142.
  4. ^ "Feudin' and Fightin' Friday: County Seat Wars – Diggin' History". Archived from the original on April 7, 2014. Retrieved April 6, 2014.
  5. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  6. ^ "Gray County Wind Farm". Aquila, Inc. Archived from the original on June 13, 2007. Retrieved June 2, 2007.
  7. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  8. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  9. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  10. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  11. ^ "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 24, 2014.
  12. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  13. ^ Association of Religious Data Archives: Church of God in Christ, Mennonite Counties (2010) Archived July 31, 2019, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved May 2, 2015
  14. ^ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
  15. ^ "Map of Wet and Dry Counties". Alcoholic Beverage Control, Kansas Department of Revenue. November 2004. Archived from the original on October 8, 2007. Retrieved January 21, 2007.
  16. ^ a b "General Highway Map of Gray County, Kansas" (PDF). Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT). December 2008. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 3, 2023.

Further reading

[edit]
See also: List of books about Kansas, including historical information about its counties and cities
See also: List of books about Santa Fe Trail
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gray County, Kansas.
County
Other
Maps

37°44′N 100°26′W / 37.733°N 100.433°W / 37.733; -100.433

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