Rawlins County, Kansas

Rawlins County
County
Rawlins County Courthouse in Atwood (2010)
Rawlins County Courthouse in Atwood (2010)
Map of Kansas highlighting Rawlins County
Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
Map of the United States highlighting Kansas
Kansas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 39°48′N 101°06′W / 39.800°N 101.100°W / 39.800; -101.100
Country United States
State Kansas
FoundedMarch 20, 1873
Named forJohn Aaron Rawlins
SeatAtwood
Largest cityAtwood
Area
 • Total
1,070 sq mi (2,800 km2)
 • Land1,069 sq mi (2,770 km2)
 • Water0.2 sq mi (0.5 km2)  0.01%
Population
 (2020)[1]
 • Total
2,561
 • Density2.4/sq mi (0.9/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Area code785
Congressional district1st
WebsiteCounty Website

Rawlins County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat and largest city is Atwood.[2] As of the 2020 census, the county population was 2,561.[1] It was named after John Rawlins, a general in the American Civil War.

History

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Early history

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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

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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 1873, Rawlins County was established.

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,070 square miles (2,800 km2), of which 1,069 square miles (2,770 km2) is land and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km2) (0.1%) is water.[3]

Major highways

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Adjacent counties

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Demographics

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Population pyramid based on 2000 census age data
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18801,623—
18906,756316.3%
19005,241−22.4%
19106,38021.7%
19206,7996.6%
19307,3628.3%
19406,618−10.1%
19505,728−13.4%
19605,279−7.8%
19704,393−16.8%
19804,105−6.6%
19903,404−17.1%
20002,966−12.9%
20102,519−15.1%
20202,5611.7%
2023 (est.)2,463[4]−3.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
1790-1960[6] 1900-1990[7]
1990-2000[8] 2010-2020[1]

As of the census[9] of 2000, there were 2,966 people, 1,269 households, and 846 families residing in the county. The population density was 3 people per square mile (1.2 people/km2). There were 1,565 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile (0.77/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.52% White, 0.30% Black or African American, 0.30% Native American, 0.10% Asian, 0.07% from other races, and 0.71% from two or more races. 0.81% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,269 households, out of which 27.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.50% were married couples living together, 4.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.30% were non-families. 31.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.88.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.00% under the age of 18, 3.80% from 18 to 24, 21.50% from 25 to 44, 25.10% from 45 to 64, and 25.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 99.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,105, and the median income for a family was $40,074. Males had a median income of $26,719 versus $19,750 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,161. About 7.90% of families and 12.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.00% of those under age 18 and 8.90% of those age 65 or over.

Government

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Presidential elections

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Presidential election results
United States presidential election results for Rawlins County, Kansas[10]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 1,186 85.20% 173 12.43% 33 2.37%
2020 1,261 83.84% 214 14.23% 29 1.93%
2016 1,220 82.88% 163 11.07% 89 6.05%
2012 1,223 84.70% 190 13.16% 31 2.15%
2008 1,247 80.50% 273 17.62% 29 1.87%
2004 1,414 82.21% 289 16.80% 17 0.99%
2000 1,349 77.53% 306 17.59% 85 4.89%
1996 1,393 73.78% 335 17.74% 160 8.47%
1992 1,023 52.87% 393 20.31% 519 26.82%
1988 1,318 66.46% 612 30.86% 53 2.67%
1984 1,625 78.05% 412 19.79% 45 2.16%
1980 1,524 73.41% 427 20.57% 125 6.02%
1976 1,148 53.87% 903 42.37% 80 3.75%
1972 1,553 70.46% 560 25.41% 91 4.13%
1968 1,438 65.90% 553 25.34% 191 8.75%
1964 1,292 57.14% 959 42.41% 10 0.44%
1960 1,560 61.73% 951 37.63% 16 0.63%
1956 1,668 69.88% 711 29.79% 8 0.34%
1952 2,120 75.82% 670 23.96% 6 0.21%
1948 1,389 55.08% 1,095 43.42% 38 1.51%
1944 1,569 61.72% 955 37.57% 18 0.71%
1940 1,758 58.02% 1,247 41.16% 25 0.83%
1936 1,364 40.07% 2,029 59.61% 11 0.32%
1932 1,064 31.08% 2,245 65.59% 114 3.33%
1928 1,668 57.78% 1,164 40.32% 55 1.91%
1924 1,213 45.79% 742 28.01% 694 26.20%
1920 1,236 64.81% 495 25.96% 176 9.23%
1916 803 35.05% 1,271 55.48% 217 9.47%
1912 220 16.63% 568 42.93% 535 40.44%
1908 719 47.36% 732 48.22% 67 4.41%
1904 749 61.14% 405 33.06% 71 5.80%
1900 577 45.90% 668 53.14% 12 0.95%
1896 439 41.77% 609 57.94% 3 0.29%
1892 592 43.79% 0 0.00% 760 56.21%
1888 1,023 57.31% 633 35.46% 129 7.23%

The county is part of the highly Republican Kansas's 1st congressional district. It has favored the Republican candidate for president in each of the last eighteen elections. The last Democrat to carry the county was Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1936, when the GOP standard bearer was Kansas Governor Alf Landon.[11] As of 2024, Bill Clinton in 1992 remains the last Democratic nominee to exceed even 20% of the county's vote.

Law

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Following amendment to the Kansas Constitution in 1986, the county remained a prohibition, or "dry", county until 2002, when voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with a 30% food sales requirement.[12]

Education

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Unified school districts

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Communities

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2005 map of Rawlins County[13] (map legend)

List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Rawlins County.[13]
† means a community is designated a Census-Designated Place (CDP) by the United States Census Bureau.

Cities

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Unincorporated communities

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Ghost towns

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Townships

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Rawlins County is divided into ten 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
Achilles 00175 83 1 (2) 132 (51) 0 (0) 0.02% 39°42′13″N 100°48′38″W / 39.70361°N 100.81056°W / 39.70361; -100.81056
Atwood 03175 1,330 74 (192) 18 (7) 0 (0) 0.88% 39°48′38″N 101°2′34″W / 39.81056°N 101.04278°W / 39.81056; -101.04278
Center 12037 363 1 (1) 690 (266) 0 (0) 0% 39°43′11″N 101°3′56″W / 39.71972°N 101.06556°W / 39.71972; -101.06556
Driftwood 18675 84 0 (1) 185 (72) 0 (0) 0% 39°57′56″N 101°4′59″W / 39.96556°N 101.08306°W / 39.96556; -101.08306
Herl 31462 386 1 (2) 491 (190) 0 (0) 0% 39°49′24″N 100°49′54″W / 39.82333°N 100.83167°W / 39.82333; -100.83167
Jefferson 35300 34 0 (1) 124 (48) 0 (0) 0.04% 39°36′42″N 100°48′31″W / 39.61167°N 100.80861°W / 39.61167; -100.80861
Ludell 43200 136 1 (4) 92 (35) 0 (0) 0.01% 39°51′30″N 100°57′1″W / 39.85833°N 100.95028°W / 39.85833; -100.95028
Mirage 47175 43 0 (1) 185 (71) 0 (0) 0% 39°38′53″N 101°14′2″W / 39.64806°N 101.23389°W / 39.64806; -101.23389
Rocewood 60362 448 1 (2) 742 (287) 0 (0) 0% 39°48′17″N 101°18′59″W / 39.80472°N 101.31639°W / 39.80472; -101.31639
Union 72275 59 1 (1) 111 (43) 0 (0) 0% 39°46′51″N 100°53′55″W / 39.78083°N 100.89861°W / 39.78083; -100.89861

See also

[edit]
Community information for Kansas

References

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  1. ^ a b c "QuickFacts; Rawlins 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. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  4. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  5. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 28, 2014.
  6. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 28, 2014.
  7. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 28, 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 28, 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. ^ Geographie Electorale
  12. ^ "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.
  13. ^ a b "General Highway Map of Rawlins County, Kansas" (PDF). Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT). July 2009. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 7, 2023.

Further reading

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See also: List of books about Kansas, including historical information about its counties and cities
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