Reno County, Kansas

Reno County, Kansas
Reno County Courthouse in Hutchinson
Location in the state of Kansas
Kansas's location in the U.S.
Founded	February 26, 1867
Named for	Jesse Lee Reno
Seat	Hutchinson
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	1,271.25 sq mi (3,293 km²) 1,254.42 sq mi (3,249 km²) 16.84 sq mi (44 km²), 1.32%
Population  - (2010)  - Density	64,511 50.7/sq mi (19.6/km²)
Time zone	Central: UTC-6/-5
Website	www.RenoGov.org

Reno County (standard abbreviation: RN) is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. The county's population was 64,511 for the 2010 census. The largest city and county seat is Hutchinson. The Hutchinson Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Reno County.

History

19th century

1915-1918 Railroad Map of Reno County

For millennia, the land now known as Kansas was inhabited by Native Americans. In 1803, most of modern Kansas was secured by the United States as part of the Louisiana Purchase. In 1854, the Kansas Territory was organized, then in 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state. In 1867, Reno County was founded.

In 1887, the Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway extended its main line from Herington to Pratt. This main line connected Herington, Ramona, Tampa, Durham, Waldeck, Canton, Galva, McPherson, Groveland, Inman, Medora, Hutchinson, Whiteside, Partridge, Arlington, Langdon, Turon, Preston, Natrona, Pratt. In 1888, this main line was extended to Liberal. Later, this line was extended to Tucumcari, New Mexico and El Paso, Texas. This line is called the "Golden State Limited".

Law and government

Reno County was a prohibition, or "dry", county until the Kansas Constitution was amended in 1986 and voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with a 30% food sales requirement. The food sales requirement was removed with voter approval in 2004.

Geography

According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 1,271.25 square miles (3,292.5 km²), of which 1,254.42 square miles (3,248.9 km²) (or 98.68%) is land and 16.84 square miles (43.6 km²) (or 1.32%) is water.

Adjacent counties

• Rice County (north)
• McPherson County (northeast)
• Harvey County (east)
• Sedgwick County (southeast)
• Kingman County (south)
• Pratt County (southwest)
• Stafford County (west)

National protected area

• Quivira National Wildlife Refuge (part)

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1880	12,826		—
1890	27,079		111.1%
1900	29,027		7.2%
1910	37,853		30.4%
1920	44,423		17.4%
1930	47,785		7.6%
1940	52,165		9.2%
1950	54,058		3.6%
1960	59,055		9.2%
1970	60,765		2.9%
1980	64,983		6.9%
1990	62,389		−4.0%
2000	64,790		3.8%
2010	64,511		−0.4%
Est. 2012	64,438		−0.1%
U.S. Decennial Census

Age pyramid

2005 KDOT Map of Reno County (map legend)

As of the census of 2000, there were 64,790 people, 25,498 households, and 17,313 families residing in the county. The population density was 52 people per square mile (20/km²). There were 27,625 housing units at an average density of 22 per square mile (8/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 91.56% White, 2.88% Black or African American, 0.58% Native American, 0.45% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 2.69% from other races, and 1.81% from two or more races. 5.65% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 25,498 households out of which 30.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.90% were married couples living together, 8.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.10% were non-families. 27.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the county the population was spread out with 24.50% under the age of 18, 9.30% from 18 to 24, 26.90% from 25 to 44, 22.90% from 45 to 64, and 16.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 100.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,510, and the median income for a family was $42,643. Males had a median income of $31,495 versus $21,329 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,520. About 8.10% of families and 10.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.90% of those under age 18 and 8.50% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

Incorporated cities

Name and population (2004 estimate):

• Hutchinson, 41,047 (county seat)
• South Hutchinson, 2,488
• Buhler, 1,337
• Haven, 1,175
• Nickerson, 1,172
• Pretty Prairie, 601
• Arlington, 441
• Turon, 435
• Sylvia, 297
• Partridge, 266
• Abbyville, 126
• Plevna, 99
• Willowbrook, 88
• Langdon, 72

Unincorporated places

• Medora
• Pleasantview
• Yoder

Townships

Reno County is divided into thirty-one townships. The cities of Hutchinson and Nickerson are considered governmentally independent and are excluded from the census figures for the townships. 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
Albion	00875	Pretty Prairie	837	9 (22)	97 (38)	0 (0)	0.02%	37°47′5″N 98°0′2″W
Arlington	02350	Arlington	621	7 (17)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0.03%	37°53′16″N 98°11′1″W
Bell	05350		87	1 (2)	98 (38)	0 (0)	0.11%	37°46′8″N 98°17′30″W
Castleton	11000		256	2 (5)	140 (54)	0 (0)	0.01%	37°51′44″N 97°57′6″W
Center	12050	Partridge	672	7 (19)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0.17%	37°57′38″N 98°5′23″W
Clay	13600		3,302	38 (98)	88 (34)	1 (0)	0.58%	38°3′52″N 97°52′11″W
Enterprise	21475		139	1 (4)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.06%	38°3′0″N 98°11′34″W
Grant	28025		1,307	11 (30)	114 (44)	1 (1)	1.25%	38°8′4″N 98°0′27″W
Grove	29025		64	1 (2)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.06%	37°51′47″N 98°24′58″W
Haven	30750	Haven	1,592	11 (29)	143 (55)	1 (0)	0.41%	37°53′56″N 97°46′46″W
Hayes	31000		106	1 (1)	186 (72)	0 (0)	0.06%	38°3′50″N 98°25′38″W
Huntsville	33550		118	1 (3)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.11%	38°3′0″N 98°17′54″W
Langdon	38525	Langdon	160	2 (4)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0.16%	37°51′40″N 98°18′57″W
Lincoln	41050		703	8 (20)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.07%	37°57′46″N 97°58′7″W
Little River	41550	Buhler	1,881	20 (52)	93 (36)	1 (0)	0.57%	38°8′15″N 97°45′44″W
Loda	41700		119	1 (3)	98 (38)	0 (0)	0.27%	37°47′2″N 98°12′22″W
Medford	45450		144	2 (5)	83 (32)	0 (0)	0.18%	38°8′14″N 98°12′24″W
Medora	45600		1,594	21 (53)	77 (30)	0 (0)	0%	38°8′40″N 97°51′3″W
Miami	46125	Turon	521	5 (14)	98 (38)	0 (0)	0.15%	37°47′33″N 98°25′3″W
Ninnescah	50700		226	3 (7)	79 (31)	27 (10)	25.53%	37°47′9″N 97°51′27″W
Plevna	56750	Plevna	235	3 (6)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0.04%	37°58′1″N 98°18′36″W
Reno	58975	South Hutchinson	4,496	50 (129)	90 (35)	2 (1)	1.65%	38°2′31″N 97°57′27″W
Roscoe	61150		108	1 (3)	98 (38)	0 (0)	0%	37°46′11″N 98°4′23″W
Salt Creek	62850		483	3 (9)	139 (54)	1 (0)	0.39%	38°3′48″N 98°5′57″W
Sumner	69200		547	5 (13)	106 (41)	7 (3)	6.13%	37°46′24″N 97°45′51″W
Sylvia	69825	Sylvia	393	4 (11)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.34%	37°57′24″N 98°24′46″W
Troy	71600		112	1 (3)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0.16%	37°51′56″N 98°5′25″W
Valley	73075		887	6 (16)	143 (55)	1 (0)	0.90%	38°0′33″N 97°45′2″W
Walnut	75100		114	1 (3)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0%	38°7′40″N 98°18′7″W
Westminster	77175	Abbyville	243	3 (7)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0%	37°57′48″N 98°12′23″W
Yoder	80775		742	8 (20)	96 (37)	1 (0)	1.03%	37°56′54″N 97°52′34″W

Education

Unified school districts

• USD 308 Hutchinson
• USD 309 Nickerson - South Hutchinson
• USD 310 Fairfield
• USD 311 Pretty Prairie
• USD 312 Haven
• USD 313 Buhler

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Reno County, Kansas
• Reno County Area Transit, known as Rcat, provides public transportation for the citizens of the county.

Information on this and other counties in Kansas

• List of counties in Kansas
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Kansas
• Kansas locations by per capita income

Other information for Kansas

• List of cities in Kansas
• List of unified school districts in Kansas
• List of colleges and universities in Kansas

Further reading

Reno County

• History of Reno County, Kansas : Its People, Industries, and Institutions; 2 Volumes; Sheridan Ploughe; Bowen and Company; 445 / 959 pages; 1917. (Volume1 - Download 19MB PDF eBook), (Volume2 - Download 32MB PDF eBook)

Kansas

• History of the State of Kansas; William G. Cutler; A.T. Andreas Publisher; 1883. (Online HTML eBook)
• Kansas : A Cyclopedia of State History, Embracing Events, Institutions, Industries, Counties, Cities, Towns, Prominent Persons, Etc; 3 Volumes; Frank W. Blackmar; Standard Publishing Co; 944 / 955 / 824 pages; 1912. (Volume1 - Download 54MB PDF eBook), (Volume2 - Download 53MB PDF eBook), (Volume3 - Download 33MB PDF eBook)

External links

Official websites

• Reno County

General county information

• Blue Skyways
• Reno County Museum

Local History and Genealogy

• Cutler's History of Reno County, Kansas
• Reno County GenWeb

County Level Data

• Kansas Statistical Abstract

Maps

• Reno County Maps: Current, Historic Collection
• Kansas Highway Maps: Current, Historic Collection
• Kansas Railroad Maps: Current, 1915-1918
• Kansas School District Maps: Current