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Russell County, Kansas

Coordinates: 38°55′N 98°46′W / 38.917°N 98.767°W / 38.917; -98.767
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Russell County
County
Russell County Courthouse in Russell (2013)
Russell County Courthouse in Russell (2013)
Map of Kansas highlighting Russell County
Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
Map of the United States highlighting Kansas
Kansas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 38°55′00″N 98°46′00″W / 38.9167°N 98.7667°W / 38.9167; -98.7667
Country United States
State Kansas
FoundedFebruary 26, 1867
Named forAvra P. Russell
SeatRussell
Largest cityRussell
Area
 • Total899 sq mi (2,330 km2)
 • Land886 sq mi (2,290 km2)
 • Water13 sq mi (30 km2)  1.5%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total6,970
 • Estimate 
(2018)
6,907
 • Density7.8/sq mi (3.0/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district1st
WebsiteCounty Website
1915-1918 Railroad Map of Russell County

Russell County (standard abbreviation: RS) is a county in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the population was 6,970.[1] The largest city and county seat is Russell.[2]

Russell, the county seat, was the home of former U.S. Senate Majority leader and 1996 GOP presidential nominee Robert Dole for many years. It was also the boyhood home of U.S. Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, who was born in Wichita.

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 1867, Russell County was established.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 899 square miles (2,330 km2), of which 886 square miles (2,290 km2) is land and 13 square miles (34 km2) (1.5%) is water.[3]

Adjacent counties

Major highways

The city of Russell is the junction of Interstate 70, a major east-west highway through the Midwestern United States, and U.S. Route 281, which begins at the Canada–US border in North Dakota and ends at the Mexico–US border in Texas. I-70 also runs through Gorham on the western end of the county and Dorrance on the eastern end. Hays is 27 miles (43 km) west of Russell and Salina is 67 miles (108 km) east of Russell.

Further along I-70, Russell is approximately 250 miles (400 km) west of Kansas City, Missouri and 360 miles (580 km) east of Denver, Colorado.

K-18, a major east-west state highway in northern Kansas, enters from Osborne County to the west and runs through Paradise before joining up with US 281 through Waldo. US 281 and K-18 split again at the city limits of Luray, and K-18 continues east through Lucas and into Lincoln County. US 281 heads north into Osborne County.

South of I-70, US 281 heads into Barton County and towards the city of Great Bend.

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1870156—
18807,3514,612.2%
18907,333−0.2%
19008,48915.8%
191010,80027.2%
192010,748−0.5%
193011,0452.8%
194013,46421.9%
195013,406−0.4%
196011,348−15.4%
19709,428−16.9%
19808,868−5.9%
19907,835−11.6%
20007,370−5.9%
20106,970−5.4%
2018 (est.)6,908[4]−0.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
1790-1960[6] 1900-1990[7]
1990-2000[8] 2010-2016[1]
Age pyramid

As of the census[9] of 2000, there were 7,370 people, 3,207 households, and 2,020 families residing in the county. The population density was 8 people per square mile (3/km²). There were 3,871 housing units at an average density of 4 per square mile (2/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.58% White, 0.50% Black or African American, 0.56% Native American, 0.33% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.27% from other races, and 0.75% from two or more races. 0.91% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,207 households out of which 25.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.40% were married couples living together, 7.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.00% were non-families. 32.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.83.

In the county, the population was spread out with 22.40% under the age of 18, 5.80% from 18 to 24, 23.30% from 25 to 44, 24.30% from 45 to 64, and 24.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 92.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,284, and the median income for a family was $40,355. Males had a median income of $25,916 versus $17,957 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,073. About 9.10% of families and 12.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.80% of those under age 18 and 8.50% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Presidential elections

Presidential election results
Presidential election results[10]
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2016 80.6% 2,574 14.4% 461 5.0% 158
2012 79.8% 2,553 18.5% 593 1.7% 54
2008 76.2% 2,509 22.4% 736 1.5% 48
2004 75.8% 2,671 23.0% 810 1.3% 44
2000 69.9% 2,434 25.5% 886 4.7% 162
1996 79.0% 3,347 16.6% 705 4.4% 186
1992 35.7% 1,434 29.3% 1,178 34.9% 1,403
1988 61.2% 2,403 36.9% 1,448 1.9% 75
1984 77.0% 3,673 22.1% 1,055 0.9% 43
1980 73.0% 3,241 20.5% 910 6.4% 286
1976 67.8% 3,165 31.1% 1,453 1.1% 51
1972 73.8% 3,168 23.6% 1,011 2.6% 113
1968 67.0% 3,177 26.6% 1,261 6.4% 301
1964 48.9% 2,435 50.3% 2,505 0.7% 37
1960 65.6% 3,607 34.0% 1,870 0.4% 24
1956 71.8% 3,920 28.0% 1,528 0.2% 13
1952 76.0% 4,813 23.7% 1,499 0.3% 21
1948 56.5% 3,113 42.5% 2,343 1.0% 56
1944 67.6% 3,344 32.0% 1,583 0.5% 23
1940 58.6% 3,714 40.7% 2,579 0.8% 49
1936 37.5% 2,241 62.4% 3,736 0.1% 7
1932 39.0% 1,805 58.8% 2,723 2.2% 103
1928 66.6% 2,782 32.7% 1,366 0.8% 32
1924 64.3% 2,637 16.8% 687 19.0% 777
1920 75.3% 2,407 22.6% 724 2.1% 67
1916 48.9% 2,011 47.0% 1,934 4.1% 169
1912 16.9% 416 40.0% 983 43.1% 1,061[a]
1908 57.1% 1,360 41.0% 976 1.9% 45
1904 71.4% 1,451 25.3% 515 3.3% 66
1900 59.7% 1,233 39.2% 810 1.1% 22
1896 51.6% 902 47.1% 823 1.3% 23
1892 57.4% 1,007 42.6% 746
1888 60.8% 953 36.4% 571 2.8% 43

Russell County is overwhelmingly Republican. The last Democrat to carry the county was Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964, and Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1932 and 1936 is the only other to ever achieve this feat. In 1996, aided by a strong “favorite son” vote, Russell was Bob Dole’s second strongest county nationwide behind the famous bastion of Ochiltree County in Texas.[11]

Laws

Russell 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 percent food sales requirement.[12]

Education

Schools in Russell County have experienced major change in the 2010-11 school year. USD 407, which previously served all of Russell County except the northwest and southeast corners, retracted its footprint and will only serve the cities of Russell, Gorham and Bunker Hill and areas to the south of Interstate 70 along and adjacent to US 281.

Lucas-Luray High School, previously operated by USD 407, was acquired by the school district in Sylvan Grove in western Lincoln County and will be converted into a K-6 school. Meanwhile, the elementary school in Luray has closed. Students in Lucas and Luray in grades 7-12 will attend school in Sylvan Grove.

Unified school districts

  • Central Plains USD 112 (serves Dorrance and southeastern part of county south of I-70; extends into Barton, Ellsworth and Rice Counties)
  • Sylvan-Lucas Unified USD 299 (serves Lucas, Luray and northeast part of county along K-18; extends into Lincoln County)
  • Natoma/Paradise/Waldo USD 399 (serves Paradise, Waldo and northwest part of county along K-18; extends into Osborne and Rooks Counties)
  • Russell USD 407 (serves cities of Russell, Gorham, Bunker Hill and rural south central and southwest parts of county; does not extend into any other counties)

Communities

2005 KDOT Map of Russell County (map legend)

Cities

Townships

Russell County is divided into twelve townships. The city of Russell is considered governmentally independent and is 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
Big Creek 06700 Gorham 515 3 (7) 186 (72) 0 (0) 0.03% 38°51′40″N 98°59′8″W / 38.86111°N 98.98556°W / 38.86111; -98.98556
Center 12150 Bunker Hill 255 1 (2) 359 (139) 9 (3) 2.41% 38°51′7″N 98°40′29″W / 38.85194°N 98.67472°W / 38.85194; -98.67472
Fairfield 22200 42 0 (1) 104 (40) 0 (0) 0.03% 38°44′37″N 98°46′0″W / 38.74361°N 98.76667°W / 38.74361; -98.76667
Fairview 22650 Lucas 526 3 (7) 185 (71) 1 (1) 0.77% 39°2′16″N 98°31′54″W / 39.03778°N 98.53167°W / 39.03778; -98.53167
Grant 28100 159 1 (3) 135 (52) 0 (0) 0.18% 38°49′41″N 98°50′31″W / 38.82806°N 98.84194°W / 38.82806; -98.84194
Lincoln 41125 Milberger 147 2 (4) 94 (36) 0 (0) 0% 38°44′40″N 98°51′54″W / 38.74444°N 98.86500°W / 38.74444; -98.86500
Luray 43275 Luray 270 1 (4) 183 (71) 2 (1) 0.94% 39°5′6″N 98°40′3″W / 39.08500°N 98.66750°W / 39.08500; -98.66750
Paradise 54350 Paradise 169 0 (1) 372 (144) 1 (0) 0.16% 39°3′9″N 98°55′31″W / 39.05250°N 98.92528°W / 39.05250; -98.92528
Plymouth 56925 Dorrance 319 1 (3) 255 (98) 24 (9) 8.50% 38°50′46″N 98°33′4″W / 38.84611°N 98.55111°W / 38.84611; -98.55111
Russell 61850 89 1 (2) 127 (49) 0 (0) 0.03% 38°54′40″N 98°51′27″W / 38.91111°N 98.85750°W / 38.91111; -98.85750
Waldo 74600 Waldo 108 1 (2) 186 (72) 0 (0) 0.19% 39°3′10″N 98°46′14″W / 39.05278°N 98.77056°W / 39.05278; -98.77056
Winterset 80125 75 1 (2) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0.05% 38°44′15″N 98°59′30″W / 38.73750°N 98.99167°W / 38.73750; -98.99167

See also

Community information for Kansas

References

  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 28, 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. ^ "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved December 13, 2019.
  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. Retrieved July 28, 2014.
  9. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  10. ^ http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS
  11. ^ Dave Leip’s U.S. Election Atlas; 1996 Presidential Election Statistics
  12. ^ "Map of Wet and Dry Counties". Alcoholic Beverage Control, Kansas Department of Revenue. November 2006. Archived from the original on 2007-10-08. Retrieved 2007-12-28.
Notes
  1. ^ This total comprises 993 votes (40.37 percent) for Progressive Theodore Roosevelt (who carried the county) and 65 votes (2.76 percent) for Socialist Eugene V. Debs.

Further reading

See also: List of books about Kansas, including historical information about its counties and cities
County
Trails
  • Guide Map of the Best and Shortest Cattle Trail to the Kansas Pacific Railway; Kansas Pacific Railway Company; 1875. (Read Online)(Map)
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Russell County, Kansas.
County
Other
Maps

38°55′N 98°46′W / 38.917°N 98.767°W / 38.917; -98.767

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