Major General James G. Blunt

Clark County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat and most populous city is Ashland.[3] As of the 2020 census, the county population was 1,991.[1] The county was named after Charles Clarke.

History

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.

In 1867, Clark County was established.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 977 square miles (2,530 km2), of which 975 square miles (2,530 km2) is land and 2.6 square miles (6.7 km2) (%) is water.[4]

Adjacent counties

Major highways

Sources: National Atlas,[5] U.S. Census Bureau[6]

Demographics

Population pyramid based on 2000 census age data
Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1880163
18902,3571,346.0%
19001,701−27.8%
19104,093140.6%
19204,98921.9%
19304,796−3.9%
19404,081−14.9%
19503,946−3.3%
19603,396−13.9%
19702,896−14.7%
19802,599−10.3%
19902,418−7.0%
20002,390−1.2%
20102,215−7.3%
20201,991−10.1%
2021 (est.)1,977[2]−0.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010-2020[1]

As of the census of 2000, there were 2,390 people, 979 households, and 676 families residing in the county. The population density was 2 people per square mile (0.77 people/km2). There were 1,111 housing units at an average density of 1 per square mile (0.39/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 95.77% White, 0.25% Black or African American, 1.13% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 1.88% from other races, and 0.88% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.02% of the population.

There were 979 households, out of which 30.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.30% were married couples living together, 6.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.90% were non-families. 29.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.60% under the age of 18, 4.90% from 18 to 24, 23.10% from 25 to 44, 23.60% from 45 to 64, and 21.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 95.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,857, and the median income for a family was $40,521. Males had a median income of $27,321 versus $20,833 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,795. About 11.30% of families and 12.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.00% of those under age 18 and 10.20% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Presidential elections

Prior to 1944, Clark County was a swing county, backing the national winner in every presidential election from 1900 to 1940. From 1944 on, it has become a Republican stronghold in presidential elections aside from 1964 when Lyndon B. Johnson won the county as part of a nationwide landslide victory.

Presidential election results
United States presidential election results for Clark County, Kansas[11]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 904 84.72% 143 13.40% 20 1.87%
2016 825 81.52% 120 11.86% 67 6.62%
2012 805 79.15% 174 17.11% 38 3.74%
2008 897 77.39% 245 21.14% 17 1.47%
2004 1,014 78.54% 257 19.91% 20 1.55%
2000 926 73.43% 292 23.16% 43 3.41%
1996 855 65.02% 334 25.40% 126 9.58%
1992 676 51.49% 293 22.32% 344 26.20%
1988 876 66.62% 409 31.10% 30 2.28%
1984 1,075 75.39% 324 22.72% 27 1.89%
1980 901 63.59% 430 30.35% 86 6.07%
1976 761 51.80% 680 46.29% 28 1.91%
1972 1,142 76.03% 311 20.71% 49 3.26%
1968 920 58.26% 446 28.25% 213 13.49%
1964 777 46.67% 881 52.91% 7 0.42%
1960 1,286 70.27% 538 29.40% 6 0.33%
1956 1,243 69.83% 529 29.72% 8 0.45%
1952 1,410 73.28% 479 24.90% 35 1.82%
1948 999 55.29% 777 43.00% 31 1.72%
1944 950 55.69% 741 43.43% 15 0.88%
1940 1,072 49.47% 1,079 49.79% 16 0.74%
1936 899 38.13% 1,457 61.79% 2 0.08%
1932 938 44.54% 1,152 54.70% 16 0.76%
1928 1,383 76.41% 419 23.15% 8 0.44%
1924 969 59.16% 410 25.03% 259 15.81%
1920 923 57.98% 610 38.32% 59 3.71%
1916 653 34.39% 1,102 58.03% 144 7.58%
1912 162 14.54% 485 43.54% 467 41.92%
1908 386 49.87% 350 45.22% 38 4.91%
1904 246 60.74% 131 32.35% 28 6.91%
1900 201 49.14% 199 48.66% 9 2.20%
1896 182 48.66% 191 51.07% 1 0.27%
1892 226 42.40% 0 0.00% 307 57.60%
1888 473 51.30% 349 37.85% 100 10.85%

Laws

The Kansas Constitution was amended in 1986 to allow the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with the approval of voters, either with or without a minimum of 30% of sales coming from food. Clark County is one of 35 counties in the state that allows for the sale of liquor by the drink without the minimum food sales stipulation.[12]

Education

Unified school districts

Communities

2005 KDOT Map of Clark County (map legend)

Cities

Unincorporated communities

Ghost towns

Townships

Clark County is divided into six 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
Appleton 02100 Minneola 921 1 (4) 630 (243) 2 (1) 0.29% 37°23′28″N 99°55′57″W / 37.39111°N 99.93250°W / 37.39111; -99.93250
Center 11600 Ashland 1,097 2 (5) 528 (204) 2 (1) 0.31% 37°10′15″N 99°47′52″W / 37.17083°N 99.79778°W / 37.17083; -99.79778
Englewood 21375 Englewood 171 0 (1) 536 (207) 0 (0) 0.07% 37°6′5″N 99°59′7″W / 37.10139°N 99.98528°W / 37.10139; -99.98528
Lexington 39775 83 0 (1) 232 (90) 0 (0) 0.21% 37°19′20″N 99°38′41″W / 37.32222°N 99.64472°W / 37.32222; -99.64472
Liberty 39900 32 0 (1) 155 (60) 0 (0) 0.05% 37°25′6″N 99°39′18″W / 37.41833°N 99.65500°W / 37.41833; -99.65500
Sitka 65725 86 0 (1) 444 (171) 2 (1) 0.48% 37°8′13″N 99°38′28″W / 37.13694°N 99.64111°W / 37.13694; -99.64111
Sources: "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files". U.S. Census Bureau, Geography Division. Archived from the original on August 2, 2002.

See also

Rural Clark County
Community information for Kansas

References

  1. ^ a b c "QuickFacts; Clark County, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 15, 2021. Retrieved August 15, 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2021". Retrieved October 23, 2022.
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  5. ^ National Atlas Archived December 5, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ U.S. Census Bureau TIGER shape files
  7. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 22, 2014.
  8. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved July 22, 2014.
  9. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 22, 2014.
  10. ^ "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 22, 2014.
  11. ^ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
  12. ^ "Map of Wet and Dry Counties" (PDF). Kansas Department of Revenue Alcoholic Beverage Control. December 30, 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 4, 2020. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
  13. ^ Blackmar, Frank Wilson (1912). Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, Embracing Events, Institutions, Industries, Counties, Cities, Towns, Prominent Persons, Etc. Standard Publishing Company. pp. 298.

Further reading

External links

County
Maps