Battle of Old Fort Wayne

Nemaha County is a county located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat is Seneca.[2] As of the 2020 census, the county population was 10,273.[1] The county was named for the Nemaha River.

History

Early history

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 1855, Nemaha County was established.

The first railroad in Nemaha County was built in 1866.[3]

On May 30, 1879, the "Irving, Kansas Tornado" passed through Nemaha county. This tornado measured F4 on the Fujita scale, and had a damage path 800 yards (730 m) wide and 100 miles (160 km) long. Eighteen people were killed and sixty were injured in this tornado.[citation needed]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 719 square miles (1,860 km2), of which 717 square miles (1,860 km2) is land and 2.0 square miles (5.2 km2) (0.3%) is water.[4]

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Population pyramid based on 2000 census age data
Historical population
CensusPop.Note
18602,436
18707,339201.3%
188012,46269.8%
189019,24954.5%
190020,3765.9%
191019,072−6.4%
192018,487−3.1%
193018,342−0.8%
194016,761−8.6%
195014,341−14.4%
196012,897−10.1%
197011,825−8.3%
198011,211−5.2%
199010,446−6.8%
200010,7172.6%
201010,178−5.0%
202010,2730.9%
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 10,717 people, 3,959 households, and 2,763 families residing in the county. The population density was 15 people per square mile (5.8 people/km2). There were 4,340 housing units at an average density of 6 per square mile (2.3/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.35% White, 0.49% Black or African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.10% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.17% from other races, and 0.60% from two or more races. 0.71% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,959 households, out of which 34.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.90% were married couples living together, 5.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.20% were non-families. 28.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.20.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 28.50% under the age of 18, 6.00% from 18 to 24, 24.10% from 25 to 44, 19.40% from 45 to 64, and 22.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 97.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,296, and the median income for a family was $41,838. Males had a median income of $28,879 versus $19,340 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,121. About 6.50% of families and 9.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.90% of those under age 18 and 8.50% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Presidential elections

Nemaha County is strongly Republican. Lyndon Johnson is the only Democrat to have carried the county since 1936.

Presidential election results
United States presidential election results for Nemaha County, Kansas[10]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 4,664 82.05% 927 16.31% 93 1.64%
2016 4,124 80.52% 725 14.15% 273 5.33%
2012 3,930 78.19% 1,000 19.90% 96 1.91%
2008 3,817 71.23% 1,432 26.72% 110 2.05%
2004 4,027 73.71% 1,355 24.80% 81 1.48%
2000 3,578 67.64% 1,494 28.24% 218 4.12%
1996 3,014 56.07% 1,648 30.66% 713 13.27%
1992 2,220 39.51% 1,580 28.12% 1,819 32.37%
1988 2,849 54.98% 2,261 43.63% 72 1.39%
1984 3,653 66.60% 1,761 32.11% 71 1.29%
1980 3,546 64.99% 1,600 29.33% 310 5.68%
1976 2,759 50.71% 2,586 47.53% 96 1.76%
1972 3,422 64.06% 1,777 33.26% 143 2.68%
1968 3,003 54.01% 1,925 34.62% 632 11.37%
1964 2,391 42.07% 3,260 57.36% 32 0.56%
1960 3,360 53.61% 2,884 46.02% 23 0.37%
1956 4,195 67.11% 2,038 32.60% 18 0.29%
1952 5,175 75.97% 1,618 23.75% 19 0.28%
1948 3,529 55.39% 2,810 44.11% 32 0.50%
1944 4,277 66.44% 2,149 33.39% 11 0.17%
1940 5,178 65.64% 2,679 33.96% 32 0.41%
1936 3,903 47.76% 4,175 51.09% 94 1.15%
1932 3,167 40.60% 4,578 58.69% 55 0.71%
1928 4,639 61.10% 2,919 38.45% 34 0.45%
1924 4,096 60.24% 1,846 27.15% 857 12.60%
1920 4,655 72.32% 1,731 26.89% 51 0.79%
1916 3,591 49.19% 3,579 49.03% 130 1.78%
1912 961 22.19% 1,936 44.71% 1,433 33.09%
1908 2,394 51.57% 2,182 47.01% 66 1.42%
1904 2,764 61.93% 1,564 35.04% 135 3.02%
1900 2,761 53.45% 2,348 45.45% 57 1.10%
1896 2,568 50.49% 2,478 48.72% 40 0.79%
1892 2,222 49.73% 0 0.00% 2,246 50.27%
1888 2,515 56.54% 1,682 37.81% 251 5.64%

Laws

Nemaha 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.[11]

Education

Unified school districts

School district office in neighboring county

Communities

2005 KDOT Map of Nemaha County (map legend)

‡ means a community has portions in an adjacent county. † means a community is designated a Census-Designated Place (CDP) by the United States Census Bureau.

Cities

Unincorporated communities

Townships

Nemaha County is divided into twenty townships. The cities of Sabetha and Seneca 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
Adams 00275 213 2 (6) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0.03% 39°46′38″N 95°57′36″W / 39.77722°N 95.96000°W / 39.77722; -95.96000
Berwick 06375 391 4 (11) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0.02% 39°57′11″N 95°50′11″W / 39.95306°N 95.83639°W / 39.95306; -95.83639
Capioma 10575 161 2 (4) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0.03% 39°47′28″N 95°51′18″W / 39.79111°N 95.85500°W / 39.79111; -95.85500
Center 11900 200 2 (6) 94 (36) 0 (0) 0% 39°46′37″N 96°11′15″W / 39.77694°N 96.18750°W / 39.77694; -96.18750
Clear Creek 13775 123 1 (3) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0% 39°57′27″N 96°10′56″W / 39.95750°N 96.18222°W / 39.95750; -96.18222
Gilman 26275 223 2 (6) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0.19% 39°52′1″N 95°57′14″W / 39.86694°N 95.95389°W / 39.86694; -95.95389
Grenada 27275 122 1 (3) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0.06% 39°41′23″N 95°51′10″W / 39.68972°N 95.85278°W / 39.68972; -95.85278
Harrison 30375 399 4 (11) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0.06% 39°41′22″N 95°56′55″W / 39.68944°N 95.94861°W / 39.68944; -95.94861
Home 32900 567 6 (16) 91 (35) 3 (1) 3.12% 39°42′36″N 96°9′17″W / 39.71000°N 96.15472°W / 39.71000; -96.15472
Illinois 33725 453 5 (13) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0% 39°41′13″N 96°3′41″W / 39.68694°N 96.06139°W / 39.68694; -96.06139
Marion 44775 457 5 (13) 94 (36) 0 (0) 0.02% 39°51′48″N 96°11′32″W / 39.86333°N 96.19222°W / 39.86333; -96.19222
Mitchell 47475 305 3 (9) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0% 39°47′25″N 96°3′43″W / 39.79028°N 96.06194°W / 39.79028; -96.06194
Nemaha 49625 184 2 (5) 92 (35) 0 (0) 0% 39°57′4″N 96°3′44″W / 39.95111°N 96.06222°W / 39.95111; -96.06222
Neuchatel 50050 117 1 (3) 94 (36) 0 (0) 0% 39°36′27″N 96°11′25″W / 39.60750°N 96.19028°W / 39.60750; -96.19028
Red Vermillion 58750 137 1 (4) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0.02% 39°36′17″N 96°4′0″W / 39.60472°N 96.06667°W / 39.60472; -96.06667
Reilly 58900 153 2 (4) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0.07% 39°36′47″N 95°57′12″W / 39.61306°N 95.95333°W / 39.61306; -95.95333
Richmond 59725 538 6 (16) 89 (34) 0 (0) 0% 39°51′34″N 96°3′49″W / 39.85944°N 96.06361°W / 39.85944; -96.06361
Rock Creek 60600 302 3 (9) 88 (34) 0 (0) 0.28% 39°52′32″N 95°50′8″W / 39.87556°N 95.83556°W / 39.87556; -95.83556
Washington 75675 465 5 (13) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0.01% 39°57′41″N 95°57′44″W / 39.96139°N 95.96222°W / 39.96139; -95.96222
Wetmore 77575 503 5 (14) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0.02% 39°37′35″N 95°49′43″W / 39.62639°N 95.82861°W / 39.62639; -95.82861

See also

Community information for Kansas

References

  1. ^ a b c "QuickFacts; Nemaha County, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 18, 2021. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Blackmar, Frank Wilson (1912). Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, Volume 2. Standard Publishing Company. pp. 345.
  4. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  5. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
  6. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
  7. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 27, 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 27, 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. ^ "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 28, 2007.
Notes

Further reading

External links

County
Other information
Maps