McPherson County, Kansas

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McPherson County, Kansas
McPherson County Courthouse in McPherson
Location in the state of Kansas
Kansas's location in the U.S.
Founded	February 26, 1867
Seat	McPherson
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	901.24 sq mi (2,334 km²) 899.71 sq mi (2,330 km²) 1.52 sq mi (4 km²), 0.17%
Population  - (2010)  - Density	29,180 32.8/sq mi (12.7/km²)
Time zone	Central: UTC-6/-5
Website	McPhersonCountyKS.us

McPherson County (standard abbreviation: MP) is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 29,180. The largest city and county seat is McPherson. The county is named for Civil War General James B. McPherson. The McPherson Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of McPherson County.

History

19th century

Map of early Santa Fe Trail and later Railroads, 1914

For millennia, the land that is currently 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. In 1861, Kansas became the 34th state.

From the 1820s to 1870s, the Santa Fe Trail passed through, what is now McPherson County. The trail entered the county, east of Canton, then south of Galva, then north of Inman, and west towards Lyons. In 1855, Charles O. Fuller established a ranch adjacent to the Running Turkey Creek Crossing about two miles south and one mile east of Galva. Fuller's Ranch provided accommodations for travelers on the Santa Fe Trail and was probably the first white settlement in McPherson County.

Peketon County was established in 1860, by the passage of a bill by S. N. Wood: An act to establish Peketon County. Section 1. - That all that territory west of the sixth principal meridian and south of Township 16, in Kansas Territory, be and the same is hereby erected into a county, to be known by the name of Peketon County. On February 17, 1865, Peketon County was abolished, and McPherson County was made a part of Marion County, which extended from the west line of Chase County to the present western boundary of Kansas.

In 1868, Solomon Stephens and L. N. Holmberg were appointed Justices of the Peace - the first officers in what is now McPherson County. The next year (1869) occurred the first election for the township, now the county of McPherson. McPherson was regularly organized as a county in the spring of 1870, a mass meeting being held at Sweadal. Sweadal, the county seat thus selected, was located about one mile and a half southwest of the present site of Lindsborg. In September, however, the County Commissioners resolved to meet at the latter place, McPherson which had already been located some two years.

In April, 1873, a petition was filed for the county seat re-location. It was signed by 483 voters, and a special election was accordingly ordered for June 10. Upon that day, McPherson received 605 votes, New Gottland 325, King City 3 and Lindsborg 1; McPherson's majority over all, 276. In May the McPherson Town Company had offered, as an inducement for the location of the county seat at this point, the free use of rooms for ten years, and the donation of two squares of land on the town site. The offer was accepted the next month, the County Commissioners selecting blocks 56 and 65. Thus the county seat was established at McPherson and has remained since.

As early as 1875, city leaders of Marion held a meeting to consider a branch railroad from Florence. In 1878, Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway and parties from Marion County and McPherson County chartered the Marion and McPherson Railway Company. In 1879, a branch line was built from Florence to McPherson, in 1880 it was extended to Lyons, in 1881 it was extended to Ellinwood. The line was leased and operated by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. The line from Florence to Marion, was abandoned in 1968. In 1992, the line from Marion to McPherson was sold to Central Kansas Railway. In 1993, after heavy flood damage, the line from Marion to McPherson was abandoned. The original branch line connected Florence, Marion, Canada, Hillsboro, Lehigh, Canton, Galva, McPherson, Conway, Windom, Little River, Mitchell, Lyons, Chase, then connected with the original AT&SF main line at Ellinwood.

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 Santa Rosa, New Mexico, where it made a connection with the Southern Pacific from El Paso, Texas. The Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway was absorbed by the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway. This line is also called the "Golden State Route".

20th century

The National Old Trails Road, also known as the Ocean-to-Ocean Highway, was established in 1912, and was routed through Windom, Conway, McPherson.

Law and government

Following amendment to the Kansas Constitution in 1986, the county remained a prohibition, or "dry", county until 1996, when voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with a 30% food sales requirement.

Geography

According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 901.24 square miles (2,334.2 km²), of which 899.71 square miles (2,330.2 km²) (or 99.83%) is land and 1.52 square miles (3.9 km²) (or 0.17%) is water.

Adjacent counties

• Saline County (north)
• Dickinson County (northeast)
• Marion County (east)
• Harvey County (southeast)
• Reno County (southwest)
• Rice County (west)
• Ellsworth County (northwest)

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1900	21,421		—
1910	21,521		0.5%
1920	21,845		1.5%
1930	23,588		8.0%
1940	24,152		2.4%
1950	23,670		−2.0%
1960	24,285		2.6%
1970	24,778		2.0%
1980	26,855		8.4%
1990	27,268		1.5%
2000	29,554		8.4%
2010	29,180		−1.3%
U.S. Decennial Census

Age pyramid

2005 KDOT Map of McPherson County (map legend)

As of the census of 2000, there were 29,554 people, 11,205 households, and 7,966 families residing in the county. The population density was 33 people per square mile (13/km²). There were 11,830 housing units at an average density of 13 per square mile (5/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 96.53% White, 0.81% Black or African American, 0.34% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.79% from other races, and 1.16% from two or more races. 1.94% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 37.1% were of German, 12.9% Swedish, 12.1% American, 6.7% English and 6.3% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 11,205 households out of which 33.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.50% were married couples living together, 6.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.90% were non-families. 25.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the county the population was spread out with 25.40% under the age of 18, 10.30% from 18 to 24, 25.20% from 25 to 44, 21.80% from 45 to 64, and 17.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 95.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $41,138, and the median income for a family was $48,243. Males had a median income of $33,530 versus $21,175 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,921. About 4.20% of families and 6.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.20% of those under age 18 and 8.10% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

Incorporated cities

Name and population (2010):

• McPherson, 13,155
• Lindsborg, 3,458
• Moundridge, 1,737
• Inman, 1,377
• Galva, 870
• Canton, 748
• Marquette, 641
• Windom, 130

Unincorporated communities

• Conway
• Elyria
• Groveland
• Roxbury

Ghost towns

• Battle Hill
• Christian
• Doles Park
• Elivon
• King City
• New Gottland
• Sweadal

Townships

McPherson County is divided into twenty-five townships. The cities of Lindsborg and McPherson 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
Battle Hill	04550		91	1 (3)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.33%	38°29′2″N 97°25′22″W
Bonaville	07925		66	1 (2)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.34%	38°32′57″N 97°30′34″W
Canton	10500		1,090	12 (30)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.02%	38°23′21″N 97°25′36″W
Castle	10950		225	2 (6)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.12%	38°23′9″N 97°52′44″W
Delmore	17575		138	1 (4)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.15%	38°28′43″N 97°33′17″W
Empire	21200		1,178	13 (33)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0%	38°23′12″N 97°32′7″W
Groveland	29150		234	2 (6)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0.12%	38°17′55″N 97°44′37″W
Gypsum Creek	29325		215	2 (6)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.11%	38°33′32″N 97°26′12″W
Harper	30225		137	1 (4)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.17%	38°28′55″N 97°45′50″W
Hayes	30950		287	3 (8)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0%	38°17′55″N 97°52′54″W
Jackson	34850		198	2 (6)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.49%	38°22′33″N 97°46′48″W
King City	36900		544	6 (15)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.13%	38°18′51″N 97°39′8″W
Little Valley	41600		475	5 (13)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.02%	38°13′38″N 97°52′32″W
Lone Tree	42525		486	5 (13)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0%	38°17′37″N 97°32′48″W
McPherson	43975		618	8 (21)	77 (30)	0 (0)	0.23%	38°23′24″N 97°38′57″W
Marquette	44950		776	8 (22)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.16%	38°33′9″N 97°51′30″W
Meridian	45975		341	4 (9)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0%	38°12′43″N 97°26′8″W
Mound	48675		2,104	23 (59)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.17%	38°12′24″N 97°31′22″W
New Gottland	50350		354	4 (10)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.38%	38°28′29″N 97°38′21″W
Smoky Hill	66025		297	3 (9)	89 (34)	0 (0)	0.05%	38°34′35″N 97°38′59″W
South Sharps Creek	67000		112	1 (3)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.18%	38°28′21″N 97°52′11″W
Spring Valley	67750		373	4 (10)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0.03%	38°18′2″N 97°25′21″W
Superior	69475		1,640	18 (46)	92 (36)	1 (0)	0.72%	38°13′28″N 97°46′1″W
Turkey Creek	71700		294	3 (8)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0%	38°13′10″N 97°38′23″W
Union	72225		190	2 (5)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.20%	38°33′12″N 97°44′59″W

Education

File:Windom Kansas.gif

Windom, Kansas in McPherson County during the early 20th century

Unified school districts

• USD 400, Smoky Valley
  • Lindsborg, Marquette, Rural Areas
• USD 418, McPherson
  • McPherson, Rural Areas
• USD 419, Canton-Galva
  • Canton, Galva, Rural Areas
• USD 423, Moundridge
  • Moundridge, Rural Areas
• USD 448, Inman
  • Inman, Rural Areas

District Office In Neighboring County

• USD 411, Goessel
  • Rural Areas
• USD 444, Little River-Windom
  • Windom, Rural Areas

Colleges

• McPherson College, in McPherson
• Bethany College, in Lindsborg.
• Central Christian College, in McPherson

Museums

• Birger Sandzén Memorial Gallery, in Lindsborg
• McCormick-Deering Days Museum, in Inman
• McPherson Museum, in McPherson
• McPherson County Old Mill Museum, in Lindsborg

See also

• List of people from McPherson County, Kansas
• National Register of Historic Places listings in McPherson County, Kansas
• McPherson Valley Wetlands

Information on this and other counties in Kansas

• List of counties in Kansas
• List of Kansas county name etymologies
• 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

McPherson

• A History of the Church of the Brethren in Kansas (includes McPherson College history); Elmer LeRoy Craik; McPherson Daily Republican Press; 397 pages; 1922. (Download 25MB 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)

USA

• The Story of the Marking of the Santa Fe Trail by the Daughters of the American Revolution in Kansas and the State of Kansas; Almira Cordry; Crane Co; 164 pages; 1915. (Download 4MB PDF eBook)
• The National Old Trails Road To Southern California, Part 1 (LA to KC); Automobile Club Of Southern California; 64 pages; 1916. (Download 6.8MB PDF eBook)

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

McPherson County, Kansas

County

• McPherson County - Official Website
• McPherson County - Directory of Public Officials
• McPherson County - Information

Maps

• McPherson County Map, KDOT
• Kansas Highway Map, KDOT
• Kansas Railroad Map, KDOT
• Kansas School District Boundary Map, KSDE