Rice County, Kansas

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Rice County, Kansas
Location in the state of Kansas
Kansas's location in the U.S.
Founded	February 26, 1867
Named for	Samuel Allen Rice
Seat	Lyons
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	728.30 sq mi (1,886 km²) 726.58 sq mi (1,882 km²) 1.72 sq mi (4 km²), 0.24%
Population  - (2010)  - Density	10,083 14.4/sq mi (5.6/km²)
Time zone	Central: UTC-6/-5
Website	RiceCounty.us

Samuel Allen Rice

Rice County (standard abbreviation: RC) is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas; it was named in memory of Samuel Allen Rice, Brigadier-General, United States volunteers, killed April 30, 1864, at Jenkins Ferry, Arkansas. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 10,083. The largest city and county seat is Lyons.

History

19th century

The Santa Fe Trail followed the route of present day U.S. Route 56. Ruts in the earth from the trail are still visible in several locations. (Ralph's Ruts are visible in aerial photos at 38.35959264, -98.42225502.)

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, Ellinwood.

Law and government

Although the Kansas Constitution was amended in 1986 to allow the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with the approval of voters, Rice County has remained a prohibition, or "dry", county.

Geography

According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 728.30 square miles (1,886.3 km²), of which 726.58 square miles (1,881.8 km²) (or 99.76%) is land and 1.72 square miles (4.5 km²) (or 0.24%) is water.

Adjacent counties

• Ellsworth County (north)
• McPherson County (east)
• Reno County (south)
• Stafford County (southwest)
• Barton County (northwest)

National protected area

• Quivira National Wildlife Refuge (part)

Demographics

Age pyramid

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1900	14,745		—
1910	15,106		2.4%
1920	14,832		−1.8%
1930	13,800		−7.0%
1940	17,213		24.7%
1950	15,635		−9.2%
1960	13,909		−11.0%
1970	12,320		−11.4%
1980	11,900		−3.4%
1990	10,610		−10.8%
2000	10,761		1.4%
2010	10,083		−6.3%
U.S. Decennial Census

As of the census of 2000, there were 10,761 people, 4,050 households, and 2,830 families residing in the county. The population density was 15 people per square mile (6/km²). There were 4,609 housing units at an average density of 6 per square mile (2/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 94.68% White, 1.15% Black or African American, 0.57% Native American, 0.33% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.84% from other races, and 1.39% from two or more races. 5.61% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,050 households out of which 31.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.10% were married couples living together, 7.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.10% were non-families. 27.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the county the population was spread out with 24.70% under the age of 18, 13.30% from 18 to 24, 22.80% from 25 to 44, 21.30% from 45 to 64, and 18.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 92.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,671, and the median income for a family was $40,960. Males had a median income of $31,175 versus $18,968 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,064. About 8.50% of families and 10.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.60% of those under age 18 and 8.20% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

Incorporated cities

Name and population (2004 estimate):

• Lyons, 3,576 (county seat)
• Sterling, 2,587
• Little River, 530
• Chase, 471
• Bushton, 300
• Geneseo, 271
• Alden, 161
• Raymond, 95
• Frederick, 11

Townships

Rice County is divided into twenty townships. The cities of Lyons and Sterling 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
Atlanta	03075		233	3 (7)	90 (35)	0 (0)	0.25%	38°18′22″N 98°11′58″W
Bell	05375		18	0 (0)	94 (36)	1 (0)	0.65%	38°13′10″N 98°24′2″W
Center	12075		136	1 (4)	95 (37)	0 (0)	0.04%	38°17′50″N 98°18′12″W
East Washington	19725		179	2 (5)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.03%	38°13′18″N 97°58′34″W
Eureka	21900		65	1 (2)	95 (37)	0 (0)	0%	38°29′52″N 98°19′21″W
Farmer	23100		441	5 (12)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0%	38°30′0″N 98°24′55″W
Galt	25175		51	1 (1)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0.22%	38°28′8″N 98°5′59″W
Harrison	30425		192	2 (5)	92 (35)	0 (0)	0.06%	38°23′3″N 98°11′49″W
Lincoln	41100		577	6 (16)	95 (37)	0 (0)	0%	38°22′10″N 98°19′19″W
Mitchell	47525		131	1 (4)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0.18%	38°23′24″N 98°5′42″W
Odessa	52150		55	1 (2)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.10%	38°28′17″N 97°59′21″W
Pioneer	55925		101	1 (3)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0.03%	38°23′34″N 98°25′39″W
Raymond	58575		185	2 (5)	92 (36)	1 (0)	0.71%	38°17′38″N 98°24′56″W
Rockville	60725		134	1 (4)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.04%	38°18′17″N 97°57′36″W
Sterling	68225		223	2 (5)	114 (44)	1 (0)	1.01%	38°12′19″N 98°11′44″W
Union	72325		741	8 (21)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0%	38°23′34″N 97°59′32″W
Valley	73100		276	4 (9)	77 (30)	1 (0)	1.11%	38°13′27″N 98°18′44″W
Victoria	73825		364	4 (10)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0.06%	38°29′57″N 98°10′24″W
West Washington	77425		138	1 (4)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.12%	38°13′9″N 98°4′58″W
Wilson	79775		147	2 (4)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0.02%	38°18′2″N 98°6′2″W

Education

2005 KDOT Map of Rice County (map legend)

Unified school districts

• USD 328, Lorraine, serves Bushton and northwestern areas of the county
• USD 376, Sterling
• USD 401, Chase
• USD 405, Lyons
• USD 444, Little River

See also

• Dry counties
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Rice County, Kansas

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

• 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

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Rice County, Kansas

Official

• Rice County

General Information

• Blue Skyways
• Cutler's History of Rice County, Kansas
• Kansas Statistical Abstract

Maps

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