Smith County, Kansas

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Smith County, Kansas
Location in the state of Kansas
Kansas's location in the U.S.
Founded	1872
Seat	Smith Center
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	896.53 sq mi (2,322 km²) 895.43 sq mi (2,319 km²) 1.10 sq mi (2.84 km²), 0.122%
Population  - (2010)  - Density	3,853 4.6/sq mi (1,777/km²)
Time zone	Central: UTC-6/-5
Website	SmithCoKS.com

Smith County (standard abbreviation: SM) is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. The county's population was 3,853 for the 2010 census. Its county seat is Smith Center. It is named in memory of Maj. J. Nelson Smith, who was part of the 2nd Colorado Cavalry, killed in action at the Battle of Westport on October 21, 1864. The geographic center of the 48 contiguous states is located within the county.

History

In 1871, the song Home on the Range was written by Dr. Brewster Higley in a cabin 8 miles north of Athol.

Law and government

Following amendment to the Kansas Constitution in 1986, the county remained a prohibition, or "dry", county until 1992, when voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with a 30% food sales requirement.

Geography

2005 KDOT Map of Smith County (map legend)

According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 896.53 square miles (2,322.0 km²), of which 895.43 square miles (2,319.2 km²) (or 99.88%) is land and 1.10 square miles (2.8 km²) (or 0.12%) is water. The county is divided into 25 townships, each of which is listed below in the subdivisions section of this article.

Geographic features

The geographic center of the 48 contiguous states is located within the county, near the city of Lebanon.[1] The geographic center of North America is located in neighboring Osborne County.

The Solomon River runs through the southern part of the county and provides a flat basin and water for irrigated crops.

Major highways

There are two major highways serving the county. The main east-west route is U.S. Highway 36, which travels through Athol, Kensington, and Smith Center. The main north-south route is U.S. Highway 281, which intersects US-36 in Smith Center. Kansas state highways K-8, K-9 and K-180 serve other areas of the county.

Adjacent counties

• Webster County, Nebraska (northeast)
• Jewell County (east)
• Osborne County (south)
• Rooks County (southwest)
• Phillips County (west)
• Franklin County, Nebraska (northwest)

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1900	16,384		—
1910	15,365		−6.2%
1920	14,985		−2.5%
1930	13,545		−9.6%
1940	10,582		−21.9%
1950	8,846		−16.4%
1960	7,776		−12.1%
1970	6,757		−13.1%
1980	5,947		−12.0%
1990	5,078		−14.6%
2000	4,536		−10.7%
2010	3,853		−15.1%
U.S. Decennial Census

Age pyramid

As of the census of 2000, there were 4,536 people, 1,953 households, and 1,322 families residing in the county. The population density was 5 people per square mile (2/km²). There were 2,326 housing units at an average density of 3 per square mile (1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.79% White, 0.11% Black or African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.04% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 0.22% from other races, and 0.49% from two or more races. 0.73% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,953 households out of which 25.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.60% were married couples living together, 4.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.30% were non-families. 30.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.78.

In the county the population was spread out with 21.70% under the age of 18, 4.70% from 18 to 24, 22.10% from 25 to 44, 23.60% from 45 to 64, and 27.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 92.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,486, and the median income for a family was $36,951. Males had a median income of $25,089 versus $18,608 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,983. About 8.80% of families and 10.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.80% of those under age 18 and 9.50% of those age 65 or over.

The population distribution by township is as follows according to the 2000 census: Banner 54; Beaver 60; Blaine 60; Cedar 619; Center 2,094; Cora 38; Crystal Plains 40; Dor 46; Garfield 33; German 34; Harlan 100; Harvey 130; Houston 206; Lane 134; Lincoln 73; Logan 47; Martin 24; Oak 399; Pawnee 35; Pleasant 34; Swan 42; Valley 75; Washington 63; Webster 47; White Rock 49.

History

The Homestead Act was enacted by President Abraham Lincoln in 1862. The first homestead in Smith County was in 1871 and there were 3,800 inhabitants by 1875. The county grew to 15,000 people by 1889. Corn was the main crop at first but drought and grasshopper plagues severely hurt the crops. When hardy Winter wheat was introduced to Kansas by Russian settlers, it eventually became the predominant crop in Smith County. The population of the county has slowly declined since 1900 due in large part because of advanced farming techniques that require less human labor.

Dr. Brewster Higley wrote the song "Home on the Range" in the early 1870s. It later became the Kansas State song.

Cities and towns

Incorporated cities

Name and population (2004 estimate):

• Smith Center, 1,757 (county seat)
• Kensington, 495
• Lebanon, 282
• Gaylord, 130
• Athol, 47
• Cedar, 24

Townships

Smith County is divided into twenty-five 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.

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
Banner	04100		54	0.58 (1.50)	93.29 (36.02)	0 (0)	0%	39°42′3″N 98°47′13″W
Beaver	05200		60	0.65 (1.67)	92.89 (35.86)	0.27 (0.10)	0.29%	39°56′50″N 98°46′34″W
Blaine	07200		60	0.64 (1.67)	93.24 (36.00)	0.04 (0.01)	0.04%	39°47′20″N 98°40′48″W
Cedar	11350	Kensington	619	6.68 (17.29)	92.71 (35.80)	0.08 (0.03)	0.09%	39°46′10″N 99°1′50″W
Center	12175	Smith Center	2,094	22.48 (58.22)	93.15 (35.97)	0.04 (0.02)	0.05%	39°46′47″N 98°47′7″W
Cora	15525		38	0.41 (1.06)	92.96 (35.89)	0.17 (0.06)	0.18%	39°52′45″N 98°40′7″W
Crystal Plains	16575		40	0.43 (1.11)	93.00 (35.91)	0.05 (0.02)	0.05%	39°41′27″N 98°40′52″W
Dor	18300		46	0.50 (1.29)	92.55 (35.73)	0.30 (0.11)	0.32%	39°37′33″N 99°0′4″W
Garfield	25825		33	0.35 (0.92)	92.96 (35.89)	0.04 (0.02)	0.04%	39°35′48″N 98°40′21″W
German	26150		34	0.37 (0.96)	91.78 (35.44)	0.27 (0.10)	0.29%	39°56′41″N 99°0′39″W
Harlan	30100		100	1.07 (2.78)	93.03 (35.92)	0.05 (0.02)	0.05%	39°36′25″N 98°46′42″W
Harvey	30550	Cedar	130	1.40 (3.63)	92.86 (35.85)	0.00 (0.00)	0%	39°41′10″N 98°55′32″W
Houston	33225	Gaylord	206	2.22 (5.74)	92.94 (35.88)	0.14 (0.05)	0.15%	39°37′38″N 98°52′12″W
Lane	38450	Athol	134	1.44 (3.73)	92.98 (35.90)	0.03 (0.01)	0.04%	39°46′49″N 98°53′30″W
Lincoln	41200		73	0.79 (2.04)	92.80 (35.83)	0.15 (0.06)	0.16%	39°36′13″N 98°33′23″W
Logan	42275		47	0.51 (1.32)	92.50 (35.72)	0.14 (0.05)	0.15%	39°57′5″N 98°34′4″W
Martin	45000		24	0.26 (0.67)	92.49 (35.71)	0.25 (0.10)	0.27%	39°56′40″N 98°54′21″W
Oak	51650	Lebanon	399	4.30 (11.13)	92.88 (35.86)	0.07 (0.03)	0.07%	39°48′10″N 98°33′29″W
Pawnee	54825		35	0.38 (0.98)	92.13 (35.57)	0.41 (0.16)	0.44%	39°57′7″N 98°39′50″W
Pleasant	56300		34	0.37 (0.95)	92.69 (35.79)	0.05 (0.02)	0.05%	39°51′28″N 98°54′28″W
Swan	69625		42	0.46 (1.18)	92.00 (35.52)	0.23 (0.09)	0.25%	39°52′56″N 99°1′12″W
Valley	73175		75	0.81 (2.09)	92.82 (35.84)	0.015 (0.006)	0.02%	39°41′28″N 98°59′59″W
Washington	75775		63	0.68 (1.76)	92.87 (35.86)	0 (0)	0%	39°52′54″N 98°46′24″W
Webster	76275		47	0.51 (1.31)	92.76 (35.82)	0.02 (0.01)	0.02%	39°42′27″N 98°34′8″W
White Rock	78000		49	0.53 (1.37)	92.88 (35.86)	0.04 (0.02)	0.04%	39°52′37″N 98°33′5″W

Education

Unified school districts

• Smith Center USD 237
• Thunder Ridge USD 110 Kensington

See also

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:

Smith County, Kansas

Official

• Smith County
• Smith County - Directory of Public Officials

General Information

• Blue Skyways

Kansas County Data

• Kansas Statistical Abstract

Smith County local history and genealogy

• Kansas State Historical Society
• William G. Cutler's History of the State of Kansas
• Geographical Center of the Continental United States
• Home on the Range Cabin, cabin where the song Home on the Range was written.

Maps

• 2011 Smith County Map, KDOT
• 2011 Kansas Highway Map, KDOT
• 2011 Kansas Railroad Map, KDOT
• 2005 Kansas School District Boundary Map, KSDE