Stafford County, Kansas

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Stafford County, Kansas
Location in the state of Kansas
Kansas's location in the U.S.
Founded	1879
Seat	St. John
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	794.72 sq mi (2,058 km²) 792.05 sq mi (2,051 km²) 2.67 sq mi (7 km²), 0.34%
Population  - (2010)  - Density	4,437 5.7/sq mi (2.2/km²)
Time zone	Central: UTC-6/-5
Website	StaffordCounty.org

Stafford County (standard abbreviation: SF) is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 4,437. Its county seat is St. John. The county is named in memory of Lewis Stafford, captain of Company E, First Kansas Infantry, who was killed at the Battle of Young's Point, Madison Parrish, Louisiana, June 7, 1863.

History

19th century

The boundaries of Stafford County were defined by the Kansas Legislature of 1870 but for several years, the county remained unorganized. The Legislature of 1875, with the intention of obliterating the county from the map, gave the territory in Stafford County to other counties. They gave the portion in Range 15 West to Pawnee County; the portion included in Ranges 11, 12, 13 and 14 to Barton County; and the south half of the county, excepting the portion in Range 15, was added to Pratt County. But after each of the counties had taken its part, a strip six miles wide and twelve miles long (two townships) remained as Stafford County. This was the condition of the county until April 25, 1879, when, by a decision of the Supreme Court, the act of the Legislature dividing the county was declared unconstitutional and the county was restored to its original boundaries.

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, Stafford County has remained a prohibition, or "dry", county.

Geography

According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 794.72 square miles (2,058.3 km²), of which 792.05 square miles (2,051.4 km²) (or 99.66%) is land and 2.67 square miles (6.9 km²) (or 0.34%) is water.

Adjacent counties

• Barton County (north)
• Rice County (northeast)
• Reno County (east)
• Pratt County (south)
• Edwards County (west)
• Pawnee County (west)

National protected area

• Quivira National Wildlife Refuge (part)

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1900	9,829		—
1910	12,510		27.3%
1920	11,559		−7.6%
1930	10,460		−9.5%
1940	10,487		0.3%
1950	8,816		−15.9%
1960	7,451		−15.5%
1970	5,943		−20.2%
1980	5,694		−4.2%
1990	5,365		−5.8%
2000	4,789		−10.7%
2010	4,437		−7.4%
U.S. Decennial Census

Age pyramid

As of the census of 2000, there were 4,789 people, 2,010 households, and 1,294 families residing in the county. The population density was 6 people per square mile (2/km²). There were 2,458 housing units at an average density of 3 per square mile (1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 94.97% White, 0.15% Black or African American, 0.38% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 2.97% from other races, and 1.42% from two or more races. 5.41% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,010 households out of which 29.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.90% were married couples living together, 5.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.60% were non-families. 33.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the county the population was spread out with 26.30% under the age of 18, 5.40% from 18 to 24, 24.60% from 25 to 44, 22.50% from 45 to 64, and 21.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 95.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,107, and the median income for a family was $38,235. Males had a median income of $27,328 versus $21,063 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,409. About 8.70% of families and 11.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.20% of those under age 18 and 8.90% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

Incorporated cities

Name and population (2004 estimate):

• St. John, 1,224 (county seat)
• Stafford, 1,077
• Macksville, 495
• Hudson, 128
• Seward, 61
• Radium, 38

Townships

Stafford County is divided into twenty-one 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
Albano	00800		56	1 (2)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0%	37°52′43″N 98°51′43″W
Byron	09825		80	1 (2)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0.07%	38°12′50″N 98°38′7″W
Clear Creek	13825		36	0 (1)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0%	37°50′57″N 98°57′31″W
Cleveland	14125		68	1 (2)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.04%	38°2′11″N 98°52′2″W
Douglas	18375		138	1 (4)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0%	38°8′16″N 98°52′2″W
East Cooper	19350		90	1 (3)	92 (36)	1 (0)	0.75%	38°2′43″N 98°31′6″W
Fairview	22675		98	1 (3)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0%	37°56′52″N 98°31′4″W
Farmington	23250		591	6 (16)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0%	37°57′30″N 98°58′2″W
Hayes	31025		212	2 (6)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0%	38°7′20″N 98°38′49″W
Lincoln	41225		113	1 (3)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.02%	38°12′38″N 98°52′2″W
North Seward	51375		186	2 (5)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.03%	38°12′36″N 98°45′27″W
Ohio	52475		409	4 (11)	95 (36)	0 (0)	0%	37°58′40″N 98°45′7″W
Putnam	58050		19	0 (0)	182 (70)	5 (2)	2.91%	38°10′26″N 98°31′51″W
Richland	59650		70	1 (2)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0%	37°57′49″N 98°51′12″W
Rose Valley	61300		74	1 (2)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0%	37°51′41″N 98°44′19″W
St. John	62300		1,037	11 (29)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0.07%	38°0′58″N 98°45′21″W
South Seward	66975		55	1 (2)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.09%	38°8′11″N 98°44′36″W
Stafford	67800		1,291	14 (36)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0%	37°57′40″N 98°36′50″W
Union	72450		41	0 (1)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.09%	37°52′31″N 98°37′40″W
West Cooper	76875		64	1 (2)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.14%	38°2′37″N 98°38′9″W
York	80800		61	1 (2)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.27%	37°52′14″N 98°31′9″W

Education

2005 KDOT Map of Stafford County (map legend)

Unified school districts

• Stafford USD 349
• St. John-Hudson USD 350
• Macksville USD 351

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Stafford 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:

Stafford County, Kansas

Official

• Stafford County

General Information

• Blue Skyways

Kansas County Data

• Kansas Statistical Abstract

Stafford County local history and genealogy

• Kansas State Historical Society
• William G. Cutler's History of the State of Kansas
• Stafford County Historical & Genealogical Society

Maps

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