Morton County, Kansas

Morton County, Kansas
County
Morton County Courthouse in Elkhart
Map of Kansas highlighting Morton County
Location in the U.S. state of Kansas
Map of the United States highlighting Kansas
Kansas's location in the U.S.
Founded February 20, 1886
Named for Oliver Morton
Seat Elkhart
Largest city Elkhart
Area
 • Total 730 sq mi (1,891 km2)
 • Land 730 sq mi (1,891 km2)
 • Water 0.2 sq mi (1 km2), 0.03%
Population (est.)
 • (2016) 2,848
 • Density 4.4/sq mi (1.7/km2)
Congressional district 1st
Time zone Central: UTC−6/−5
Website mtcoks.com

Morton County (standard abbreviation: MT) is a county in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 3,233.[1] The largest city and county seat is Elkhart.[2]

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 1848, after the Mexican–American War, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo with Spain brought into the United States all or part of land for ten future states, including southwest Kansas.

From 1821 to late 1860s, the Santa Fe Trail was active across Morton County.

In 1854, the Kansas Territory was organized, then in 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state. In 1886, Morton County was established, and named for Oliver Morton, who was a United States Senator from Indiana from 1867 to 1877.[3] In 1886, the community of Richfield was established as the county seat.[4]

20th century

Dust storm in Rolla on May 6, 1935

In the 1930s, the prosperity of the area was severely affected by its location within the Dust Bowl. This catastrophe intensified the economic impact of the Great Depression in the region.

In 1961, the county seat was moved from Richfield to Elkhart.[4]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 730 square miles (1,900 km2), of which 730 square miles (1,900 km2) is land and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km2) (0.03%) is water.[5]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1890724—
1900304−58.0%
19101,333338.5%
19203,177138.3%
19304,09228.8%
19402,186−46.6%
19502,61019.4%
19603,35428.5%
19703,5766.6%
19803,454−3.4%
19903,4800.8%
20003,4960.5%
20103,233−7.5%
Est. 20162,848[6]−11.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010-2016[1]
Age pyramid

As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 3,496 people, 1,306 households, and 961 families residing in the county. The population density was 5 people per square mile (2/km²). There were 1,519 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile (1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 88.39% White, 0.20% Black or African American, 1.14% Native American, 1.06% Asian, 7.52% from other races, and 1.69% from two or more races. 14.10% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,306 households out of which 36.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.20% were married couples living together, 6.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.40% were non-families. 24.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.15.

In the county, the population was spread out with 29.30% under the age of 18, 8.00% from 18 to 24, 27.20% from 25 to 44, 21.50% from 45 to 64, and 13.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 94.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,232, and the median income for a family was $43,494. Males had a median income of $31,875 versus $19,474 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,076. About 8.50% of families and 10.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.00% of those under age 18 and 5.20% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Presidential elections

Presidential Elections Results
Presidential Elections Results[12]
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2016 83.5% 995 12.3% 147 4.2% 50
2012 83.9% 1,072 14.8% 189 1.3% 17
2008 82.2% 1,153 16.3% 229 1.4% 20
2004 81.7% 1,287 17.5% 276 0.8% 13
2000 77.3% 1,203 20.6% 321 2.1% 33
1996 67.9% 1,073 23.8% 376 8.4% 132
1992 54.8% 915 23.8% 398 21.4% 357
1988 64.4% 1,074 34.1% 569 1.6% 26
1984 81.8% 1,533 17.2% 322 1.0% 19
1980 69.6% 1,157 24.9% 414 5.5% 91
1976 48.9% 738 48.7% 735 2.4% 36
1972 72.7% 1,165 22.7% 363 4.7% 75
1968 51.0% 770 31.5% 475 17.5% 264
1964 39.0% 609 60.1% 938 0.9% 14
1960 60.7% 918 38.7% 586 0.6% 9
1956 64.8% 814 34.7% 436 0.6% 7
1952 69.9% 893 28.4% 362 1.7% 22
1948 52.6% 624 46.0% 545 1.4% 17
1944 62.5% 617 37.2% 367 0.3% 3
1940 55.7% 643 43.6% 503 0.7% 8
1936 41.8% 636 57.6% 876 0.6% 9
1932 34.6% 621 61.0% 1,093 4.4% 79
1928 78.8% 1,010 20.2% 259 1.0% 13
1924 55.0% 669 23.5% 286 21.5% 261
1920 73.0% 783 24.8% 266 2.2% 24
1916 42.4% 405 47.9% 457 9.7% 93
1912 34.0% 120 40.8% 144 25.2% 89
1908 50.5% 154 45.9% 140 3.6% 11
1904 54.1% 53 44.9% 44 1.0% 1
1900 60.0% 51 40.0% 34 0.0% 0
1896 58.4% 52 40.5% 36 1.1% 1
1892 57.6% 106 42.4% 78
1888 58.0% 333 35.7% 205 6.3% 36

Laws

Although the Kansas Constitution was amended in 1986 to allow the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with the approval of voters, Morton County has remained a prohibition, or "dry", county.[13]

Education

Unified school districts

Communities

2005 KDOT Map of Morton County (map legend)

Cities

Unincorporated community

Townships

Morton County is divided into six 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.
TownshipFIPSPopulation
center		 PopulationPopulation
density
/km² (/sq mi)		 Land area
km² (sq mi)		Water area
km² (sq mi)		Water % Geographic coordinates
Cimarron13350670 (1)173 (67)0 (0)0%37°4′11″N 101°46′45″W / 37.06972°N 101.77917°W / 37.06972; -101.77917
Jones35650170 (0)140 (54)0 (0)0%37°1′4″N 101°56′56″W / 37.01778°N 101.94889°W / 37.01778; -101.94889
Richfield592252180 (1)649 (251)0 (0)0%37°14′37″N 101°42′36″W / 37.24361°N 101.71000°W / 37.24361; -101.71000
Rolla60925Rolla6502 (5)373 (144)0 (0)0%37°6′46″N 101°37′42″W / 37.11278°N 101.62833°W / 37.11278; -101.62833
Taloga69975Elkhart2,43717 (44)142 (55)0 (0)0%37°0′22″N 101°53′42″W / 37.00611°N 101.89500°W / 37.00611; -101.89500
Westola772251070 (1)412 (159)0 (0)0.01%37°14′19″N 101°58′40″W / 37.23861°N 101.97778°W / 37.23861; -101.97778

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 15, 2011. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2008-11-21. Retrieved 2010-04-17.
  4. 1 2 Morton County Facts; mtcoks.com
  5. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  6. ↑ "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  7. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
  11. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  12. ↑ http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS
  13. ↑ "Map of Wet and Dry Counties". Alcoholic Beverage Control, Kansas Department of Revenue. November 2004. Archived from the original on 2007-10-08. Retrieved 2007-01-21.

Further reading

County
Maps

Coordinates: 37°12′N 101°48′W / 37.200°N 101.800°W / 37.200; -101.800

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