Anderson County is a county located in East Central Kansas, in the Central United States. Its county seat and most populous city is Garnett.[2] As of the 2020 census, the county population was 7,836.[1] The county was named for Joseph C. Anderson, a Kansas territorial legislator and border ruffian during the "Bleeding Kansas" era.
Anderson County | |
|---|---|
 Anderson County Courthouse in Garnett (2016) | |
 Location within the U.S. state of Kansas | |
 Kansas's location within the U.S. | |
| Coordinates: 38°12′N 95°17′W / 38.200°N 95.283°W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Kansas |
| Founded | August 25, 1855 |
| Named for | Joseph C. Anderson |
| Seat | Garnett |
| Largest city | Garnett |
| Area | |
• Total | 584 sq mi (1,510 km2) |
| • Land | 580 sq mi (1,500 km2) |
| • Water | 7.1 sq mi (18 km2) 0.7% |
| Population | |
• Total | 7,836 |
• Estimate (1023) | 7,838  |
| • Density | 13/sq mi (5.2/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Area code | 785 |
| Congressional district | 3rd |
| Website | AndersonCountyKS.org |
History
editIn 1854, the Kansas Territory was organized, and in 1855, Anderson County was established as one of the original 33 counties of the Kansas Territory, named for territorial legislator Joseph C. Anderson.[3] The initial settlement began in 1854 with individuals like Valentine Gerth and Francis Meyer staking claims near what would become Greeley. The settlers discovered fields previously worked by the Potawatomi, who had been relocated there in 1833.[4] The early years were fraught with conflict during "Bleeding Kansas," with Anderson County men engaging in battles like the one at Osawatomie, where the clash over slavery was intense.[4]
The county's administrative center was initially established at Shannon, but disputes over the location of the county seat resulted in its move to Garnett in 1859, where it has remained.[3] The agrarian economy suffered from natural disasters, including the severe drought of 1860, which left the county in distress.[4] Subsequent years brought the infamous grasshopper plagues of 1874-1875, which devastated crops, yet the resolve of the settlers saw them through these hardships. The introduction of wheat farming helped stabilize the region.[4]
In 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state. The Civil War period saw Anderson County's men volunteer for Union forces, with the war also temporarily halting the cattle drives from Texas that had introduced Spanish fever to the local cattle. Post-war, the county experienced a resurgence in agricultural development, with the arrival of the railroad playing a crucial role in economic growth by opening up markets. As Anderson County moved towards the 20th century, its economy was based on farming, with some coal mining activities due to local deposits. The onset of World War I saw the community rallying to support the war effort, with many local men enlisting for service overseas. This era marked the beginning of a transition period, where traditional farming practices would soon give way to technological advancements in agriculture.
In 1884, the first photograph of a tornado was taken in Anderson county.[5]
Geography
editAccording to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 584 square miles (1,510 km2), of which 580 square miles (1,500 km2) is land and 4.1 square miles (11 km2) (0.7%) is water.[6]
Adjacent counties
edit- Franklin County (north)
- Miami County (northeast)
- Linn County (east)
- Bourbon County (southeast)
- Allen County (south)
- Woodson County (southwest)
- Coffey County (west)
Major highways
editDemographics
edit
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1860 | 2,400 | — | |
| 1870 | 5,220 | 117.5% | |
| 1880 | 9,057 | 73.5% | |
| 1890 | 14,203 | 56.8% | |
| 1900 | 13,938 | −1.9% | |
| 1910 | 13,829 | −0.8% | |
| 1920 | 12,986 | −6.1% | |
| 1930 | 13,355 | 2.8% | |
| 1940 | 11,658 | −12.7% | |
| 1950 | 10,267 | −11.9% | |
| 1960 | 9,035 | −12.0% | |
| 1970 | 8,501 | −5.9% | |
| 1980 | 8,749 | 2.9% | |
| 1990 | 7,803 | −10.8% | |
| 2000 | 8,110 | 3.9% | |
| 2010 | 8,102 | −0.1% | |
| 2020 | 7,836 | −3.3% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 7,838 | [9] | 0.0% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[10] 1790-1960[11] 1900-1990[12] 1990-2000[13] 2010-2020[1] | |||
As of the 2000 census,[14] there were 8,110 people, 3,221 households, and 2,264 families residing in the county. The population density was 14 people per square mile (5.4 people/km2). There were 3,596 housing units at an average density of 6 units per square mile (2.3 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.41% White, 0.32% Black or African American, 0.74% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.33% from other races, and 0.95% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.09% of the population. 35.0% were of German, 20.4% American, 10.4% English and 9.9% Irish ancestry.
There were 3,221 households, out of which 31.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.90% were married couples living together, 6.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.70% were non-families. 26.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.20% under the age of 18, 7.00% from 18 to 24, 24.60% from 25 to 44, 22.10% from 45 to 64, and 20.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 96.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.50 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $33,244, and the median income for a family was $39,101. Males had a median income of $30,102 versus $20,705 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,458. About 10.60% of families and 12.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.30% of those under age 18 and 11.00% of those age 65 or over.
Government
edit| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2024 | 2,998 | 78.85% | 732 | 19.25% | 72 | 1.89% |
| 2020 | 2,929 | 77.24% | 782 | 20.62% | 81 | 2.14% |
| 2016 | 2,435 | 72.69% | 672 | 20.06% | 243 | 7.25% |
| 2012 | 2,276 | 68.66% | 944 | 28.48% | 95 | 2.87% |
| 2008 | 2,362 | 65.14% | 1,175 | 32.40% | 89 | 2.45% |
| 2004 | 2,500 | 64.72% | 1,295 | 33.52% | 68 | 1.76% |
| 2000 | 1,984 | 57.04% | 1,327 | 38.15% | 167 | 4.80% |
| 1996 | 1,636 | 46.66% | 1,367 | 38.99% | 503 | 14.35% |
| 1992 | 1,218 | 33.03% | 1,178 | 31.95% | 1,291 | 35.01% |
| 1988 | 1,781 | 54.25% | 1,466 | 44.65% | 36 | 1.10% |
| 1984 | 2,462 | 67.14% | 1,155 | 31.50% | 50 | 1.36% |
| 1980 | 2,363 | 62.63% | 1,170 | 31.01% | 240 | 6.36% |
| 1976 | 1,872 | 48.70% | 1,886 | 49.06% | 86 | 2.24% |
| 1972 | 2,718 | 70.86% | 1,035 | 26.98% | 83 | 2.16% |
| 1968 | 2,168 | 56.84% | 1,242 | 32.56% | 404 | 10.59% |
| 1964 | 1,692 | 44.76% | 2,058 | 54.44% | 30 | 0.79% |
| 1960 | 2,665 | 62.35% | 1,589 | 37.18% | 20 | 0.47% |
| 1956 | 3,080 | 69.01% | 1,369 | 30.67% | 14 | 0.31% |
| 1952 | 3,672 | 73.18% | 1,333 | 26.56% | 13 | 0.26% |
| 1948 | 2,787 | 56.85% | 2,071 | 42.25% | 44 | 0.90% |
| 1944 | 3,060 | 64.89% | 1,649 | 34.97% | 7 | 0.15% |
| 1940 | 3,886 | 64.41% | 2,114 | 35.04% | 33 | 0.55% |
| 1936 | 3,452 | 54.64% | 2,767 | 43.80% | 99 | 1.57% |
| 1932 | 2,408 | 39.63% | 3,580 | 58.92% | 88 | 1.45% |
| 1928 | 3,562 | 64.94% | 1,874 | 34.17% | 49 | 0.89% |
| 1924 | 3,101 | 60.98% | 1,421 | 27.94% | 563 | 11.07% |
| 1920 | 3,068 | 62.82% | 1,708 | 34.97% | 108 | 2.21% |
| 1916 | 2,386 | 43.95% | 2,739 | 50.45% | 304 | 5.60% |
| 1912 | 618 | 19.88% | 1,365 | 43.92% | 1,125 | 36.20% |
| 1908 | 1,722 | 51.25% | 1,512 | 45.00% | 126 | 3.75% |
| 1904 | 1,891 | 58.26% | 1,043 | 32.13% | 312 | 9.61% |
| 1900 | 1,846 | 50.40% | 1,757 | 47.97% | 60 | 1.64% |
| 1896 | 1,780 | 47.57% | 1,890 | 50.51% | 72 | 1.92% |
| 1892 | 1,638 | 51.06% | 0 | 0.00% | 1,570 | 48.94% |
| 1888 | 1,843 | 55.13% | 960 | 28.72% | 540 | 16.15% |
Laws
editFollowing 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 percent food sales requirement.[16]
Education
editUnified school districts
editCommunities
edit
List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Anderson County.[17]
Cities
editUnincorporated communities
edit† means a community is designated a Census-Designated Place (CDP) by the United States Census Bureau.
Ghost towns
editTownships
editAnderson County is divided into fourteen townships. The city of Garnett is considered governmentally independent and is 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.
Media
editAnderson County Review is a weekly newspaper.[18]
See also
edit- Community information for Kansas
References
edit- ^ a b c "QuickFacts; Anderson County, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 15, 2021. Retrieved August 14, 2021.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ^ a b Blackmar, Frank Wilson (1912). Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, Embracing Events, Institutions, Industries, Counties, Cities, Towns, Prominent Persons, Etc. ... with a Supplementary Volume Devoted to Selected Personal History and Reminiscence. Standard Publishing Company.
- ^ a b c d Cutler, William G.; Andreas, Alfred Theodore (1883). History of the State of Kansas, Containing a Full Account of Its Growth from an Uninhabited Territory to a Wealthy and Important State ...: Also, a Supplementary History and Description of Its Counties, Cities, Towns, and Villages ... A.T. Andreas. ISBN 978-0-598-27697-1.
- ^ "18 Famous First Photographs in History: From the Oldest Photo Ever to the World's First Instagram". September 30, 2019.
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
- ^ National Atlas Archived December 5, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "U.S. Census Bureau TIGER shape files". Archived from the original on May 23, 2017. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
- ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
- ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 21, 2014.
- ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 21, 2014.
- ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 21, 2014.
- ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved July 21, 2014.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ^ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org.
- ^ "Map of Wet and Dry Counties". Alcoholic Beverage Control, Kansas Department of Revenue. November 2004. Archived from the original on October 8, 2007. Retrieved January 21, 2007.
- ^ a b "General Highway Map of Anderson County, Kansas" (PDF). Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT). September 2010. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 4, 2023.
- ^ Hanna, John (July 5, 2020). "Newspaper Owner: Sorry for Equating Mask Rule to Holocaust". Associated Press. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
Further reading
edit- Plat Book of Anderson County, Kansas; Northwest Publishing Company; 41 pages; 1901.
- The History Of Anderson County, Kansas, From Its First Settlement To The Fourth Of July, 1876; W.A. Johnson; Kauffman & Iler; 289 pages; 1877.
External links
edit
- County
- Anderson County - Official
- Anderson County - Directory of Public Officials
- Anderson County - Development Agency
- Historical
- Anderson County - History, Kansas State Historical Society
- Poster from Ninth Annual Anderson County Fair from September 25-28, 1891
- Maps