Cloud County, Kansas

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, while retaining title to approximately 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 1854, the Kansas Territory was organized, then in 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state. In 1867, Cloud County was established.

Cloud County was originally named Shirley County, but civic leaders feared that sounded too much like the name of a prostitute.^[3] It was then renamed "Cloud" county in honor of Colonel William F. Cloud.^[4]

Cloud County was formed from the existing Washington County, Kansas in a joint convention with Republic and Cloud counties. The county was legally organized on September 6, 1866, with Elk Creek designated as the temporary county seat.^[5]

In 1887, Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway built a branch line from Neva (3 miles west of Strong City) to Superior, Nebraska. This branch line connected Strong City, Neva, Rockland, Diamond Springs, Burdick, Lost Springs, Jacobs, Hope, Navarre, Enterprise, Abilene, Talmage, Manchester, Longford, Oak Hill, Miltonvale, Aurora, Huscher, Concordia, Kackley, Courtland, Webber, Superior. At some point, the line from Neva to Lost Springs was pulled but the right of way has not been abandoned. This branch line was originally called "Strong City and Superior line" but later the name was shortened to the "Strong City line". In 1996, the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway merged with Burlington Northern Railroad and renamed to the current BNSF Railway. Most locals still refer to this railroad as the "Santa Fe".

Geographic features

The Republican River passes through the county, entering from Republic County to the north and exiting to Clay County to the east. The Solomon River traverses the southwestern portion of the county, going from Mitchell County to Ottawa County. Jamestown Lake lies partially in the northwestern part of the county and partially in southwestern Republic County.

Major highways

Cloud County is bisected from north to south by U.S. Route 81, which runs through the town of Concordia and connects north to Belleville, Kansas or south to Salina, Kansas. The southern part of the county also has U.S. Route 24, connecting Clay Center, Kansas from the east and Beloit, Kansas to the west.

There are four other state highways in the county: K-9, K-28, K-189, and K-194.

Adjacent counties

• Republic County (north)
• Washington County (northeast)
• Clay County (east)
• Ottawa County (south)
• Mitchell County (west)
• Jewell County (northwest)

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 9,032. The median age was 40.8 years. 22.6% of residents were under the age of 18 and 22.3% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 101.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 99.1 males age 18 and over. 55.7% of residents lived in urban areas, while 44.3% lived in rural areas.^[12][13][14]

The racial makeup of the county was 92.3% White, 1.4% Black or African American, 0.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.9% from some other race, and 4.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 3.5% of the population.^[14]

There were 3,665 households in the county, of which 27.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 23.6% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 31.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.^[13]

There were 4,503 housing units, of which 18.6% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 72.3% were owner-occupied and 27.7% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 4.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 17.7%.^[13]

2000 census

As of the 2000 census,^[15] there were 10,268 people, 4,163 households, and 2,697 families residing in the county. The population density was 14 people per square mile (5.4 people/km²). There were 4,838 housing units at an average density of 7 per square mile (2.7/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.30% White, 0.34% Black or African American, 0.25% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.13% from other races, and 0.73% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.60% of the population.

There were 4,163 households, out of which 27.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.10% were married couples living together, 6.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.20% were non-families. 30.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.89.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.40% under the age of 18, 10.40% from 18 to 24, 21.90% from 25 to 44, 22.20% from 45 to 64, and 23.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 90.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,758, and the median income for a family was $39,745. Males had a median income of $27,166 versus $20,114 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,536. About 6.40% of families and 10.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.10% of those under age 18 and 8.70% of those age 65 or over.

Presidential elections

Cloud County is a Republican stronghold. The last Democrat to carry the county was Jimmy Carter in 1976.

Laws

Following amendment to the Kansas Constitution in 1986, Cloud County remained a prohibition, or "dry", county until 1998, when voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with a 30 percent food sales requirement.^[17]

Colleges

• Cloud County Community College in Concordia

Historic

• Miltonvale Wesleyan College (closed 1972)
• Concordia Normal School (closed 1876)
• Concordia Business College (closed sometime after 1930)

Unified school districts

• Clifton-Clyde USD 224
• Concordia USD 333
• Southern Cloud USD 334 (dissolving in 2026)

Cities

‡ means a community has portions in an adjacent county or counties.

Unincorporated communities

† means a community is designated a Census-Designated Place (CDP) by the United States Census Bureau.

Ghost towns

• Macyville
• Sibley
• Yuma

Townships

Cloud County is divided into eighteen townships. The city of Concordia 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.