Greeley County, Kansas

County in Kansas, United States From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Greeley County is a county located in western Kansas, in the Central United States. Its county seat and largest city is Tribune.[2] As of the 2020 census, the population was 1,284,[1] making it the least populous county in Kansas. As of 2018, it is tied with Wallace County as the least densely populated county in the state.[3] The county is named after Horace Greeley,[4] editor of the New York Tribune, who encouraged western settlement with the motto "Go West, young man".[5]

Country United States
FoundedMarch 20, 1873
Quick facts Country, State ...
Greeley County, Kansas
Greeley County Courthouse in Tribune (2010)
Greeley County Courthouse in Tribune (2010)
Official logo of Greeley County, Kansas
Motto: 
"Life as it should be"
Map of Kansas highlighting Greeley County
Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
Coordinates: 38°28′00″N 101°49′59″W
Country United States
State Kansas
FoundedMarch 20, 1873
Named afterHorace Greeley
SeatTribune
Largest cityTribune
Area
  Total
778 sq mi (2,020 km2)
  Land778 sq mi (2,020 km2)
  Water0.0 sq mi (0 km2)  0.0%
Population
  Total
1,284
  Estimate 
(2025)
1,182 Decrease
  Density1.65/sq mi (0.637/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
  Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district1st
Websitegreeleycounty.org
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History

In 1854, the Kansas Territory was organized, and Kansas became the 34th U.S. state in 1861. In 1873, Greeley County was established. It was the last county in the state to be organized, which finally occurred in July 1888 after a lawsuit to stop organization on the basis of insufficient population was dismissed. Tribune was named the temporary county seat, defeating Horace in an election held that November.[6]

Settlement in Greeley County was sparse until 1885, when the influx of settlers led to numerous town claims, with Horace, Tribune, and Reid among the settlements that boasted banks, newspapers, and basic amenities. The Missouri Pacific Railroad's arrival in 1887, with a depot at Tribune, facilitated further development. By 1910, the population had significantly increased, leading to the establishment of 13 school districts and a scattering of post offices including at Tribune, Horace, Hurt, Sidney, Thelma, and Youngville.[6]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 778 square miles (2,020 km2), all of which is land.[7] It is the largest of five United States counties and twelve (Virginia) independent cities that officially have no water area.[citation needed]

The county's landscape is predominantly prairie, with an elevation between 3,000 and 4,000 feet. White Woman Creek, the county's most notable watercourse, often runs dry.[6]

Adjacent counties

Demographics

More information Census, Pop. ...
Historical population
CensusPop.Note
18901,264
1900493−61.0%
19101,335170.8%
19201,028−23.0%
19301,71266.5%
19401,638−4.3%
19502,01022.7%
19602,0873.8%
19701,819−12.8%
19801,8451.4%
19901,774−3.8%
20001,534−13.5%
20101,247−18.7%
20201,2843.0%
2025 (est.)1,182[8] Decrease−7.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11]
1990-2000[12] 2010-2020[1]
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2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 1,284. The median age was 40.3 years, 25.5% of residents were under the age of 18, and 20.7% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 98.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 98.8 males age 18 and over. 0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[13][14]

The racial makeup of the county was 83.7% White, 0.2% Black or African American, 0.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 6.5% from some other race, and 8.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 15.5% of the population.[15]

There were 531 households in the county, of which 28.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 23.0% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 31.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[14]

There were 638 housing units, of which 16.8% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 72.9% were owner-occupied and 27.1% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 4.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 15.7%.[14]

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,534 people, 602 households, and 414 families residing in the county. The population density was 2 people per square mile (0.77 people/km2). There were 712 housing units at an average density of 1 per square mile (0.39/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 93.09% White, 0.26% Native American, 0.20% Black or African American, 0.13% Pacific Islander, 0.07% Asian, 5.22% from other races, and 1.04% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.54% of the population.

There were 602 households, out of which 34.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.10% were married couples living together, 4.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.20% were non-families. 28.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.10.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 28.20% under the age of 18, 6.80% from 18 to 24, 27.30% from 25 to 44, 19.90% from 45 to 64, and 17.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 98.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,605, and the median income for a family was $45,625. Males had a median income of $29,018 versus $18,984 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,974. About 8.20% of families and 11.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.20% of those under age 18 and 6.80% of those age 65 or over.

Government

County

As of January 1, 2009, Greeley County and the City of Tribune have operated as a unified government.[16] The resulting government consists of a five-member commission with two members elected by city residents, two by rural residents, and one at-large.[17] Similar to Wyandotte County, the only other consolidated city-county in the state, part of the county was not included: Horace decided against consolidation.[18]

Presidential elections

This county is often carried by Republican candidates, as are most rural western Kansas counties. The last time a Democratic candidate won the county was in 1976, and a Democratic candidate has only won the county three times in its history: 1932 (Franklin D. Roosevelt), 1964 (Lyndon B. Johnson), and most recently in 1976 by Jimmy Carter.

Presidential election results
More information Year, Republican ...
United States presidential election results for Greeley County, Kansas[19]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.%No.%No.%
1888 422 59.02% 180 25.17% 113 15.80%
1892 241 67.89% 0 0.00% 114 32.11%
1896 121 60.80% 76 38.19% 2 1.01%
1900 118 75.64% 36 23.08% 2 1.28%
1904 149 85.63% 14 8.05% 11 6.32%
1908 206 64.58% 89 27.90% 24 7.52%
1912 95 35.58% 33 12.36% 139 52.06%
1916 210 43.57% 168 34.85% 104 21.58%
1920 273 69.47% 93 23.66% 27 6.87%
1924 357 64.21% 75 13.49% 124 22.30%
1928 439 78.25% 121 21.57% 1 0.18%
1932 359 42.64% 440 52.26% 43 5.11%
1936 396 50.45% 388 49.43% 1 0.13%
1940 497 64.55% 268 34.81% 5 0.65%
1944 378 63.00% 215 35.83% 7 1.17%
1948 391 53.34% 326 44.47% 16 2.18%
1952 725 79.06% 181 19.74% 11 1.20%
1956 599 77.09% 174 22.39% 4 0.51%
1960 645 70.57% 262 28.67% 7 0.77%
1964 388 44.80% 469 54.16% 9 1.04%
1968 465 59.85% 227 29.21% 85 10.94%
1972 639 68.49% 212 22.72% 82 8.79%
1976 389 43.42% 479 53.46% 28 3.13%
1980 600 63.36% 235 24.82% 112 11.83%
1984 699 73.27% 227 23.79% 28 2.94%
1988 506 59.32% 317 37.16% 30 3.52%
1992 504 57.73% 191 21.88% 178 20.39%
1996 567 71.95% 161 20.43% 60 7.61%
2000 628 78.21% 143 17.81% 32 3.99%
2004 584 79.46% 138 18.78% 13 1.77%
2008 591 79.33% 151 20.27% 3 0.40%
2012 543 81.04% 113 16.87% 14 2.09%
2016 534 82.15% 83 12.77% 33 5.08%
2020 549 85.65% 78 12.17% 14 2.18%
2024 510 86.00% 75 12.65% 8 1.35%
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Laws

The Kansas Constitution was amended in 1986 to allow the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with the approval of voters. Greeley County remained a prohibition, or "dry", county until 2008, when voters approved to allow sales of liquor by the drink.[20]

Education

Unified school districts

Communities

2005 map of Greeley County[21] (map legend)

List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Greeley County.[21]

Cities

Ghost towns

Townships

Greeley County was previously divided into three townships. However, in 1992, Colony Township and Harrison Township were merged into Tribune Township, leaving only one township for the county. This was not reported to the U.S. census until 2006, thus the 2000 census did not reflect the merger, but the 2010 census did.[22]

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.

More information Township, FIPS ...
TownshipFIPSPopulation
center
PopulationPopulation
density
/km2 (/sq mi)
Land area
km2 (sq mi)
Water area
km2 (sq mi)
Water % Geographic coordinates
Colony149751720 (0)919 (355)0 (0)0%38°28′10″N 101°55′42″W
Harrison303251070 (1)511 (197)0 (0)0%38°21′25″N 101°41′14″W
Tribune71475Tribune1,2552 (6)586 (226)0 (0)0%38°31′51″N 101°44′36″W
Sources: "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files". U.S. Census Bureau, Geography Division. Archived from the original on August 2, 2002.
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Greeley County appears in several episodes of the television series Prison Break.[23]

See also

Community information for Kansas

References

Further reading

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