Kearny County, Kansas

Major highways

• U.S. Highway 50
• U.S. Highway 400
• K-25

Time zones

The west half of Kearny County observed Mountain Standard Time until October 28, 1990, when the Kansas Department of Transportation moved the entire county into the Central Time Zone, which 100 of the state's other 104 counties observe. Only four counties (Hamilton, Greeley, Wallace, and Sherman), all of which border Colorado, observe Mountain Time.^[8]

Adjacent counties

• Wichita County (north)
• Scott County (northeast)
• Finney County (east)
• Grant County (south)
• Stanton County (southwest)
• Hamilton County (west/Mountain Time border)

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 3,983. The median age was 35.0 years, with 28.9% of residents under the age of 18 and 15.4% 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 102.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 97.8 males age 18 and over. None of the residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.^[14][15]

The racial makeup of the county was 66.8% White, 1.0% Black or African American, 0.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 12.4% from some other race, and 18.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 35.0% of the population.^[16]

There were 1,427 households in the county, of which 39.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 20.5% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 22.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.^[15]

There were 1,581 housing units, of which 9.7% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 72.3% were owner-occupied and 27.7% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.5%.^[15]

2000 census

As of the 2000 census,^[17] there were 4,531 people, 1,542 households, and 1,199 families residing in the county. The population density was 5 people per square mile (1.9 people/km²). There were 1,657 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile (0.77/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 80.34% White, 0.55% Black or African American, 0.86% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 15.71% from other races, and 2.14% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 26.55% of the population.

There were 1,542 households, out of which 43.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.10% were married couples living together, 8.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.20% were non-families. 20.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.91 and the average family size was 3.35.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 34.30% under the age of 18, 8.30% from 18 to 24, 27.10% from 25 to 44, 19.20% from 45 to 64, and 11.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 104.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $40,149, and the median income for a family was $43,703. Males had a median income of $30,117 versus $20,179 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,708. About 8.40% of families and 11.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.90% of those under age 18 and 4.80% of those age 65 or over.

Presidential elections

Laws

Following amendment to the Kansas Constitution in 1986, the county remained a prohibition, or "dry", county until 1988, when voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with a 30 percent food sales requirement.^[19]

Unified school districts

• Lakin USD 215
• Deerfield USD 216

Cities

• Deerfield
• Lakin (county seat)

Townships

Kearny County is divided into seven 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.