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Edwards County, Kansas facts for kids

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Edwards County
Watertower in Kinsley (2009)
Watertower in Kinsley (2009)
Map of Kansas highlighting Edwards County
Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
Map of the United States highlighting Kansas
Kansas's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  Kansas
Founded March 18, 1874
Named for W. C. Edwards
Seat Kinsley
Largest city Kinsley
Area
 • Total 622 sq mi (1,610 km2)
 • Land 622 sq mi (1,610 km2)
 • Water 0.1 sq mi (0.3 km2)  0.01%%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 2,907
 • Density 4.7/sq mi (1.8/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Area code 620
Congressional district 4th

Edwards County is a county located in the U.S. states of Kansas. Its county seat and most populous city is Kinsley. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 2,907, The county was founded in 1874 and named for W. C. Edwards, of Hutchinson, a pioneer settler who owned much land in the area.

History

In 1873, Edwards County was established, and named for W. C. Edwards, of Hutchinson, a pioneer settler who owned much land in the area and built the first brick building in Kinsley.

N.C. Boles became the first postmaster in the county with the opening of the Peters post office at Kinsley, then known as Petersboro in 1873. Kinsley's present name honors E.W. Kinsley, a Bostonian who generously funded the construction of the first church edifice, a Congregationalist building completed in 1875.

The infamous grasshopper raid of 1874 decimated crops, leaving many residents without means to sustain themselves. The county commissioners petitioned Governor Osborn for aid, emphasizing the plight of families and advocating for work programs over handouts.

In its first decade, Kinsley suffered two planned train robberies, as well as a bank robbery on December 9, 1882. The County Treasurer, J. W. Crawford, was implicated in the bank robbery and removed from office.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 622 square miles (1,610 km2), of which 622 square miles (1,610 km2) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2) (0.01%) is water.

Geographic Features

The Arkansas River flows through Edwards County from the southwest corner to the Pawnee County line near U.S. Route 56.

Major highways

Three U.S. Routes run through Edwards County, all meeting in Kinsley. An east–west route, U.S. Route 50 circumvents Belpre and Lewis before joining with westbound U.S. Route 56 in Kinsley. The single road then passes through Offerle and west into Ford County. U.S. Route 183 runs from Kiowa County in the south to Kinsley, where it joins eastbound U.S. 56, running as a single highway to Pawnee County. K-19 starts at U.S. Route 50 near Belpre, and travels north into Pawnee County.

Adjacent counties

Demographics

USA Edwards County, Kansas age pyramid
Population pyramid based on 2000 census age data
Historical population
Census Pop.
1880 2,409
1890 3,600 49.4%
1900 3,682 2.3%
1910 7,033 91.0%
1920 7,057 0.3%
1930 7,295 3.4%
1940 6,377 −12.6%
1950 5,936 −6.9%
1960 5,118 −13.8%
1970 4,581 −10.5%
1980 4,271 −6.8%
1990 3,787 −11.3%
2000 3,449 −8.9%
2010 3,037 −11.9%
2020 2,907 −4.3%
2023 (est.) 2,733 −10.0%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790-1960 1900-1990
1990-2000 2010-2020

As of the 2000 census, there were 3,449 people, 1,455 households, and 955 families residing in the county. The population density was 6 people per square mile (2.3 people/km2). There were 1,754 housing units at an average density of 3 per square mile (1.2/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 92.52% White, 0.32% Black or African American, 0.49% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 5.57% from other races, and 0.78% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.71% of the population.

There were 1,455 households, out of which 28.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.30% were married couples living together, 6.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.30% were non-families. 32.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.60% under the age of 18, 6.70% from 18 to 24, 25.10% from 25 to 44, 22.80% from 45 to 64, and 20.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 97.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,530, and the median income for a family was $38,250. Males had a median income of $27,050 versus $20,132 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,586. About 7.00% of families and 10.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.40% of those under age 18 and 8.00% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Unified school districts

  • Kinsley-Offerle USD 347
  • Lewis USD 502

Communities

Map of Edwards Co, Ks, USA
2005 map of Edwards County (map legend)

List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Edwards County.

Cities

Unincorporated communities

Townships

Edwards County is divided into ten townships. The city of Kinsley 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.

Township FIPS Population
center
Population Population
density
/km2 (/sq mi)
Land area
km2 (sq mi)
Water area
km2 (sq mi)
Water % Geographic coordinates
Belpre 05850 186 1 (3) 140 (54) 0 (0) 0.01% 37°57′14″N 99°6′12″W / 37.95389°N 99.10333°W / 37.95389; -99.10333
Franklin 24350 93 0 (1) 191 (74) 0 (0) 0% 37°48′55″N 99°11′12″W / 37.81528°N 99.18667°W / 37.81528; -99.18667
Jackson 34750 98 1 (1) 187 (72) 0 (0) 0.05% 37°59′35″N 99°30′18″W / 37.99306°N 99.50500°W / 37.99306; -99.50500
Kinsley 37100 160 1 (3) 121 (47) 0 (0) 0.01% 37°56′27″N 99°24′0″W / 37.94083°N 99.40000°W / 37.94083; -99.40000
Lincoln 40650 143 1 (2) 193 (74) 0 (0) 0% 37°49′17″N 99°4′39″W / 37.82139°N 99.07750°W / 37.82139; -99.07750
Logan 41875 42 0 (1) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0% 38°3′5″N 99°23′47″W / 38.05139°N 99.39639°W / 38.05139; -99.39639
North Brown 51100 67 0 (1) 163 (63) 0 (0) 0.05% 37°51′43″N 99°21′34″W / 37.86194°N 99.35944°W / 37.86194; -99.35944
South Brown 66550 90 0 (1) 251 (97) 0 (0) 0% 37°47′5″N 99°22′5″W / 37.78472°N 99.36806°W / 37.78472; -99.36806
Trenton 71400 306 2 (6) 136 (53) 0 (0) 0% 37°52′50″N 99°32′31″W / 37.88056°N 99.54194°W / 37.88056; -99.54194
Wayne 76125 606 5 (12) 132 (51) 0 (0) 0% 37°56′28″N 99°15′30″W / 37.94111°N 99.25833°W / 37.94111; -99.25833
Sources:

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Edwards (Kansas) para niños

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