Jefferson County, Kansas

Jefferson County, Kansas
County

Jefferson County Courthouse in Oskaloosa
Map of Kansas highlighting Jefferson County
Location in the U.S. state of Kansas
Map of the United States highlighting Kansas
Kansas's location in the U.S.
Founded August 25, 1855
Named for Thomas Jefferson
Seat Oskaloosa
Largest city Valley Falls
Area
  Total 557 sq mi (1,443 km2)
  Land 533 sq mi (1,380 km2)
  Water 24 sq mi (62 km2), 4.3%
Population (est.)
  (2012) 18,945
  Density 36/sq mi (14/km²)
Congressional district 2nd
Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5
Website jfcountyks.com

Coordinates: 39°13′N 95°24′W / 39.217°N 95.400°W / 39.217; -95.400

Jefferson County (county code JF) is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. At the 2010 census, the county population was 19,126.[1] Its county seat is Oskaloosa,[2] and its most populous city is Valley Falls.

History

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, but keeping title to about 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 1855, Jefferson County was established, and was named for President Thomas Jefferson.[3] Settlement of the county was slowed by events prior to and during the Civil War, but the present day unincorporated community of Thompsonville (3 miles northwest of Perry on the Delaware River) was the first established in 1851 by Mormon settlers who initially refused to accompany the main group led by Brigham Young to the Salt Lake Valley. The settlement was first abandoned due to the violence resulting from the border wars, but was re-established when the Civil War ended.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 557 square miles (1,440 km2), of which 533 square miles (1,380 km2) is land and 2.4 square miles (6.2 km2) (4.3%) is water.[4]

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
18604,459
187012,526180.9%
188015,56324.2%
189016,6206.8%
190017,5335.5%
191015,826−9.7%
192014,750−6.8%
193014,129−4.2%
194012,718−10.0%
195011,084−12.8%
196011,2521.5%
197011,9456.2%
198015,20727.3%
199015,9054.6%
200018,42615.9%
201019,1263.8%
Est. 201518,930[5]−1.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2013[1]

Jefferson County is included in the Topeka, KS Metropolitan Statistical Area.

At the 2000 Census, there were 18,426 people, 6,830 households and 5,190 families residing in the county. The population density was 34 per square mile (13/km²). There were 7,491 housing units at an average density of 14 per square mile (5/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 96.70% White, 0.92% Native American, 0.37% Black or African American, 0.17% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.42% from other races, and 1.41% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.28% of the population.

There were 6,830 households of which 35.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.20% were married couples living together, 7.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.00% were non-families. 20.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.07.

27.40% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.00% from 18 to 24, 28.00% from 25 to 44, 24.90% from 45 to 64, and 12.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 102.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.90 males.

The median household income was $45,535 and the median family income was $50,557. Males had a median income of $36,174 compared with $25,468 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,373. About 5.30% of families and 6.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.90% of those under age 18 and 7.70% of those age 65 or over.

Law and government

Jefferson County was a prohibition, or "dry", county until the Kansas Constitution was amended in 1986 and voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with a 30% food sales requirement.[10]

Education

Unified school districts

Communities

2005 KDOT Map of Jefferson County (map legend)

Cities

Unincorporated communities

Townships

Jefferson County is divided into twelve 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.

Township FIPS Population
center
Population Population
density
/km² (/sq mi)
Land area
km² (sq mi)
Water area
km² (sq mi)
Water % Geographic coordinates
Delaware 17425 Valley Falls 2,034 9 (23) 229 (88) 0 (0) 0.11% 39°21′6″N 95°28′31″W / 39.35167°N 95.47528°W / 39.35167; -95.47528
Fairview 22525 Rural Ozawkie 1,510 22 (56) 70 (27) 20 (8) 22.20% 39°10′49″N 95°26′50″W / 39.18028°N 95.44722°W / 39.18028; -95.44722
Jefferson 35250 Winchester 1,240 8 (21) 151 (58) 0 (0) 0.24% 39°19′37″N 95°16′11″W / 39.32694°N 95.26972°W / 39.32694; -95.26972
Kaw 36125 Grantville 1,409 16 (43) 86 (33) 2 (1) 1.78% 39°5′41″N 95°32′55″W / 39.09472°N 95.54861°W / 39.09472; -95.54861
Kentucky 36575 Perry 1,576 17 (44) 93 (36) 14 (5) 13.18% 39°5′18″N 95°24′42″W / 39.08833°N 95.41167°W / 39.08833; -95.41167
Norton 51475 Nortonville 955 9 (25) 101 (39) 0 (0) 0.30% 39°24′13″N 95°18′47″W / 39.40361°N 95.31306°W / 39.40361; -95.31306
Oskaloosa 53400 Oskaloosa 2,142 14 (37) 149 (58) 0 (0) 0.17% 39°13′12″N 95°18′58″W / 39.22000°N 95.31611°W / 39.22000; -95.31611
Ozawkie 53950 Ozawkie 1,408 15 (38) 97 (37) 14 (5) 12.74% 39°14′32″N 95°26′3″W / 39.24222°N 95.43417°W / 39.24222; -95.43417
Rock Creek 60575 Meriden 2,718 19 (50) 140 (54) 1 (1) 0.92% 39°12′52″N 95°32′58″W / 39.21444°N 95.54944°W / 39.21444; -95.54944
Rural 61700 Williamstown 804 10 (25) 82 (32) 1 (0) 1.14% 39°4′31″N 95°18′52″W / 39.07528°N 95.31444°W / 39.07528; -95.31444
Sarcoxie 63100 Rural Lawrence 958 12 (31) 80 (31) 0 (0) 0.45% 39°5′13″N 95°14′50″W / 39.08694°N 95.24722°W / 39.08694; -95.24722
Union 72150 McLouth 1,672 15 (39) 111 (43) 0 (0) 0.30% 39°12′41″N 95°12′26″W / 39.21139°N 95.20722°W / 39.21139; -95.20722
Sources: "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files". U.S. Census Bureau, Geography Division. 

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 168.
  4. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  5. "County Totals Dataset: Population, Population Change and Estimated Components of Population Change: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  6. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
  7. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
  8. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
  9. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
  10. "Map of Wet and Dry Counties". Alcoholic Beverage Control, Kansas Department of Revenue. November 2006. Retrieved 2007-12-28.

Further reading

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