Ness County, Kansas
Encyclopedia
Ness County is a county located in the U.S. state
of Kansas
. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 3,107. The largest city and county seat
is Ness City
. Ness County was named for Corporal Noah V. Ness of the 7th Kansas Cavalry
. Ness died of wounds received in a skirmish at Abbeville, Mississippi
in August 1864.
, county until 2004, when voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with a 30% food sales requirement.
See also: List of counties bordering eight counties
As of the census
of 2000, there were 3,454 people, 1,516 households, and 977 families residing in the county. The population density
was 3 people per square mile (1/km²). There were 1,835 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile (1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.23% White
, 0.06% Black
or African American
, 0.23% Native American
, 0.09% Asian
, 0.49% from other races
, and 0.90% from two or more races. 1.51% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 1,516 households out of which 26.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.10% were married couples
living together, 4.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.50% were non-families. 33.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.83.
In the county the population was spread out with 22.90% under the age of 18, 4.60% from 18 to 24, 24.00% from 25 to 44, 24.20% from 45 to 64, and 24.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 98.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.10 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $32,340, and the median income for a family was $39,775. Males had a median income of $27,892 versus $20,037 for females. The per capita income
for the county was $17,787. About 6.50% of families and 8.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.50% of those under age 18 and 10.20% of those age 65 or over.
. 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.
General county information
County Level Data
Maps
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 3,107. The largest city and county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
is Ness City
Ness City, Kansas
Ness is a city in and the county seat of Ness County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,449. Ness City is famous for its four-story Old Ness County Bank Building located downtown, and nicknamed Skyscraper of the Plains.-Geography:Ness City is located at...
. Ness County was named for Corporal Noah V. Ness of the 7th Kansas Cavalry
7th Regiment Kansas Volunteer Cavalry
The 7th Kansas Volunteer Cavalry Regiment was a cavalry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:...
. Ness died of wounds received in a skirmish at Abbeville, Mississippi
Abbeville, Mississippi
-Education:The Town of Abbeville is served by the Lafayette County School District.The University of Mississippi also owns and operates the University of Mississippi Field Station, which is located in Abbeville. It is a natural laboratory used to study, research and teach about sustainable...
in August 1864.
Law and government
Following amendment to the Kansas Constitution in 1986, the county remained a prohibition, or "dry"Dry county
A dry county is a county in the United States whose government forbids the sale of alcoholic beverages. Some prohibit off-premises sale, some prohibit on-premises sale, and some prohibit both. Hundreds of dry counties exist across the United States, almost all of them in the South...
, county until 2004, when voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with a 30% food sales requirement.
Geography
According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 1075 square miles (2,784.2 km²), of which 1074.75 square miles (2,783.6 km²) (or 99.98%) is land and 0.26 square mile (0.6733969086 km²) (or 0.02%) is water.Adjacent counties
- Trego CountyTrego County, KansasTrego County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 3,001...
(north) - Ellis CountyEllis County, KansasEllis County is a county located in Northwest Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 28,452. Its county seat and most populous city is Hays...
(northeast) - Rush CountyRush County, KansasRush County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 3,307...
(east) - Pawnee CountyPawnee County, KansasPawnee County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 6,973...
(southeast) - Hodgeman CountyHodgeman County, KansasHodgeman County is a county located in Southwest Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 1,916...
(south) - Finney CountyFinney County, KansasFinney County is a county located in Southwest Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 36,776. Its county seat and most populous city is Garden City...
(southwest) - Lane CountyLane County, KansasLane County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 1,750. The county seat is Dighton, the only city in the county. Lane County was named after James H. Lane who was a leader of the Jayhawker abolitionist movement and served as one of...
(west) - Gove CountyGove County, KansasGove County is a county located in Northwest Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 2,695...
(northwest)
See also: List of counties bordering eight counties
Demographics
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 3,454 people, 1,516 households, and 977 families residing in the county. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 3 people per square mile (1/km²). There were 1,835 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile (1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.23% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.06% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.23% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.09% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.49% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.90% from two or more races. 1.51% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race.
There were 1,516 households out of which 26.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.10% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 4.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.50% were non-families. 33.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.83.
In the county the population was spread out with 22.90% under the age of 18, 4.60% from 18 to 24, 24.00% from 25 to 44, 24.20% from 45 to 64, and 24.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 98.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.10 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $32,340, and the median income for a family was $39,775. Males had a median income of $27,892 versus $20,037 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the county was $17,787. About 6.50% of families and 8.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.50% of those under age 18 and 10.20% of those age 65 or over.
Incorporated cities
Name and population (2004 estimate):- Ness CityNess City, KansasNess is a city in and the county seat of Ness County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,449. Ness City is famous for its four-story Old Ness County Bank Building located downtown, and nicknamed Skyscraper of the Plains.-Geography:Ness City is located at...
, 1,360 - RansomRansom, KansasRansom is a city in Ness County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 294.-Geography:Ransom is located at . According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
, 299 - BazineBazine, KansasBazine is a city in Ness County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 334.-Geography:Bazine is located at . According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
, 270 - UticaUtica, KansasUtica is a city in Ness County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 158.-History:Utica was named by early pioneer C.W. Bell who was from Utica, New York.-Geography:Utica is located at...
, 202 - BrownellBrownell, KansasBrownell is a city in Ness County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 29.-Geography:Brownell is located at . According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 48...
, 43
Townships
Ness County is divided into ten townshipsCivil township
A civil township is a widely used unit of local government in the United States, subordinate to, and geographic divisions of, a county. Specific responsibilities and the degree of autonomy vary based on each state. Civil townships are distinct from survey townships, but in states that have both,...
. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bazine | 04800 | Bazine Bazine, Kansas Bazine is a city in Ness County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 334.-Geography:Bazine is located at . According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land.... |
441 | 1 (4) | 312 (120) | 0 (0) | 0 % | 38°27′30"N 99°41′15"W |
| Center | 11925 | Ness City Ness City, Kansas Ness is a city in and the county seat of Ness County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,449. Ness City is famous for its four-story Old Ness County Bank Building located downtown, and nicknamed Skyscraper of the Plains.-Geography:Ness City is located at... |
1,567 | 13 (33) | 124 (48) | 0 (0) | 0.01% | 38°27′40"N 99°53′45"W |
| Eden | 19775 | 70 | 0 (1) | 266 (103) | 0 (0) | 0 % | 38°28′57"N 100°8′49"W | |
| Forrester | 23875 | 109 | 1 (1) | 206 (80) | 0 (0) | 0 % | 38°30′45"N 99°59′28"W | |
| Franklin | 24475 | 132 | 0 (1) | 372 (144) | 0 (0) | 0.02% | 38°21′22"N 99°54′25"W | |
| Highpoint | 32100 | 93 | 0 (1) | 312 (121) | 0 (0) | 0.08% | 38°20′13"N 99°42′26"W | |
| Johnson | 35550 | 76 | 0 (1) | 308 (119) | 0 (0) | 0.05% | 38°18′37"N 100°5′25"W | |
| Nevada | 50125 | Ransom Ransom, Kansas Ransom is a city in Ness County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 294.-Geography:Ransom is located at . According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land.... |
479 | 2 (4) | 278 (107) | 0 (0) | 0.04% | 38°37′55"N 99°55′22"W |
| Ohio | 52400 | Utica Utica, Kansas Utica is a city in Ness County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 158.-History:Utica was named by early pioneer C.W. Bell who was from Utica, New York.-Geography:Utica is located at... |
345 | 1 (3) | 298 (115) | 0 (0) | 0 % | 38°38′28"N 100°7′45"W |
| Waring | 75400 | Brownell Brownell, Kansas Brownell is a city in Ness County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 29.-Geography:Brownell is located at . According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 48... |
142 | 0 (1) | 308 (119) | 0 (0) | 0.03% | 38°37′50"N 99°42′56"W |
Education
Unified school districts
- Western Plains USD 106
- Ness City USD 303
- LaCrosse USD 395, mostly in Rush CountyRush County, KansasRush County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 3,307...
Further reading
- History of the State of Kansas; William G. Cutler; A.T. Andreas Publisher; 1883. (Online HTML eBook)
- Kansas : A Cyclopedia of State History, Embracing Events, Institutions, Industries, Counties, Cities, Towns, Prominent Persons, Etc; 3 Volumes; Frank W. Blackmar; Standard Publishing Co; 944 / 955 / 824 pages; 1912. (Volume1 - Download 54MB PDF eBook),(Volume2 - Download 53MB PDF eBook), (Volume3 - Download 33MB PDF eBook)
External links
OfficialGeneral county information
County Level Data
Maps
- Ness County Map, KDOT
- Kansas Highway Map, KDOT
- Kansas Railroad Map, KDOT
- Kansas School District Boundary Map, KSDE