Smith County, Kansas
Encyclopedia
Smith County is a county
County (United States)
In the United States, a county is a geographic subdivision of a state , usually assigned some governmental authority. The term "county" is used in 48 of the 50 states; Louisiana is divided into parishes and Alaska into boroughs. Parishes and boroughs are called "county-equivalents" by the U.S...

 located in the U.S. state
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...

. The county's population was 3,853 for the 2010 census. Its 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 Smith Center
Smith Center, Kansas
Smith Center is a city in and the county seat of Smith County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,665.-Geography:Smith Center is located at...

. It is named in memory of Maj. J. Nelson Smith, who was part of the 2nd Colorado Cavalry
2nd Colorado Cavalry
The 2nd Regiment Colorado Volunteer Cavalry was a cavalry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 2nd Colorado Cavalry was organized at St...

, killed in action at the Battle of Westport
Battle of Westport
The Battle of Westport, sometimes referred to as the "Gettysburg of the West," was fought on October 23, 1864, in modern Kansas City, Missouri, during the American Civil War. Union forces under Major General Samuel R. Curtis decisively defeated an outnumbered Confederate force under Major General...

 on October 21, 1864. The geographic center of the 48 contiguous states is located within the county.

History

In 1871, the song Home on the Range
Home on the Range
"Home on the Range" is the state song of Kansas, U.S.Home on the Range may also refer to:* Home on the Range , a drama directed by Arthur Jacobson* Home on the Range , a Disney animated feature film...

was written by Dr. Brewster Higley in a cabin 8 miles north of Athol
Athol, Kansas
Athol is a city in Smith County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 44.-History:In 1871, the song Home on the Range was written by Dr. Brewster Higley in a cabin 8 miles north of Athol.-Geography:...

.

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 1992, 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 896.53 square miles (2,322 km²), of which 895.43 square miles (2,319.2 km²) (or 99.88%) is land and 1.1 square miles (2.8 km²) (or 0.12%) is water. The county is divided into 25 townships
Township (United States)
A township in the United States is a small geographic area. Townships range in size from 6 to 54 square miles , with being the norm.The term is used in three ways....

, each of which is listed below in the subdivisions section of this article.

Geographic features

The geographic center of the 48 contiguous states is located within the county, near the city of Lebanon
Lebanon, Kansas
Lebanon is a city in Smith County, Kansas, United States, in the north central part of the state. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 218. In 1918, a scientific survey established that the geographic center of what was then the United States lies near the town and a monument was...

.http://ludb.clui.org/ex/i/KS3129/ The geographic center of North America is located in neighboring Osborne County
Osborne County, Kansas
Osborne County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 3,858. The largest city and county seat is Osborne.-19th century:...

.

The Solomon River runs through the southern part of the county and provides a flat basin and water for irrigated crops.

Major highways

There are two major highway
Highway
A highway is any public road. In American English, the term is common and almost always designates major roads. In British English, the term designates any road open to the public. Any interconnected set of highways can be variously referred to as a "highway system", a "highway network", or a...

s serving the county. The main east-west route is U.S. Highway 36, which travels through Athol, Kensington, and Smith Center. The main north-south route is U.S. Highway 281, which intersects US-36 in Smith Center. Kansas state highways K-8, K-9
K-9 (Kansas highway)
K-9 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Kansas. The highway goes east–west through Kansas. It has its western terminus south of Dresden at an intersection with K-123 and an eastern terminus at its junction with U.S. Route 73 near Lancaster....

 and K-180 serve other areas of the county.

Adjacent counties

  • Webster County
    Webster County, Nebraska
    -History:Webster County was formed in 1871. It was named after the statesman Daniel Webster.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 4,061 people, 1,708 households, and 1,118 families residing in the county. The population density was 7 people per square mile . There were 1,972 housing...

    , Nebraska
    Nebraska
    Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....

     (northeast)
  • Jewell County
    Jewell County, Kansas
    Jewell County is a county located in North Central Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 3,077. Its county seat and most populous city is Mankato.-19th century:...

     (east)
  • Osborne County
    Osborne County, Kansas
    Osborne County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 3,858. The largest city and county seat is Osborne.-19th century:...

     (south)
  • Rooks County
    Rooks County, Kansas
    Rooks County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 5,181. The county seat is Stockton and the largest city is Plainville. The county was named for Private John C...

     (southwest)
  • Phillips County
    Phillips County, Kansas
    Phillips County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 5,642...

     (west)
  • Franklin County
    Franklin County, Nebraska
    -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 3,574 people, 1,485 households, and 1,021 families residing in the county. The population density was 6 people per square mile . There were 1,746 housing units at an average density of 3 per square mile...

    , Nebraska
    Nebraska
    Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....

     (northwest)

Demographics

As of the census
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 4,536 people, 1,953 households, and 1,322 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 5 people per square mile (2/km²). There were 2,326 housing units at an average density of 3 per square mile (1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.79% 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...

, 0.11% 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...

, 0.24% 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...

, 0.04% 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...

, 0.11% Pacific Islander
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...

, 0.22% 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 0.49% from two or more races. 0.73% 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 1,953 households out of which 25.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.60% 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 32.30% were non-families. 30.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.78.

In the county the population was spread out with 21.70% under the age of 18, 4.70% from 18 to 24, 22.10% from 25 to 44, 23.60% from 45 to 64, and 27.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 92.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,486, and the median income for a family was $36,951. Males had a median income of $25,089 versus $18,608 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 $14,983. About 8.80% of families and 10.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.80% of those under age 18 and 9.50% of those age 65 or over.

The population distribution by township is as follows according to the 2000 census: Banner 54; Beaver 60; Blaine 60; Cedar 619; Center 2,094; Cora 38; Crystal Plains 40; Dor 46; Garfield 33; German 34; Harlan 100; Harvey 130; Houston 206; Lane 134; Lincoln 73; Logan 47; Martin 24; Oak 399; Pawnee 35; Pleasant 34; Swan 42; Valley 75; Washington 63; Webster 47; White Rock 49.

History

The Homestead Act
Homestead Act
A homestead act is one of three United States federal laws that gave an applicant freehold title to an area called a "homestead" – typically 160 acres of undeveloped federal land west of the Mississippi River....

 was enacted by President Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...

 in 1862. The first homestead in Smith County was in 1871 and there were 3,800 inhabitants by 1875. The county grew to 15,000 people by 1889. Corn
Maize
Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...

 was the main crop at first but drought and grasshopper
Grasshopper
The grasshopper is an insect of the suborder Caelifera in the order Orthoptera. To distinguish it from bush crickets or katydids, it is sometimes referred to as the short-horned grasshopper...

 plagues severely hurt the crops. When hardy Winter wheat
Winter wheat
Winter wheat is a type of wheat that is planted from September to December in the Northern Hemisphere. Winter wheat sprouts before freezing occurs, then becomes dormant until the soil warms in the spring. Winter wheat needs a few weeks of cold before being able to flower, however persistent snow...

 was introduced to Kansas by Russian settlers, it eventually became the predominant crop in Smith County. The population of the county has slowly declined since 1900 due in large part because of advanced farming techniques that require less human labor.

Dr. Brewster Higley wrote the song "Home on the Range
Home on the Range (song)
"Home on the Range" is the state song of the American state of Kansas. Dr. Brewster M. Higley originally wrote the words in a poem called "My Western Home" in the early 1870s in Smith County, Kansas. The poem was first published in a December 1873 issue of the Smith County Pioneer under the title...

" in the early 1870s. It later became the Kansas State song.

Incorporated cities

Name and population (2004 estimate):
  • Smith Center
    Smith Center, Kansas
    Smith Center is a city in and the county seat of Smith County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,665.-Geography:Smith Center is located at...

    , 1,757 (county seat)
  • Kensington
    Kensington, Kansas
    Kensington is a city in Smith County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 473.-Geography:Kensington is located at...

    , 495
  • Lebanon
    Lebanon, Kansas
    Lebanon is a city in Smith County, Kansas, United States, in the north central part of the state. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 218. In 1918, a scientific survey established that the geographic center of what was then the United States lies near the town and a monument was...

    , 282
  • Gaylord
    Gaylord, Kansas
    Gaylord is a city in Smith County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 114.-Geography:Gaylord 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 145...

    , 130
  • Athol
    Athol, Kansas
    Athol is a city in Smith County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 44.-History:In 1871, the song Home on the Range was written by Dr. Brewster Higley in a cabin 8 miles north of Athol.-Geography:...

    , 47
  • Cedar
    Cedar, Kansas
    Cedar is a city in Smith County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 14.-Geography:Cedar is located at . According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....

    , 24

Townships

Smith County is divided into twenty-five townships
Civil 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.
align="bottom"|Sources: 2000 U.S. Gazetteer from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Township FIPS  Population
center
Population Population
density
/km² (/sq mi)
Land area
km² (sq mi)
Water area
km² (sq mi)
Water % Geographic coordinates
Banner 04100 54 0.58 (1.50) 93.29 (36.02) 0 (0) 0% 39°42′3"N 98°47′13"W
Beaver 05200 60 0.65 (1.67) 92.89 (35.86) 0.27 (0.10) 0.29% 39°56′50"N 98°46′34"W
Blaine 07200 60 0.64 (1.67) 93.24 (36.00) 0.04 (0.01) 0.04% 39°47′20"N 98°40′48"W
Cedar 11350 Kensington
Kensington, Kansas
Kensington is a city in Smith County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 473.-Geography:Kensington is located at...

 
619 6.68 (17.29) 92.71 (35.80) 0.08 (0.03) 0.09% 39°46′10"N 99°1′50"W
Center 12175 Smith Center
Smith Center, Kansas
Smith Center is a city in and the county seat of Smith County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,665.-Geography:Smith Center is located at...

 
2,094 22.48 (58.22) 93.15 (35.97) 0.04 (0.02) 0.05% 39°46′47"N 98°47′7"W
Cora 15525 38 0.41 (1.06) 92.96 (35.89) 0.17 (0.06) 0.18% 39°52′45"N 98°40′7"W
Crystal Plains 16575 40 0.43 (1.11) 93.00 (35.91) 0.05 (0.02) 0.05% 39°41′27"N 98°40′52"W
Dor 18300 46 0.50 (1.29) 92.55 (35.73) 0.30 (0.11) 0.32% 39°37′33"N 99°0′4"W
Garfield 25825 33 0.35 (0.92) 92.96 (35.89) 0.04 (0.02) 0.04% 39°35′48"N 98°40′21"W
German 26150 34 0.37 (0.96) 91.78 (35.44) 0.27 (0.10) 0.29% 39°56′41"N 99°0′39"W
Harlan 30100 100 1.07 (2.78) 93.03 (35.92) 0.05 (0.02) 0.05% 39°36′25"N 98°46′42"W
Harvey 30550 Cedar
Cedar, Kansas
Cedar is a city in Smith County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 14.-Geography:Cedar is located at . According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....

 
130 1.40 (3.63) 92.86 (35.85) 0.00 (0.00) 0% 39°41′10"N 98°55′32"W
Houston 33225 Gaylord
Gaylord, Kansas
Gaylord is a city in Smith County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 114.-Geography:Gaylord 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 145...

 
206 2.22 (5.74) 92.94 (35.88) 0.14 (0.05) 0.15% 39°37′38"N 98°52′12"W
Lane 38450 Athol
Athol, Kansas
Athol is a city in Smith County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 44.-History:In 1871, the song Home on the Range was written by Dr. Brewster Higley in a cabin 8 miles north of Athol.-Geography:...

 
134 1.44 (3.73) 92.98 (35.90) 0.03 (0.01) 0.04% 39°46′49"N 98°53′30"W
Lincoln 41200 73 0.79 (2.04) 92.80 (35.83) 0.15 (0.06) 0.16% 39°36′13"N 98°33′23"W
Logan 42275 47 0.51 (1.32) 92.50 (35.72) 0.14 (0.05) 0.15% 39°57′5"N 98°34′4"W
Martin 45000 24 0.26 (0.67) 92.49 (35.71) 0.25 (0.10) 0.27% 39°56′40"N 98°54′21"W
Oak 51650 Lebanon
Lebanon, Kansas
Lebanon is a city in Smith County, Kansas, United States, in the north central part of the state. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 218. In 1918, a scientific survey established that the geographic center of what was then the United States lies near the town and a monument was...

 
399 4.30 (11.13) 92.88 (35.86) 0.07 (0.03) 0.07% 39°48′10"N 98°33′29"W
Pawnee 54825 35 0.38 (0.98) 92.13 (35.57) 0.41 (0.16) 0.44% 39°57′7"N 98°39′50"W
Pleasant 56300 34 0.37 (0.95) 92.69 (35.79) 0.05 (0.02) 0.05% 39°51′28"N 98°54′28"W
Swan 69625 42 0.46 (1.18) 92.00 (35.52) 0.23 (0.09) 0.25% 39°52′56"N 99°1′12"W
Valley 73175 75 0.81 (2.09) 92.82 (35.84) 0.015 (0.006) 0.02% 39°41′28"N 98°59′59"W
Washington 75775 63 0.68 (1.76) 92.87 (35.86) 0 (0) 0% 39°52′54"N 98°46′24"W
Webster 76275 47 0.51 (1.31) 92.76 (35.82) 0.02 (0.01) 0.02% 39°42′27"N 98°34′8"W
White Rock 78000 49 0.53 (1.37) 92.88 (35.86) 0.04 (0.02) 0.04% 39°52′37"N 98°33′5"W

Unified school districts


Further reading


External links

Official
General Information
Kansas County Data
Smith County local history and genealogy
Maps


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