Gray County, Kansas

Gray County, Kansas
County
Map of Kansas highlighting Gray County
Location in the U.S. state of Kansas
Map of the United States highlighting Kansas
Kansas's location in the U.S.
Founded March 13, 1881
Named for Alfred Gray
Seat Cimarron
Largest city Cimarron
Area
  Total 869 sq mi (2,251 km2)
  Land 869 sq mi (2,251 km2)
  Water 0.4 sq mi (1 km2), 0.05%
Population
  (2010) 6,006
  Density 6.9/sq mi (3/km²)
Congressional district 1st
Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5
Website GrayCo.org

Coordinates: 37°44′N 100°26′W / 37.733°N 100.433°W / 37.733; -100.433

Gray County (county code GY) is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 6,006.[1] Its county seat and most populous city is Cimarron.[2]

History

Gray County was founded in 1881 and named for Alfred Gray.[3] Between 1887 and 1893, a county seat war took place in Gray County that involved several notable Old West figures, such as Bat Masterson, Bill Tilghman, and Ben Daniels. As a result of the dispute, Cimarron became the permanent county seat of Gray County.[4]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 869 square miles (2,250 km2), of which 869 square miles (2,250 km2) is land and 0.4 square miles (1.0 km2) (0.05%) is water.[5]

Since 2001, NextEra Energy Resources has operated the largest wind farm in Kansas—170 turbines with a generating capacity of 110 megawatts—on a 12,000-acre (49 km2) site near Montezuma.[6]

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
18902,415
19001,264−47.7%
19103,121146.9%
19204,71150.9%
19306,21131.8%
19404,773−23.2%
19504,8942.5%
19604,380−10.5%
19704,5163.1%
19805,13813.8%
19905,3965.0%
20005,9049.4%
20106,0061.7%
Est. 20156,133[7]2.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010-2013[1]

As of the U.S. Census in 2000,[12] there were 5,904 people, 2,045 households, and 1,556 families residing in the county. The population density was 7 people per square mile (3/km²). There were 2,181 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile (1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 92.31% White, 0.46% Native American, 0.19% Black or African American, 0.10% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 5.42% from other races, and 1.46% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.81% of the population.

There were 2,045 households out of which 42.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.70% were married couples living together, 5.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.90% were non-families. 21.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.82 and the average family size was 3.31.

In the county the population was spread out with 31.60% under the age of 18, 8.30% from 18 to 24, 27.30% from 25 to 44, 20.20% from 45 to 64, and 12.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 100.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $40,000, and the median income for a family was $45,299. Males had a median income of $31,519 versus $21,563 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,632. About 6.50% of families and 9.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.80% of those under age 18 and 8.00% of those age 65 or over.

Religion

Gray County has by far the highest percentage of adherents of the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite in the US. There were 1,032 members of the Church in Gray County in 2010, which is 17,18% of the population. It is the largest Church in the county.[13]

Law and government

Although the Kansas Constitution was amended in 1986 to allow the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with the approval of voters, Gray County has remained a prohibition, or "dry", county.[14]

Education

Unified school districts

Communities

2005 KDOT Map of Gray County (map legend)

Cities

Unincorporated communities

Townships

Gray 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.

Township FIPS Population
center
Population Population
density
/km² (/sq mi)
Land area
km² (sq mi)
Water area
km² (sq mi)
Water % Geographic coordinates
Cimarron 13300 Cimarron 2,379 9 (24) 254 (98) 0 (0) 0.03% 37°48′22″N 100°20′52″W / 37.80611°N 100.34778°W / 37.80611; -100.34778
Copeland 15500 540 2 (6) 233 (90) 0 (0) 0.15% 37°33′57″N 100°37′14″W / 37.56583°N 100.62056°W / 37.56583; -100.62056
East Hess 19525 372 1 (3) 281 (108) 0 (0) 0.03% 37°37′45″N 100°15′39″W / 37.62917°N 100.26083°W / 37.62917; -100.26083
Foote 23675 126 0 (1) 310 (120) 0 (0) 0.02% 37°55′44″N 100°20′46″W / 37.92889°N 100.34611°W / 37.92889; -100.34611
Ingalls 34250 646 2 (5) 349 (135) 0 (0) 0.03% 37°47′43″N 100°30′23″W / 37.79528°N 100.50639°W / 37.79528; -100.50639
Logan 41900 216 1 (2) 309 (119) 0 (0) 0.04% 37°55′20″N 100°33′52″W / 37.92222°N 100.56444°W / 37.92222; -100.56444
Montezuma 47900 Montezuma 1,625 3 (8) 514 (198) 0 (0) 0.07% 37°35′56″N 100°26′11″W / 37.59889°N 100.43639°W / 37.59889; -100.43639
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 24, 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. 142.
  4. "Feudin' and Fightin' Friday: County Seat Wars - Diggin' History". Retrieved 2014-04-06.
  5. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  6. "Gray County Wind Farm". Aquila, Inc. Retrieved 2007-06-02.
  7. "County Totals Dataset: Population, Population Change and Estimated Components of Population Change: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  8. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  9. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  10. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  11. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  12. "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  13. Association of Religious Data Archives: Church of God in Christ, Mennonite Counties (2010) Retrieved May 2, 2015
  14. "Map of Wet and Dry Counties". Alcoholic Beverage Control, Kansas Department of Revenue. November 2004. Retrieved 2007-01-21.

Further reading

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