Elk County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat and most populous city is Howard. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 2,483. The county was named for the Elk River.

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.

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, after first serving as an area to relocate Native American tribes from the east, the United States organized Kansas Territory. In 1861, Kansas was admitted as the 34th U.S. state. The area that today is Elk County was, for a brief period, reserved to the Osage Indians as hunting grounds for buffalo and other game. In 1867, when Howard County was formed, it encompassed both present day Elk and Chautauqua counties. Disputes over county seats caused a division. In 1875, Elk County was established, named for the Elk River.

The first railroad in Elk County was built in 1879. It connected cattle ranches and farms to eastern markets.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 650 square miles (1,700 km), of which 644 square miles (1,670 km) is land and 6.2 square miles (16 km) (1.0%) is water.

• Greenwood County (north)
• Wilson County (east)
• Montgomery County (southeast)
• Chautauqua County (south)
• Cowley County (southwest)
• Butler County (northwest)

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1880	10,623		—
1890	12,216		15.0%
1900	11,443		−6.3%
1910	10,128		−11.5%
1920	9,034		−10.8%
1930	9,210		1.9%
1940	8,180		−11.2%
1950	6,679		−18.3%
1960	5,048		−24.4%
1970	3,858		−23.6%
1980	3,918		1.6%
1990	3,327		−15.1%
2000	3,261		−2.0%
2010	2,882		−11.6%
2020	2,483		−13.8%
2023 (est.)	2,467		−0.6%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2020

As of the 2000 census, there were 3,261 people, 1,412 households, and 923 families residing in the county. The population density was 5 people per square mile (1.9 people/km). There were 1,860 housing units at an average density of 3 per square mile (1.2/km). The racial makeup of the county was 95.06% White, 0.21% Black or African American, 0.95% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 1.20% from other races, and 2.33% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.18% of the population.

There were 1,412 households, out of which 24.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.00% were married couples living together, 6.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.60% were non-families. 32.90% 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 2.25 and the average family size was 2.84.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.50% under the age of 18, 5.80% from 18 to 24, 20.00% from 25 to 44, 26.50% from 45 to 64, and 25.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 91.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,267, and the median income for a family was $34,148. Males had a median income of $28,580 versus $16,219 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,066. About 9.20% of families and 13.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.80% of those under age 18 and 15.00% of those age 65 or over.

The Kansas Constitution was amended in 1986 to allow the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink, with approval by voters. Elk County voters have chosen to remain a prohibition, or "dry", county.

• West Elk USD 282
• Elk Valley USD 283

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

• Elk Falls
• Grenola
• Howard (county seat)
• Longton
• Moline

• Busby
• Oak Valley

• Cave Springs
• Fiat
• Upola

Elk County is divided into ten townships. None of the cities within the county is designated as governmentally independent. All population 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 /km (/sq mi)	Land area km (sq mi)	Water area km (sq mi)	Water %	Geographic coordinates
Elk Falls	20325		196	1 (3)	152 (59)	0 (0)	0.19%	37°22′17″N 96°12′26″W / 37.37139°N 96.20722°W / 37.37139; -96.20722
Greenfield	28550		321	2 (5)	171 (66)	1 (0)	0.62%	37°21′8″N 96°27′5″W / 37.35222°N 96.45139°W / 37.35222; -96.45139
Howard	33275	Howard	1,006	6 (16)	166 (64)	1 (1)	0.86%	37°28′3″N 96°15′14″W / 37.46750°N 96.25389°W / 37.46750; -96.25389
Liberty	40025		117	1 (2)	154 (59)	0 (0)	0.19%	37°34′22″N 96°1′55″W / 37.57278°N 96.03194°W / 37.57278; -96.03194
Longton	42675		530	5 (12)	116 (45)	0 (0)	0.11%	37°22′38″N 96°5′27″W / 37.37722°N 96.09083°W / 37.37722; -96.09083
Oak Valley	51950		154	1 (3)	116 (45)	0 (0)	0.24%	37°21′59″N 96°1′14″W / 37.36639°N 96.02056°W / 37.36639; -96.02056
Painterhood	54075		68	0 (1)	154 (59)	1 (0)	0.37%	37°27′35″N 96°2′37″W / 37.45972°N 96.04361°W / 37.45972; -96.04361
Paw Paw	54925		116	1 (2)	141 (54)	0 (0)	0.24%	37°33′19″N 96°13′46″W / 37.55528°N 96.22944°W / 37.55528; -96.22944
Union Center	72500		116	0 (1)	371 (143)	2 (1)	0.46%	37°31′44″N 96°23′31″W / 37.52889°N 96.39194°W / 37.52889; -96.39194
Wildcat	79150		637	5 (12)	135 (52)	2 (1)	1.35%	37°21′33″N 96°19′10″W / 37.35917°N 96.31944°W / 37.35917; -96.31944
Sources: "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files". U.S. Census Bureau, Geography Division. Archived from the original on August 2, 2002.

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Elk County, Kansas

Community information for Kansas

• Kansas locations by per capita income
• List of counties in Kansas
• List of townships in Kansas
• List of cities in Kansas
• List of unincorporated communities in Kansas
• List of ghost towns in Kansas

• Elk County, Kansas; H. F. Smith; 1927.
• Handbook of Elk and Chautauqua Counties, Kansas; C.S. Burch Publishing Co; 24 pages; 1886.
• Elk County Rural Landowners Plat Map; 1927.
• Standard Atlas of Elk County, Kansas; George A. Ogle & Co; 43 pages; 1903.
• Atlas of Elk County; Davy Map & Atlas Co; 45 pages; 1885.

County

• Elk County - Official
• Elk County - Directory of Public Officials

Maps

• Elk County Maps: Current, Historic, KDOT
• Kansas Highway Maps: Current, Historic, KDOT
• Kansas Railroad Maps: Current, 1996, 1915, KDOT and Kansas Historical Society