Jewell County, Kansas
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 1887, Jewell County was established and named for Lieutenant Colonel Lewis R. Jewell of the 6th Regiment Kansas Volunteer Cavalry.
In 1887, Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway built a branch line from Neva (3 miles west of Strong City) to Superior, Nebraska. This branch line connected Strong City, Neva, Rockland, Diamond Springs, Burdick, Lost Springs, Jacobs, Hope, Navarre, Enterprise, Abilene, Talmage, Manchester, Longford, Oak Hill, Miltonvale, Aurora, Huscher, Concordia, Kackley, Courtland, Webber, Superior. At some point, the line from Neva to Lost Springs was pulled but the right of way has not been abandoned. This branch line was originally called "Strong City and Superior line" but later the name was shortened to the "Strong City line". In 1996, the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway merged with Burlington Northern Railroad and renamed to the current BNSF Railway. Most locals still refer to this railroad as the "Santa Fe".
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 914 square miles (2,370 km), of which 910 square miles (2,400 km) is land and 4.6 square miles (12 km) (0.5%) is water.
Adjacent counties
- Nuckolls County, Nebraska (northeast)
- Republic County (east)
- Cloud County (southeast)
- Mitchell County (south)
- Osborne County (southwest)
- Smith County (west)
- Webster County, Nebraska (northwest)
Demographics
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 207 | — | |
| 1880 | 17,475 | 8,342.0% | |
| 1890 | 19,349 | 10.7% | |
| 1900 | 19,420 | 0.4% | |
| 1910 | 18,148 | −6.5% | |
| 1920 | 16,240 | −10.5% | |
| 1930 | 14,462 | −10.9% | |
| 1940 | 11,970 | −17.2% | |
| 1950 | 9,698 | −19.0% | |
| 1960 | 7,217 | −25.6% | |
| 1970 | 6,099 | −15.5% | |
| 1980 | 5,241 | −14.1% | |
| 1990 | 4,251 | −18.9% | |
| 2000 | 3,791 | −10.8% | |
| 2010 | 3,077 | −18.8% | |
| 2020 | 2,932 | −4.7% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 2,847 | −2.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2020 | |||
As of the 2000 census, there were 3,791 people, 1,695 households, and 1,098 families residing in the county. The population density was 4 people per square mile (1.5 people/km). There were 2,103 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile (0.77/km). The racial makeup of the county was 98.79% White, 0.34% Native American, 0.05% Asian, 0.03% Black or African American, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.05% from other races, and 0.71% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.71% of the population.
There were 1,695 households, out of which 23.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.10% were married couples living together, 4.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.20% were non-families. 32.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.80.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 21.90% under the age of 18, 4.40% from 18 to 24, 21.50% from 25 to 44, 26.20% from 45 to 64, and 25.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 97.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.00 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $30,538, and the median income for a family was $36,953. Males had a median income of $24,821 versus $18,170 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,644. About 8.40% of families and 11.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.80% of those under age 18 and 10.90% of those age 65 or over.
Government
Presidential elections
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2024 | 1,370 | 86.87% | 176 | 11.16% | 31 | 1.97% |
| 2020 | 1,387 | 85.20% | 212 | 13.02% | 29 | 1.78% |
| 2016 | 1,223 | 81.86% | 180 | 12.05% | 91 | 6.09% |
| 2012 | 1,235 | 82.50% | 229 | 15.30% | 33 | 2.20% |
| 2008 | 1,231 | 77.71% | 313 | 19.76% | 40 | 2.53% |
| 2004 | 1,495 | 78.07% | 385 | 20.10% | 35 | 1.83% |
| 2000 | 1,400 | 74.59% | 380 | 20.25% | 97 | 5.17% |
| 1996 | 1,374 | 69.01% | 417 | 20.94% | 200 | 10.05% |
| 1992 | 1,050 | 45.65% | 546 | 23.74% | 704 | 30.61% |
| 1988 | 1,546 | 67.99% | 684 | 30.08% | 44 | 1.93% |
| 1984 | 1,992 | 76.50% | 583 | 22.39% | 29 | 1.11% |
| 1980 | 2,074 | 72.80% | 578 | 20.29% | 197 | 6.91% |
| 1976 | 1,592 | 57.47% | 1,111 | 40.11% | 67 | 2.42% |
| 1972 | 2,242 | 74.04% | 716 | 23.65% | 70 | 2.31% |
| 1968 | 2,172 | 66.18% | 842 | 25.66% | 268 | 8.17% |
| 1964 | 1,895 | 53.61% | 1,601 | 45.29% | 39 | 1.10% |
| 1960 | 2,914 | 72.25% | 1,095 | 27.15% | 24 | 0.60% |
| 1956 | 3,395 | 75.51% | 1,034 | 23.00% | 67 | 1.49% |
| 1952 | 4,162 | 80.86% | 885 | 17.19% | 100 | 1.94% |
| 1948 | 3,143 | 63.18% | 1,574 | 31.64% | 258 | 5.19% |
| 1944 | 3,754 | 74.20% | 1,216 | 24.04% | 89 | 1.76% |
| 1940 | 4,591 | 71.57% | 1,719 | 26.80% | 105 | 1.64% |
| 1936 | 3,849 | 57.76% | 2,780 | 41.72% | 35 | 0.53% |
| 1932 | 3,324 | 48.20% | 3,367 | 48.83% | 205 | 2.97% |
| 1928 | 4,583 | 76.90% | 1,289 | 21.63% | 88 | 1.48% |
| 1924 | 4,342 | 64.83% | 1,861 | 27.78% | 495 | 7.39% |
| 1920 | 3,925 | 65.97% | 1,899 | 31.92% | 126 | 2.12% |
| 1916 | 3,022 | 39.84% | 4,180 | 55.11% | 383 | 5.05% |
| 1912 | 906 | 20.51% | 1,871 | 42.36% | 1,640 | 37.13% |
| 1908 | 2,410 | 53.48% | 1,932 | 42.88% | 164 | 3.64% |
| 1904 | 2,720 | 68.09% | 927 | 23.20% | 348 | 8.71% |
| 1900 | 2,448 | 51.96% | 2,192 | 46.53% | 71 | 1.51% |
| 1896 | 1,902 | 44.41% | 2,342 | 54.68% | 39 | 0.91% |
| 1892 | 1,963 | 45.59% | 0 | 0.00% | 2,343 | 54.41% |
| 1888 | 2,285 | 54.81% | 999 | 23.96% | 885 | 21.23% |
Like all of Kansas outside the eastern cities, Jewell County is overwhelmingly Republican. The only Democratic presidential candidates to win a majority in the county have been Woodrow Wilson in 1916 and William Jennings Bryan in 1896, and the last Democrat to win a plurality was Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1932. Since 1940 only Lyndon Johnson in 1964 and Jimmy Carter in 1976 have exceeded 31 percent of the county's vote, a devotion to the GOP comparable to famous Appalachia Unionist strongholds like Avery County, North Carolina, or Grant County, West Virginia.
Laws
Although the Kansas Constitution was amended in 1986 to allow the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with the approval of voters, Jewell County restaurants serve only 3.2 beer and no hard alcohol.
Education
Unified school districts
Communities
List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Jewell County.
Cities
Unincorporated communities
† means a community is designated a Census-Designated Place (CDP) by the United States Census Bureau.
Ghost towns
- Dentonia
- Salem
Townships
Jewell County is divided into twenty-five 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.
See also
- 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
References
- ^ "QuickFacts; Jewell County, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 17, 2021. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
- ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 169.
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
- ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
- ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
- ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
- ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
- ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ^ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
- ^ "Map of Wet and Dry Counties". Alcoholic Beverage Control, Kansas Department of Revenue. November 2004. Archived from the original on October 8, 2007. Retrieved January 21, 2007.
- ^ "Kansas Liquor by the Drink Map (Wet and Dry Counties)" (PDF). Kansas Department of Revenue - Alcoholic Beverage Control. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 29, 2017.
- ^ "General Highway Map of Jewell County, Kansas" (PDF). Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT). December 2011. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 25, 2023.
Further reading
- Atlas and Plat Book of Jewell County, Kansas; Kenyon Co; 27 pages; 1921.
- Standard Atlas of Jewell County, Kansas; Geo. A. Ogle & Co; 59 pages; 1908.
- Atlas of Jewell County, Kansas; Gillen & Davy; 52 pages; 1884.
External links
- County
- Jewell County - Official Website
- Jewell County - Directory of Public Officials
- Jewell County - Community Development Association
- Historical
- Maps
- Jewell County Maps: Current, Historic, KDOT
- Kansas Highway Maps: Current, Historic, KDOT
- Kansas Railroad Maps: Current, 1996, 1915, KDOT and Kansas Historical Society
Places adjacent to Jewell County, Kansas | |
|---|---|
Municipalities and communities of Jewell County, Kansas, United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cities |  | |
| CDP | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Ghost towns | ||
| Townships | ||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
