Medora Township, Reno 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 1867, Reno County was established, named for General Jesse L. Reno.
In 1887, the Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway extended its main line from Herington to Pratt. This main line connected Herington, Ramona, Tampa, Durham, Waldeck, Canton, Galva, McPherson, Groveland, Inman, Medora, Hutchinson, Whiteside, Partridge, Arlington, Langdon, Turon, Preston, Natrona, Pratt. In 1888, this main line was extended to Liberal. Later, this line was extended to Tucumcari, New Mexico and El Paso, Texas. This line is called the "Golden State Limited".
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,272 square miles (3,290 km), of which 1,255 square miles (3,250 km) is land and 17 square miles (44 km) (1.3%) is water. It is the third-largest county by area in Kansas.
Adjacent counties
- Rice County (north)
- McPherson County (northeast)
- Harvey County (east)
- Sedgwick County (southeast)
- Kingman County (south)
- Pratt County (southwest)
- Stafford County (west)
National protected area
Demographics
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | 12,826 | — | |
| 1890 | 27,079 | 111.1% | |
| 1900 | 29,027 | 7.2% | |
| 1910 | 37,853 | 30.4% | |
| 1920 | 44,423 | 17.4% | |
| 1930 | 47,785 | 7.6% | |
| 1940 | 52,165 | 9.2% | |
| 1950 | 54,058 | 3.6% | |
| 1960 | 59,055 | 9.2% | |
| 1970 | 60,765 | 2.9% | |
| 1980 | 64,983 | 6.9% | |
| 1990 | 62,389 | −4.0% | |
| 2000 | 64,790 | 3.8% | |
| 2010 | 64,511 | −0.4% | |
| 2020 | 61,898 | −4.1% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 61,497 | −0.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2020 | |||
The Hutchinson Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Reno County.
As of the census of 2000, there were 64,790 people, 25,498 households, and 17,313 families residing in the county. The population density was 52 people per square mile (20 people/km). There were 27,625 housing units at an average density of 22 per square mile (8.5/km). The racial makeup of the county was 91.56% White, 2.88% Black or African American, 0.58% Native American, 0.45% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 2.69% from other races, and 1.81% from two or more races. 5.65% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 25,498 households, out of which 30.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.90% were married couples living together, 8.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.10% were non-families. 27.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.50% under the age of 18, 9.30% from 18 to 24, 26.90% from 25 to 44, 22.90% from 45 to 64, and 16.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 100.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.00 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $35,510, and the median income for a family was $42,643. Males had a median income of $31,495 versus $21,329 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,520. About 8.10% of families and 10.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.90% of those under age 18 and 8.50% of those age 65 or over.
Government
Reno County is strongly Republican. The last time a Democratic candidate won the county was in 1976 when Jimmy Carter did so. However, 1988 was somewhat close as Michael Dukakis lost the county by only 5 percentage points due to a persistent drought and farm crisis.
Presidential elections
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2020 | 18,443 | 65.73% | 8,886 | 31.67% | 731 | 2.61% |
| 2016 | 15,513 | 63.23% | 6,837 | 27.87% | 2,186 | 8.91% |
| 2012 | 15,718 | 64.36% | 8,085 | 33.11% | 619 | 2.53% |
| 2008 | 16,112 | 60.57% | 9,916 | 37.28% | 574 | 2.16% |
| 2004 | 17,748 | 64.95% | 9,114 | 33.36% | 462 | 1.69% |
| 2000 | 15,179 | 59.69% | 9,025 | 35.49% | 1,226 | 4.82% |
| 1996 | 14,275 | 54.28% | 9,108 | 34.63% | 2,917 | 11.09% |
| 1992 | 11,377 | 40.10% | 9,257 | 32.63% | 7,738 | 27.27% |
| 1988 | 12,753 | 51.11% | 11,545 | 46.27% | 656 | 2.63% |
| 1984 | 16,568 | 63.34% | 9,229 | 35.28% | 362 | 1.38% |
| 1980 | 13,804 | 52.85% | 9,615 | 36.81% | 2,702 | 10.34% |
| 1976 | 11,212 | 42.29% | 14,620 | 55.14% | 680 | 2.56% |
| 1972 | 15,714 | 63.81% | 8,183 | 33.23% | 731 | 2.97% |
| 1968 | 11,804 | 50.29% | 9,872 | 42.06% | 1,798 | 7.66% |
| 1964 | 8,829 | 36.83% | 14,936 | 62.30% | 208 | 0.87% |
| 1960 | 14,655 | 60.21% | 9,557 | 39.27% | 127 | 0.52% |
| 1956 | 15,057 | 66.56% | 7,461 | 32.98% | 102 | 0.45% |
| 1952 | 15,762 | 68.58% | 6,555 | 28.52% | 666 | 2.90% |
| 1948 | 11,187 | 51.87% | 9,957 | 46.17% | 423 | 1.96% |
| 1944 | 11,004 | 58.71% | 7,604 | 40.57% | 135 | 0.72% |
| 1940 | 12,448 | 53.64% | 10,543 | 45.43% | 217 | 0.94% |
| 1936 | 8,607 | 37.59% | 14,203 | 62.03% | 88 | 0.38% |
| 1932 | 8,972 | 47.30% | 9,351 | 49.29% | 647 | 3.41% |
| 1928 | 12,872 | 76.31% | 3,843 | 22.78% | 153 | 0.91% |
| 1924 | 10,339 | 65.23% | 3,675 | 23.18% | 1,837 | 11.59% |
| 1920 | 9,649 | 67.12% | 4,385 | 30.50% | 341 | 2.37% |
| 1916 | 6,870 | 46.05% | 6,683 | 44.80% | 1,366 | 9.16% |
| 1912 | 1,668 | 20.92% | 3,360 | 42.13% | 2,947 | 36.95% |
| 1908 | 4,092 | 52.72% | 3,381 | 43.56% | 289 | 3.72% |
| 1904 | 4,245 | 69.33% | 1,423 | 23.24% | 455 | 7.43% |
| 1900 | 3,769 | 56.02% | 2,859 | 42.49% | 100 | 1.49% |
| 1896 | 3,373 | 51.96% | 3,051 | 47.00% | 67 | 1.03% |
| 1892 | 3,166 | 50.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 3,166 | 50.00% |
| 1888 | 3,398 | 56.61% | 1,841 | 30.67% | 763 | 12.71% |
Laws
Reno County was a prohibition, or "dry", county until the Kansas Constitution was amended in 1986 and voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with a 30 percent food sales requirement. The food sales requirement was removed with voter approval in 2004.
Education
Colleges
Unified school districts
- Hutchinson USD 308
- Nickerson-South Hutchinson USD 309
- Fairfield USD 310
- Pretty Prairie USD 311
- Haven USD 312
- Buhler USD 313
Private schools
There are three private schools in Hutchinson:
- Central Christian School (K-12)
- Trinity Catholic High School (7-12)
- Holy Cross Catholic school (PreK-6)
Communities
List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Reno County.
Cities
Unincorporated communities
† means a community is designated a Census-Designated Place (CDP) by the United States Census Bureau.
Ghost towns
Townships
Reno County is divided into thirty-one townships. The cities of Hutchinson and Nickerson are considered governmentally independent and are excluded from the census figures for the townships. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albion | 00875 | Pretty Prairie | 837 | 9 (22) | 97 (38) | 0 (0) | 0.02% | 37°47′5″N 98°0′2″W / 37.78472°N 98.00056°W |
| Arlington | 02350 | Arlington | 621 | 7 (17) | 94 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.03% | 37°53′16″N 98°11′1″W / 37.88778°N 98.18361°W |
| Bell | 05350 | 87 | 1 (2) | 98 (38) | 0 (0) | 0.11% | 37°46′8″N 98°17′30″W / 37.76889°N 98.29167°W | |
| Castleton | 11000 | 256 | 2 (5) | 140 (54) | 0 (0) | 0.01% | 37°51′44″N 97°57′6″W / 37.86222°N 97.95167°W | |
| Center | 12050 | Partridge | 672 | 7 (19) | 94 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.17% | 37°57′38″N 98°5′23″W / 37.96056°N 98.08972°W |
| Clay | 13600 | 3,302 | 38 (98) | 88 (34) | 1 (0) | 0.58% | 38°3′52″N 97°52′11″W / 38.06444°N 97.86972°W | |
| Enterprise | 21475 | 139 | 1 (4) | 93 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.06% | 38°3′0″N 98°11′34″W / 38.05000°N 98.19278°W | |
| Grant | 28025 | 1,307 | 11 (30) | 114 (44) | 1 (1) | 1.25% | 38°8′4″N 98°0′27″W / 38.13444°N 98.00750°W | |
| Grove | 29025 | 64 | 1 (2) | 93 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.06% | 37°51′47″N 98°24′58″W / 37.86306°N 98.41611°W | |
| Haven | 30750 | Haven | 1,592 | 11 (29) | 143 (55) | 1 (0) | 0.41% | 37°53′56″N 97°46′46″W / 37.89889°N 97.77944°W |
| Hayes | 31000 | 106 | 1 (1) | 186 (72) | 0 (0) | 0.06% | 38°3′50″N 98°25′38″W / 38.06389°N 98.42722°W | |
| Huntsville | 33550 | 118 | 1 (3) | 93 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.11% | 38°3′0″N 98°17′54″W / 38.05000°N 98.29833°W | |
| Langdon | 38525 | Langdon | 160 | 2 (4) | 94 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.16% | 37°51′40″N 98°18′57″W / 37.86111°N 98.31583°W |
| Lincoln | 41050 | 703 | 8 (20) | 93 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.07% | 37°57′46″N 97°58′7″W / 37.96278°N 97.96861°W | |
| Little River | 41550 | Buhler | 1,881 | 20 (52) | 93 (36) | 1 (0) | 0.57% | 38°8′15″N 97°45′44″W / 38.13750°N 97.76222°W |
| Loda | 41700 | 119 | 1 (3) | 98 (38) | 0 (0) | 0.27% | 37°47′2″N 98°12′22″W / 37.78389°N 98.20611°W | |
| Medford | 45450 | 144 | 2 (5) | 83 (32) | 0 (0) | 0.18% | 38°8′14″N 98°12′24″W / 38.13722°N 98.20667°W | |
| Medora | 45600 | 1,594 | 21 (53) | 77 (30) | 0 (0) | 0% | 38°8′40″N 97°51′3″W / 38.14444°N 97.85083°W | |
| Miami | 46125 | Turon | 521 | 5 (14) | 98 (38) | 0 (0) | 0.15% | 37°47′33″N 98°25′3″W / 37.79250°N 98.41750°W |
| Ninnescah | 50700 | 226 | 3 (7) | 79 (31) | 27 (10) | 25.53% | 37°47′9″N 97°51′27″W / 37.78583°N 97.85750°W | |
| Plevna | 56750 | Plevna | 235 | 3 (6) | 94 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.04% | 37°58′1″N 98°18′36″W / 37.96694°N 98.31000°W |
| Reno | 58975 | South Hutchinson | 4,496 | 50 (129) | 90 (35) | 2 (1) | 1.65% | 38°2′31″N 97°57′27″W / 38.04194°N 97.95750°W |
| Roscoe | 61150 | 108 | 1 (3) | 98 (38) | 0 (0) | 0% | 37°46′11″N 98°4′23″W / 37.76972°N 98.07306°W | |
| Salt Creek | 62850 | 483 | 3 (9) | 139 (54) | 1 (0) | 0.39% | 38°3′48″N 98°5′57″W / 38.06333°N 98.09917°W | |
| Sumner | 69200 | 547 | 5 (13) | 106 (41) | 7 (3) | 6.13% | 37°46′24″N 97°45′51″W / 37.77333°N 97.76417°W | |
| Sylvia | 69825 | Sylvia | 393 | 4 (11) | 93 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.34% | 37°57′24″N 98°24′46″W / 37.95667°N 98.41278°W |
| Troy | 71600 | 112 | 1 (3) | 94 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.16% | 37°51′56″N 98°5′25″W / 37.86556°N 98.09028°W | |
| Valley | 73075 | 887 | 6 (16) | 143 (55) | 1 (0) | 0.90% | 38°0′33″N 97°45′2″W / 38.00917°N 97.75056°W | |
| Walnut | 75100 | 114 | 1 (3) | 94 (36) | 0 (0) | 0% | 38°7′40″N 98°18′7″W / 38.12778°N 98.30194°W | |
| Westminster | 77175 | Abbyville | 243 | 3 (7) | 94 (36) | 0 (0) | 0% | 37°57′48″N 98°12′23″W / 37.96333°N 98.20639°W |
| Yoder | 80775 | 742 | 8 (20) | 96 (37) | 1 (0) | 1.03% | 37°56′54″N 97°52′34″W / 37.94833°N 97.87611°W |
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Reno County, Kansas
- Reno County Area Transit, known as Rcat, provides public transportation for the citizens of the county.
- 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; Reno County, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 19, 2021. Retrieved August 19, 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. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ^ "Rock Island Rail History". Archived from the original on June 19, 2011. Retrieved April 18, 2011.
- ^ "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 28, 2014.
- ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 28, 2014.
- ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 28, 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 28, 2014.
- ^ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
- ^ "Map of Wet and Dry Counties". Alcoholic Beverage Control, Kansas Department of Revenue. November 2006. Archived from the original on October 8, 2007. Retrieved December 28, 2007.
- ^ "General Highway Map of Reno County, Kansas" (PDF). Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT). July 2010. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 27, 2023.
- Notes
Further reading
- History of Reno County, Kansas : Its People, Industries, and Institutions; 2 Volumes; Sheridan Ploughe; Bowen and Company; 445 / 959 pages; 1917. (Volume1 - Download 19MB PDF eBook), (Volume2 - Download 32MB PDF eBook)
- Standard Atlas of Reno County, Kansas; Geo. A. Ogle & Co; 110 pages; 1918.
- Plat Book of Reno County, Kansas; Hutchinson Blue Print Co; 61 pages; 1912.
- Plat Book of Reno County, Kansas; North West Publishing Co; 77 pages; 1902.
External links
- County
- Other
- Maps
- Reno 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 Reno County, Kansas | ||||||||||||||||
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Municipalities and communities of Reno County, Kansas, United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
| CDP | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Ghost town | ||
| Townships | ||
| International | |
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| National | |
