Ottawa 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 1860, Ottawa County was established.
20th century
Following amendment to the Kansas Constitution in 1986, Ottawa County remained a prohibition, or dry county until 2006, when voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with a 30% food sales requirement.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 721 square miles (1,870 km), of which 721 square miles (1,870 km) is land and 0.6 square miles (1.6 km) (0.08%) is water.
Features
The Solomon River is the longest river in the county, entering from Cloud County to the northwest and exiting to Saline County to the southeast. The Saline River traverses the southwestern portion of the county, going from Lincoln County to Saline County.
The largest lake is Ottawa State Fishing Lake, a 111-acre (0.45 km) reservoir to the east of Minneapolis. It is managed by the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks.
Adjacent counties
- Cloud County (north)
- Clay County (northeast)
- Dickinson County (southeast)
- Saline County (south)
- Lincoln County (west)
- Mitchell County (northwest)
Demographics
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 2,127 | — | |
| 1880 | 10,307 | 384.6% | |
| 1890 | 12,581 | 22.1% | |
| 1900 | 11,182 | −11.1% | |
| 1910 | 11,811 | 5.6% | |
| 1920 | 10,714 | −9.3% | |
| 1930 | 9,819 | −8.4% | |
| 1940 | 9,224 | −6.1% | |
| 1950 | 7,265 | −21.2% | |
| 1960 | 6,779 | −6.7% | |
| 1970 | 6,183 | −8.8% | |
| 1980 | 5,971 | −3.4% | |
| 1990 | 5,634 | −5.6% | |
| 2000 | 6,163 | 9.4% | |
| 2010 | 6,091 | −1.2% | |
| 2020 | 5,735 | −5.8% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 5,818 | 1.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2020 | |||
Ottawa County is part of the Salina, KS Micropolitan Statistical Area.
As of the census of 2000, there were 6,163 people, 2,430 households, and 1,718 families residing in the county. The population density was 8 people per square mile (3.1 people/km). There were 2,755 housing units at an average density of 4 per square mile (1.5/km). The racial makeup of the county was 97.53% White, 0.54% Black or African American, 0.37% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.32% from other races, and 1.09% from two or more races. 1.30% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 2,430 households, out of which 31.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.40% were married couples living together, 6.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.30% were non-families. 25.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.70% under the age of 18, 5.80% from 18 to 24, 26.70% from 25 to 44, 24.20% from 45 to 64, and 17.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.90 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $38,009, and the median income for a family was $46,033. Males had a median income of $30,761 versus $21,380 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,663. About 5.10% of families and 8.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.80% of those under age 18 and 11.70% of those age 65 or over.
Government
Presidential elections
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2024 | 2,422 | 82.30% | 471 | 16.00% | 50 | 1.70% |
| 2020 | 2,610 | 81.79% | 506 | 15.86% | 75 | 2.35% |
| 2016 | 2,283 | 78.08% | 424 | 14.50% | 217 | 7.42% |
| 2012 | 2,295 | 78.25% | 558 | 19.02% | 80 | 2.73% |
| 2008 | 2,323 | 75.28% | 704 | 22.81% | 59 | 1.91% |
| 2004 | 2,333 | 78.53% | 595 | 20.03% | 43 | 1.45% |
| 2000 | 1,977 | 70.83% | 631 | 22.61% | 183 | 6.56% |
| 1996 | 1,846 | 63.88% | 752 | 26.02% | 292 | 10.10% |
| 1992 | 1,284 | 45.53% | 764 | 27.09% | 772 | 27.38% |
| 1988 | 1,836 | 64.78% | 953 | 33.63% | 45 | 1.59% |
| 1984 | 2,345 | 75.74% | 699 | 22.58% | 52 | 1.68% |
| 1980 | 2,118 | 71.87% | 630 | 21.38% | 199 | 6.75% |
| 1976 | 1,629 | 52.86% | 1,393 | 45.20% | 60 | 1.95% |
| 1972 | 2,065 | 72.94% | 705 | 24.90% | 61 | 2.15% |
| 1968 | 1,740 | 62.66% | 777 | 27.98% | 260 | 9.36% |
| 1964 | 1,491 | 48.85% | 1,535 | 50.29% | 26 | 0.85% |
| 1960 | 2,190 | 66.81% | 1,072 | 32.70% | 16 | 0.49% |
| 1956 | 2,329 | 68.80% | 1,037 | 30.64% | 19 | 0.56% |
| 1952 | 2,916 | 77.66% | 801 | 21.33% | 38 | 1.01% |
| 1948 | 2,203 | 59.00% | 1,424 | 38.14% | 107 | 2.87% |
| 1944 | 2,428 | 63.11% | 1,378 | 35.82% | 41 | 1.07% |
| 1940 | 2,810 | 57.06% | 2,065 | 41.93% | 50 | 1.02% |
| 1936 | 2,230 | 44.31% | 2,785 | 55.33% | 18 | 0.36% |
| 1932 | 1,884 | 41.32% | 2,505 | 54.95% | 170 | 3.73% |
| 1928 | 3,158 | 72.53% | 1,131 | 25.98% | 65 | 1.49% |
| 1924 | 2,475 | 60.25% | 854 | 20.79% | 779 | 18.96% |
| 1920 | 2,512 | 62.94% | 1,358 | 34.03% | 121 | 3.03% |
| 1916 | 2,013 | 40.55% | 2,711 | 54.61% | 240 | 4.83% |
| 1912 | 517 | 18.28% | 1,264 | 44.68% | 1,048 | 37.04% |
| 1908 | 1,444 | 50.54% | 1,265 | 44.28% | 148 | 5.18% |
| 1904 | 1,682 | 66.27% | 477 | 18.79% | 379 | 14.93% |
| 1900 | 1,509 | 51.61% | 1,367 | 46.75% | 48 | 1.64% |
| 1896 | 1,256 | 45.29% | 1,486 | 53.59% | 31 | 1.12% |
| 1892 | 1,444 | 47.48% | 0 | 0.00% | 1,597 | 52.52% |
| 1888 | 1,569 | 56.08% | 769 | 27.48% | 460 | 16.44% |
Like all of Kansas outside the eastern cities, Ottawa County is overwhelmingly Republican. No Democratic presidential candidate has won Ottawa County since Lyndon Johnson in 1964, and the last to reach thirty percent of the county's vote was Michael Dukakis in 1988 during a major Great Plains drought.
Education
Unified school districts
Communities
List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Ottawa County.
Cities
- Bennington
- Culver
- Delphos
- Minneapolis (county seat)
- Tescott
Unincorporated communities
† means a community is designated a Census-Designated Place (CDP) by the United States Census Bureau.
Ghost town
Townships
Ottawa County is divided into twenty townships. The city of Minneapolis is considered governmentally independent and is 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bennington | 06100 | 1,116 | 10 (27) | 109 (42) | 0 (0) | 0.11% | 39°0′31″N 97°36′20″W / 39.00861°N 97.60556°W | |
| Blaine | 07150 | 111 | 1 (3) | 94 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.07% | 39°10′7″N 97°39′50″W / 39.16861°N 97.66389°W | |
| Buckeye | 08975 | 101 | 1 (3) | 78 (30) | 0 (0) | 0.13% | 39°0′4″N 97°31′20″W / 39.00111°N 97.52222°W | |
| Center | 11975 | 72 | 1 (2) | 92 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.17% | 39°6′53″N 97°44′39″W / 39.11472°N 97.74417°W | |
| Chapman | 12575 | 67 | 1 (2) | 93 (36) | 0 (0) | 0% | 39°16′47″N 97°24′53″W / 39.27972°N 97.41472°W | |
| Concord | 15175 | 209 | 2 (6) | 90 (35) | 0 (0) | 0.08% | 39°5′9″N 97°39′37″W / 39.08583°N 97.66028°W | |
| Culver | 16725 | 318 | 3 (9) | 94 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.08% | 38°59′40″N 97°46′14″W / 38.99444°N 97.77056°W | |
| Durham | 19075 | 25 | 0 (1) | 93 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.02% | 39°9′57″N 97°24′54″W / 39.16583°N 97.41500°W | |
| Fountain | 24075 | 190 | 2 (5) | 94 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.02% | 39°10′6″N 97°53′1″W / 39.16833°N 97.88361°W | |
| Garfield | 25725 | 95 | 1 (3) | 94 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.11% | 39°10′37″N 97°45′5″W / 39.17694°N 97.75139°W | |
| Grant | 27900 | 93 | 1 (3) | 94 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.03% | 39°9′53″N 97°33′14″W / 39.16472°N 97.55389°W | |
| Henry | 31325 | 22 | 0 (1) | 93 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.14% | 39°6′18″N 97°53′6″W / 39.10500°N 97.88500°W | |
| Lincoln | 40950 | 143 | 2 (4) | 93 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.10% | 38°59′31″N 97°26′13″W / 38.99194°N 97.43694°W | |
| Logan | 42050 | 82 | 1 (2) | 93 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.10% | 39°15′4″N 97°38′29″W / 39.25111°N 97.64139°W | |
| Morton | 48500 | 498 | 5 (14) | 93 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.14% | 39°0′32″N 97°52′23″W / 39.00889°N 97.87306°W | |
| Ottawa | 53600 | 49 | 1 (1) | 93 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.03% | 39°4′1″N 97°26′11″W / 39.06694°N 97.43639°W | |
| Richland | 59500 | 218 | 2 (6) | 92 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.51% | 39°5′45″N 97°32′53″W / 39.09583°N 97.54806°W | |
| Sheridan | 64725 | 589 | 6 (16) | 94 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.06% | 39°16′3″N 97°46′2″W / 39.26750°N 97.76722°W | |
| Sherman | 65025 | 67 | 1 (2) | 94 (36) | 0 (0) | 0% | 39°16′1″N 97°32′27″W / 39.26694°N 97.54083°W | |
| Stanton | 67950 | 52 | 1 (1) | 95 (37) | 0 (0) | 0.27% | 39°15′21″N 97°52′45″W / 39.25583°N 97.87917°W |
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; Ottawa County, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 19, 2021. Retrieved August 18, 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.
- ^ "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 26, 2007.
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
- ^ "Ottawa State Fishing Lake". Archived from the original on June 1, 2008. Retrieved June 11, 2008.
- ^ "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 27, 2014.
- ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
- ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 27, 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 27, 2014.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ^ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
- ^ "General Highway Map of Ottawa County, Kansas" (PDF). Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT). October 2009. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 14, 2024.
Further reading
- Standard Atlas of Ottawa County, Kansas; Geo. A. Ogle & Co; 74 pages; 1918.
- Plat Book of Ottawa County, Kansas; North West Publishing Co; 43 pages; 1902.
External links
- County
- Maps
- Ottawa 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 Ottawa County, Kansas | ||||||||||||||||
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Municipalities and communities of Ottawa County, Kansas, United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
| CDPs | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Ghost town | ||
| International | |
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| National | |
