Rooks County, Kansas

Infobox U.S. County
county=Rooks County
state=Kansas

---

founded=February 26, 1867
seat=Stockton
area_total_km2=2319|area_total_sq_mi=895
area_land_km2=2301|area_land_sq_mi=888
area_water_km2=18|area_water_sq_mi=7
area percentage=0.78%
census estimate yr=2005
pop=5351
density_km2=2.3|density_sq_mi=6.0
time zone=Central
UTC offset=-6
DST offset=-5|

Rooks County (standard abbreviation: RO) is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of 2000, the population is 5,685. The county seat is Stockton.

Law and government

Following amendment to the Kansas Constitution in 1986, the county remained a prohibition, or "dry", county until 2000, when voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with a 30% food sales requirement. [Cite web| url=http://www.ksrevenue.org/abcwetdrymap.htm| title=Map of Wet and Dry Counties| publisher=Alcoholic Beverage Control, Kansas Department of Revenue| month=November | year=2006| accessdate=2007-12-26]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 895 square miles (2,319 km²), of which, 888 square miles (2,301 km²) of it is land and 7 square miles (18 km²) of it (0.78%) is water.

Adjacent counties

*Phillips County (north)
*Smith County (northeast)
*Osborne County (east)
*Ellis County (south)
*Trego County (southwest)
*Graham County (west)

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 5,685 people, 2,362 households, and 1,556 families residing in the county. The population density was 6 people per square mile (2/km²). There were 2,758 housing units at an average density of 3 per square mile (1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.13% White, 1.13% Black or African American, 0.42% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.37% from other races, and 0.74% from two or more races. 1.06% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,362 households out of which 29.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.40% were married couples living together, 7.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.10% were non-families. 31.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the county the population was spread out with 25.20% under the age of 18, 6.40% from 18 to 24, 25.50% from 25 to 44, 21.50% from 45 to 64, and 21.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 98.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,457, and the median income for a family was $36,931. Males had a median income of $26,794 versus $18,389 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,588. About 7.30% of families and 9.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.70% of those under age 18 and 7.40% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

Incorporated cities

Name and population (2004 estimate):
*Plainville, 1,897
*Stockton, 1,465 (county seat)
*Palco, 231
*Damar, 150
*Zurich, 122
*Woodston, 112

Townships

Rooks County is divided into twelve 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.

Education

Unified school districts

* Palco USD 269
* Plainville USD 270
* Stockton USD 271

ee also

References

External links

;Local History and Genealogy:* [http://www.kancoll.org/books/cutler/rooks/rooks-co-p1.html Cutler's History of Rooks County, Kansas] :* [http://skyways.lib.ks.us/genweb/rooks/index.html Rooks County GenWeb] ;Official websites:* [http://www.rookscounty.net/county_offices.htm Rooks County Government] ;General county information:* [http://skyways.lib.ks.us/counties/RO/ Blue Skyways] ;County Level Data:* [http://www.ku.edu/pri/ksdata/county.shtml Kansas Statistical Abstract]