Greeley County, Kansas

Infobox U.S. County
county=Greeley County
state=Kansas
founded=March 20, 1873
seat wl=Tribune
area_total_km2=2015|area_total_sq_mi=778
area_land_km2=2015|area_land_sq_mi=778
area_water_km2=0|area_water_sq_mi=0
area percentage=0.00%
census estimate yr=2006
pop=1331
density_km2=0.7|density_sq_mi=1.7
time zone=Mountain
UTC offset=-7
DST offset=-6
web=www.greeleycountygovernment.org

Greeley County (county code GL) is a county located in West Central Kansas, in the Central United States. The county's population was estimated to be 1,331 in the year 2006, making it the smallest in the state. Its county seat and most populous city is Tribune.GR|6

The county is named after Horace Greeley of Chappaqua, New York, editor of the "New York Tribune".

Law and government

Although the Kansas Constitution was amended in 1986 to allow the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with the approval of voters, Greeley County has remained a prohibition, or "dry", county. [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=2004| accessdate=2007-01-21]

As of 2007, the county commissioners were Fred Crotinger, Paul J. Shafer, and Michael A. Thon. [ [http://www.greeleycountygovernment.org/commish.html The Greeley County Appraiser] , Greeley County. Accessed 2007-12-05.]

On November 6, 2007, nearly 73% of voters in rural Greeley County and in Tribune approved a consolidation of the county and the city. Such a system has previously been used in Kansas only in the urbanized Wyandotte County, the location of Kansas City. The resulting government will consist of a five-member commission with two members elected by city residents, two by rural residents, and one at-large. [http://www.gctelegram.com/News/141965 Greeley County residents pass unification] , "Garden City Telegram", 2007-11-07. Accessed 2007-11-08.] Similar to Wyandotte County, the only other consolidated city-county in the state, part of the county will not be included: Horace decided against consolidation. [ [http://www.kansascity.com/115/story/351593.html TRIBUNE | City and county to unify] , "The Kansas City Star", 2007-11-07. Accessed 2007-11-08.] Members of the Unified Board of Supervisors will be elected in April 2008, and the governments will be unified in January 2009. A movement toward this consolidation had begun in 2004.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 778 square miles (2,015 km²), of which 778 square miles (2,015 km²) is land and none is water.GR|2 It is the largest of five United States counties and twelve (Virginia) independent cities that officially have no water area.

Adjacent counties

*Wallace County (north)
*Wichita County (east)
*Hamilton County (south)
*Prowers County, Colorado (southwest)
*Kiowa County, Colorado (west)
*Cheyenne County, Colorado (northwest)

Demographics

Greeley County's population was estimated to be 1,331 in the year 2006, a decrease of 209, or -13.6%, over the previous six years;Cite web| url=http://www.census.gov/popest/estimates.php| title=Population Estimates| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division| Annual estimates of the population to 2006-07-01. Released 2007-03-22. Six year change is from 2000-07-01 to 2006-07-01.] it is the smallest population in the state. Neighboring Wallace County has the second smallest population.

As of the U.S. Census in 2000,GR|2 there were 1,534 people, 602 households, and 414 families residing in the county. The population density was 2 people per square mile (1/km²). There were 712 housing units at an average density of 1 per square mile (0/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 93.09% White, 0.26% Native American, 0.20% Black or African American, 0.13% Pacific Islander, 0.07% Asian, 5.22% from other races, and 1.04% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.54% of the population.

There were 602 households out of which 34.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.10% were married couples living together, 4.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.20% were non-families. 28.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.10.

In the county the population was spread out with 28.20% under the age of 18, 6.80% from 18 to 24, 27.30% from 25 to 44, 19.90% from 45 to 64, and 17.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 98.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,605, and the median income for a family was $45,625. Males had a median income of $29,018 versus $18,984 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,974. About 8.20% of families and 11.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.20% of those under age 18 and 6.80% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

Incorporated cities

Name and population (2004 estimate):
*Tribune, 758 (county seat)
*Horace, 135

Townships

Greeley County is divided into three 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

* Greeley County USD 200

Trivia

* In "The Killing Box", an episode of the television series "Prison Break", Brad Bellick is in a Greeley County courthouse, being arraigned on capital murder charges.

ee also

References

External links

Official sites
* [http://www.greeleycountygovernment.org/ Greeley County]
* [http://www.greeleycounty.org/ Greeley County Community Development]
* [http://www.gchsnet.com Greeley County Health Services]
* [http://www.greeleycolibrary.info Greeley County Library]

Additional information
* [http://www.skyways.lib.ks.us/counties/GL/ Blue Skyways]
* [http://www.ku.edu/pri/ksdata/county.shtml Kansas Statistical Abstract]