Graham County, Kansas

Infobox U.S. County
county=Graham County
state=Kansas
founded=February 26, 1887
seat wl=Hill City
area_total_km2=2328|area_total_sq_mi=899
area_land_km2=2327|area_land_sq_mi=898
area_water_km2=1|area_water_sq_mi=0
area percentage=0.04%
census estimate yr=2006
pop=2677
density_km2=1.2|density_sq_mi=3.0
time zone=Central
UTC offset=-6
DST offset=-5|

Graham County (county code GH) is a county located in northwest Kansas, in the Central United States. The population was estimated to be 2,677 in the year 2006. Its county seat and most populous city is Hill City.GR|6

History

Graham County was organized in 1880 & named after Captain John L. Graham, a Union soldier killed in action at the Battle of Chickamauga in Tennessee on September 19, 1863.

Law and government

Following amendment to the Kansas Constitution in 1986, Graham County remained a prohibition, or "dry", county until 1992, when voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink without a 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=2007-12-28]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 899 square miles (2,328 km²), of which 898 square miles (2,327 km²) is land and 0 square miles (1 km²), or 0.04%, is water.GR|2Graham County roughly contains 3600 quarter sections, and is the fourth county east of Colorado line and the second county south of the Nebraska line. The 100th meridian west passes nearly through its center. The average elevation in the county is 2700 feet above sea level.

Adjacent counties

*Norton County (north)
*Phillips County (northeast)
*Rooks County (east)
*Trego County (south)
*Gove County (southwest)
*Sheridan County (west)

National protected area

* Nicodemus National Historic Site

Demographics

Graham County's population was estimated to be 2,677 in the year 2006, a decrease of 245, or -8.4%, 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.]

As of the U.S. Census in 2000,GR|2 there were 2,946 people, 1,263 households, and 847 families residing in the county. The population density was 3 people per square mile (1/km²). There were 1,553 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile (1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 94.91% White, 3.22% Black or African American, 0.34% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.41% from other races, and 0.81% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.78% of the population.

There were 1,263 households out of which 27.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.50% were married couples living together, 5.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.90% were non-families. 30.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.84.

In the county the population was spread out with 22.50% under the age of 18, 5.30% from 18 to 24, 23.10% from 25 to 44, 25.40% from 45 to 64, and 23.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 95.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,286, and the median income for a family was $38,036. Males had a median income of $26,642 versus $18,222 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,050. About 8.60% of families and 11.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.60% of those under age 18 and 10.40% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

Incorporated cities

Name and population (2004 estimate):
*Hill City, 1,469 (county seat)
*Bogue, 170
*Morland, 155

Unincorporated places

*Millbrook
*Nicodemus
*Penokee
*St. Peter
*Studley

Towns that no longer exsist

Fagan, Gettysburg, Roscoe, Smithfield, Springfield & Togo

Townships

Graham County is divided into thirteen 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

* Hill City USD 281 ( [http://www.usd281.com/ Web site] ) - Effective July 1, 2002, Morland USD 280 was consolidated into USD 281. [Cite web| url=http://www.ksde.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=I3%2BvfE008WI%3D&tabid=1841&mid=4146| title=Meeting Minutes| publisher=Kansas State Board of Education| date=December 12, 2001| accessdate=2007-05-29|]

ee also

* USS "Graham County" (LST-1176)

References

External links

Official sites
* [http://www.sheriff.ruraltel.net/home/home.htm Graham County Sheriff's Department]
* [http://www.grahamhistorical.ruraltel.net/ Graham County Historical Society]

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