Geary County, Kansas

Infobox U.S. County
county=Geary County
state=Kansas
founded=March 7, 1889
seat wl=Junction City
area_total_km2=1047|area_total_sq_mi=404
area_land_km2=996|area_land_sq_mi=385
area_water_km2=51|area_water_sq_mi=20
area percentage=4.87%
census estimate yr=2006
pop=24174
density_km2=24.3|density_sq_mi=62.8
time zone=Central
UTC offset=-6
DST offset=-5
web=www.geary.kansasgov.com
named for=John W. Geary

Geary County (county code GE) is a county located in Northeast Kansas, in the Central United States. The population was estimated to be 24,174 in the year 2006. Its county seat and most populous city is Junction City.GR|6 The county is named in honor of Governor John W. Geary.

Geary County is part of the Manhattan, Kansas Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Geary County was originally named Davis County, but the name was changed after Jefferson Davis became president of the Confederacy. The county is named in honor of John W. Geary, a Governor of the Kansas Territory.

Law and government

Geary 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% food sales requirement. The food sales requirement was removed with voter approval in 1990. [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 404 square miles (1,047 km²), of which 385 square miles (996 km²) is land and 20 square miles (51 km²), or 4.87%, is water.GR|2

Adjacent counties

*Riley County (north)
*Wabaunsee County (east)
*Morris County (south)
*Dickinson County (west)
*Clay County (northwest)

Demographics

Geary County's population was estimated to be 24,174 in the year 2006, a decrease of 3558, or -12.8%, 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 27,947 people, 10,458 households, and 7,582 families residing in the county. The population density was 73 people per square mile (28/km²). There were 11,959 housing units at an average density of 31 per square mile (12/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 64.13% White, 22.03% Black or African American, 0.75% Native American, 3.16% Asian, 0.41% Pacific Islander, 4.10% from other races, and 5.41% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.45% of the population.

There were 10,458 households out of which 39.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.90% were married couples living together, 12.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.50% were non-families. 22.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.07.

In the county the population was spread out with 29.60% under the age of 18, 13.60% from 18 to 24, 30.00% from 25 to 44, 17.40% from 45 to 64, and 9.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females there were 97.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,917, and the median income for a family was $36,372. Males had a median income of $25,942 versus $21,389 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,199. About 9.70% of families and 12.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.80% of those under age 18 and 9.90% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

Incorporated cities

Name and population (2004 estimate):
*Junction City, 18,886 (county seat)
*Grandview Plaza, 1,071
*Milford, 453

Unincorporated places

*Wreford

Fort Riley

Located north of the junction of the Smoky Hill and Republican rivers, the Fort Riley Military Reservation covers convert|100656|acre|km2|0 in Geary and Riley counties. The fort has a daytime population of nearly 25,000 and includes two census-designated places:
*Fort Riley North
*Fort Riley-Camp Whiteside

Townships

Geary County is divided into eight townships. The city of Junction City 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.

Education

Unified school districts

* Geary County USD 475 ( [http://www.usd475.org/ Web site] )

ee also

References

External links

Official sites
* [http://www.geary.kansasgov.com/ Geary County]
* [http://www.jcgced.com/ Junction City and Geary County Economic Development]
* [http://www.junctioncity.org/ Geary County Convention & Visitors Bureau]
* [http://www.riley.army.mil/ Fort Riley]

Additional information
* [http://skyways.lib.ks.us/counties/GE/ Blue Skyways]
* [http://www.ku.edu/pri/ksdata/county.shtml Kansas Statistical Abstract]
* [http://www.rootsweb.com/~ksgeary Geary County Kansas AHGP]