Finney County, Kansas

Infobox U.S. County
county=Finney County
state=Kansas
founded=February 22, 1883
seat wl=Garden City
area_total_km2=3374|area_total_sq_mi=1303
area_land_km2=3372|area_land_sq_mi=1302
area_water_km2=2|area_water_sq_mi=1
area percentage=0.06%
census estimate yr=2006
pop=39097
density_km2=11.6|density_sq_mi=30.0
time zone=Central
UTC offset=-6
DST offset=-5
web=www.finneycounty.org

Finney County (county code FI) is a county located in Southwest Kansas, in the Central United States. The population was estimated to be 39,097 in the year 2006. Its county seat and most populous city is Garden City.GR|6

The Garden City Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Finney County.

History

Finney county began as Sequoyah county, named after the Cherokee Indian responsible for the development of the Cherokee alphabet. The county was renamed in 1883 to Finney, after then Lt. Governor D.W. Finney. The county grew to the shape it is today, after Garfield county was annexed into it at 1893. The north-east block separate from the otherwise rectangular area represents what at one time was Garfield county, which is now occupied partially by the Garfield township.

Law and government

Finney 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. [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 1,303 square miles (3,374 km²), of which 1,302 square miles (3,372 km²) is land and 1 square miles (2 km²), or 0.06%, is water.GR|2

Adjacent counties

*Scott County (north)
*Lane County (north)
*Ness County (northeast)
*Hodgeman County (east)
*Haskell County (south)
*Gray County (south)
*Grant County (southwest)
*Kearny County (west)

Demographics

Finney County's population was estimated to be 39,097 in the year 2006, a decrease of 1541, or -3.8%, 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 40,523 people, 12,948 households, and 9,749 families residing in the county. The population density was 31 people per square mile (12/km²). There were 13,763 housing units at an average density of 11 per square mile (4/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 69.05% White, 1.25% Black or African American, 0.96% Native American, 2.87% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 22.99% from other races, and 2.80% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 43.30% of the population.

There were 12,948 households out of which 46.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.80% were married couples living together, 10.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.70% were non-families. 19.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.09 and the average family size was 3.55.

In the county the population was spread out with 34.30% under the age of 18, 11.00% from 18 to 24, 31.10% from 25 to 44, 16.60% from 45 to 64, and 7.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females there were 104.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $38,474, and the median income for a family was $42,839. Males had a median income of $29,948 versus $21,510 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,377. About 10.00% of families and 14.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.60% of those under age 18 and 10.70% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

Incorporated cities

Name and population (2004 estimate):
*Garden City, 27,312 (county seat)
*Holcomb, 1,943

Unincorporated places

*Friend
*Gano
*Kalvesta
*Lowe
*Peterson
*Pierceville
*Plymell
*Ritchal
*Rodkey
*Tennis
*Wolf

Townships

Finney County is divided into seven townships. The city of Garden 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

* Holcomb USD 363
* Garden City USD 457

ee also

References

External links

Official sites
* [http://www.finneycounty.org/ Finney County]
* [http://fcpl.homestead.com/ Finney County Public Library]

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