Elk County, Kansas

Infobox U.S. County
county=Elk County
state=Kansas
founded=March 25, 1875
seat wl=Howard
area_total_km2=1684|area_total_sq_mi=650
area_land_km2=1676|area_land_sq_mi=647
area_water_km2=8|area_water_sq_mi=3
area percentage=0.47%
census estimate yr=2006
pop=3077
density_km2=1.8|density_sq_mi=4.8
time zone=Central
UTC offset=-6
DST offset=-5
web=www.elk.kansasgov.com

Elk County (county code EK) is a county located in Southeast Kansas, in the Central United States. The population was estimated to be 3,077 in the year 2006. Its county seat and most populous city is Howard.GR|6

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, Elk 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]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 650 square miles (1,684 km²), of which 647 square miles (1,676 km²) is land and 3 square miles (8 km²), or 0.47%, is water.GR|2

Adjacent counties

*Greenwood County (north)
*Wilson County (east)
*Montgomery County (southeast)
*Chautauqua County (south)
*Cowley County (southwest)
*Butler County (northwest)

Demographics

Elk County's population was estimated to be 3,077 in the year 2006, a decrease of 150, or -4.6%, 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.]

As of the U.S. Census in 2000,GR|2 there were 3,261 people, 1,412 households, and 923 families residing in the county. The population density was 5 people per square mile (2/km²). There were 1,860 housing units at an average density of 3 per square mile (1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.06% White, 0.21% Black or African American, 0.95% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 1.20% from other races, and 2.33% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.18% of the population.

There were 1,412 households out of which 24.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.00% were married couples living together, 6.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.60% were non-families. 32.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.84.

In the county the population was spread out with 22.50% under the age of 18, 5.80% from 18 to 24, 20.00% from 25 to 44, 26.50% from 45 to 64, and 25.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 91.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,267, and the median income for a family was $34,148. Males had a median income of $28,580 versus $16,219 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,066. About 9.20% of families and 13.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.80% of those under age 18 and 15.00% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

Incorporated cities

Name and population (2004 estimate):
*Howard, 774 (county seat)
*Moline, 436
*Longton, 376
*Grenola, 220
*Elk Falls, 107

Unincorporated places

*Busby
*Oak Valley
*Upola

Townships

Elk County is divided into ten 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

* West Elk USD 282
* Elk Valley USD 283

ee also

References

External links

Official sites
* [http://www.elk.kansasgov.com/ Elk County]

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