Barton County, Kansas

Infobox U.S. County
county=Barton County
state=Kansas
founded=February 26, 1867
seat wl=Great Bend
area_total_km2=2332|area_total_sq_mi=900
area_land_km2=2315|area_land_sq_mi=894
area_water_km2=17|area_water_sq_mi=6
area percentage=0.72%
census estimate yr=2006
pop=27511
density_km2=11.9|density_sq_mi=30.8
time zone=Central
UTC offset=-6
DST offset=-5
web=www.bartoncounty.org
named for=Clara Barton|

Barton County (county code BT) is a county located in Central Kansas, in the Central United States. The population was 28,205 at the 2000 census, and it was estimated to be formatnum:LookupUSEstPop|20009|EST in the year LookupUSEstPop|20009|EYR. Its county seat and most populous city is Great Bend.GR|6 The county is named in honor of Clara Barton, responsible for the founding of the American Red Cross.

The Great Bend Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Barton County.

Law and government

Barton 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 2004. [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 900 square miles (2,332 km²), of which 894 square miles (2,315 km²) is land and 6 square miles (17 km²), or 0.72%, is water.GR|2 The geographic center of Kansas is located in Barton County.

Adjacent counties

*Russell County (north)
*Ellsworth County (northeast)
*Rice County (southeast)
*Stafford County (south)
*Pawnee County (southwest)
*Rush County (west)

Major highways

Sources: National Atlas [ [http://www.nationalatlas.gov/ National Atlas] ] , U.S. Census Bureau [ [http://www.census.gov/geo/www/tiger U.S. Census Bureau TIGER shape files] ]
* U.S. Route 56
* U.S. Route 281
* Kansas Highway 4
* Kansas Highway 96
* Kansas Highway 156

Demographics

Barton County's population was estimated to be formatnum:LookupUSEstPop|20009|EST in the year LookupUSEstPop|20009|EYR, LookupUSEstPop|20009|TXT.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 20009|EDT. Released 20009|RDT. Population change is from 20009|IDT to 20009|EDT.]

As of the U.S. Census in 2000,GR|2 there were 28,205 people, 11,393 households, and 7,530 families residing in the county. The population density was 32 people per square mile (12/km²). There were 12,888 housing units at an average density of 14 per square mile (6/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 92.98% White, 1.15% Black or African American, 0.51% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 3.51% from other races, and 1.60% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.31% of the population.

There were 11,393 households out of which 31.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.10% were married couples living together, 7.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.90% were non-families. 30.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the county the population was spread out with 26.00% under the age of 18, 9.00% from 18 to 24, 25.10% from 25 to 44, 22.00% from 45 to 64, and 17.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 93.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,176, and the median income for a family was $39,929. Males had a median income of $28,803 versus $20,428 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,695. About 9.90% of families and 12.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.00% of those under age 18 and 10.90% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

Incorporated cities

Name and population (LookupUSEstPop|2028300|EYR estimate):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 2028300|EDT. Released 2028300|RDT.]
*Great Bend, formatnum:LookupUSEstPop|2028300|EST (county seat)
*Hoisington, formatnum:LookupUSEstPop|2032550|EST
*Ellinwood, formatnum:LookupUSEstPop|2020425|EST
*Claflin, formatnum:LookupUSEstPop|2013425|EST
*Pawnee Rock, formatnum:LookupUSEstPop|2054875|EST
*Albert, formatnum:LookupUSEstPop|2000825|EST
*Olmitz, formatnum:LookupUSEstPop|2052750|EST
*Galatia, formatnum:LookupUSEstPop|2025050|EST
*Susank, formatnum:LookupUSEstPop|2069525|EST

Unincorporated places

*Boyd
*Dent Spur
*Dundee
*Heizer
*Hitschmann
*Odin
*Redwing
*Stickney

Townships

Barton County is divided into twenty-two townships. The cities of Ellinwood, Great Bend, and Hoisington are considered "governmentally independent" and are 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

* Claflin USD 354
* Ellinwood USD 355
* Great Bend USD 428
* Hoisington USD 431
* Otis-Bison USD 403 (See Rush County)

ee also

References

External links

Official sites
* [http://www.bartoncounty.org/ Barton County]
* [http://www.bartonccc.edu/ Barton County Community College]

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