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Greeley County, Kansas

Coordinates: 38°28′N 101°50′W / 38.467°N 101.833°W / 38.467; -101.833
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Not to be confused with Greeley, Kansas.

Greeley County
Consolidated city-county
Greeley County Courthouse in Tribune (2010)
Greeley County Courthouse in Tribune (2010)
Map of Kansas highlighting Greeley County
Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
Map of the United States highlighting Kansas
Kansas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 38°28′00″N 101°49′59″W / 38.4667°N 101.833°W / 38.4667; -101.833
Country United States
State Kansas
FoundedMarch 20, 1873
Named forHorace Greeley
SeatTribune
Largest cityTribune
Area
 • Total
778 sq mi (2,020 km2)
 • Land778 sq mi (2,020 km2)
 • Water0.0 sq mi (0 km2)  0.0%
Population
 (2020)[1]
 • Total
1,284
 • Estimate 
(2021)[2]
1,304 Increase
 • Density1.7/sq mi (0.7/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district1st
Websitegreeleycounty.org

Greeley County is a county located in western Kansas, in the Central United States. Its county seat and largest city is Tribune.[3] As of the 2020 census, the population was 1,284,[1] making it the least populous county in Kansas. As of 2018, it is tied with Wallace County as the least densely populated county in the state.[4] The county is named after Horace Greeley,[5] editor of the New York Tribune, who encouraged western settlement with the motto "Go West, young man".[6]

History

[edit]

Early history

[edit]
See also: History of Kansas

For many millennia, the Great Plains of North America was inhabited by nomadic Native Americans. From the 16th century to 18th century, the Kingdom of France claimed ownership of large parts of North America. In 1762, after the French and Indian War, France secretly ceded New France to Spain, per the Treaty of Fontainebleau.

19th century

[edit]

In 1802, Spain returned most of the land to France, but Spain kept title to about 7,500 square miles. In 1803, most of the land in modern day Kansas was acquired by the United States from France as part of the 828,000 square mile Louisiana Purchase for 2.83 cents per acre.

In 1854, the Kansas Territory was organized, and Kansas became the 34th U.S. state in 1861. In 1873, Greeley County was established.

Geography

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According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 778 square miles (2,020 km2), all of which is land.[7] It is the largest of five United States counties and twelve (Virginia) independent cities that officially have no water area.[citation needed]

Adjacent counties

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Demographics

[edit]
Population pyramid based on 2000 census age data
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18901,264—
1900493−61.0%
19101,335170.8%
19201,028−23.0%
19301,71266.5%
19401,638−4.3%
19502,01022.7%
19602,0873.8%
19701,819−12.8%
19801,8451.4%
19901,774−3.8%
20001,534−13.5%
20101,247−18.7%
20201,2843.0%
2023 (est.)1,181[8]−8.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11]
1990-2000[12] 2010-2020[1]

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,534 people, 602 households, and 414 families residing in the county. The population density was 2 people per square mile (0.77 people/km2). There were 712 housing units at an average density of 1 per square mile (0.39/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 93.09% White, 0.26% Native American, 0.20% Black or African American, 0.13% Pacific Islander, 0.07% Asian, 5.22% from other races, and 1.04% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.54% of the population.

There were 602 households, out of which 34.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.10% were married couples living together, 4.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.20% were non-families. 28.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.10.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 28.20% under the age of 18, 6.80% from 18 to 24, 27.30% from 25 to 44, 19.90% from 45 to 64, and 17.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 98.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,605, and the median income for a family was $45,625. Males had a median income of $29,018 versus $18,984 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,974. About 8.20% of families and 11.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.20% of those under age 18 and 6.80% of those age 65 or over.

Government

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County

[edit]

As of January 1, 2009, Greeley County and the City of Tribune have operated as a unified government.[13] The resulting government consists of a five-member commission with two members elected by city residents, two by rural residents, and one at-large.[14] Similar to Wyandotte County, the only other consolidated city-county in the state, part of the county was not included: Horace decided against consolidation.[15]

Presidential elections

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This county is often carried by Republican candidates, as are most rural western Kansas counties. The last time a Democratic candidate won the county was in 1976, and a Democratic candidate has only won the county three times in its history: 1932 (Franklin D. Roosevelt), 1964 (Lyndon B. Johnson), and most recently in 1976 by Jimmy Carter.

Presidential election results
United States presidential election results for Greeley County, Kansas[16]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 509 86.13% 75 12.69% 7 1.18%
2020 549 85.65% 78 12.17% 14 2.18%
2016 534 82.15% 83 12.77% 33 5.08%
2012 543 81.04% 113 16.87% 14 2.09%
2008 591 79.33% 151 20.27% 3 0.40%
2004 584 79.46% 138 18.78% 13 1.77%
2000 628 78.21% 143 17.81% 32 3.99%
1996 567 71.95% 161 20.43% 60 7.61%
1992 504 57.73% 191 21.88% 178 20.39%
1988 506 59.32% 317 37.16% 30 3.52%
1984 699 73.27% 227 23.79% 28 2.94%
1980 600 63.36% 235 24.82% 112 11.83%
1976 389 43.42% 479 53.46% 28 3.13%
1972 639 68.49% 212 22.72% 82 8.79%
1968 465 59.85% 227 29.21% 85 10.94%
1964 388 44.80% 469 54.16% 9 1.04%
1960 645 70.57% 262 28.67% 7 0.77%
1956 599 77.09% 174 22.39% 4 0.51%
1952 725 79.06% 181 19.74% 11 1.20%
1948 391 53.34% 326 44.47% 16 2.18%
1944 378 63.00% 215 35.83% 7 1.17%
1940 497 64.55% 268 34.81% 5 0.65%
1936 396 50.45% 388 49.43% 1 0.13%
1932 359 42.64% 440 52.26% 43 5.11%
1928 439 78.25% 121 21.57% 1 0.18%
1924 357 64.21% 75 13.49% 124 22.30%
1920 273 69.47% 93 23.66% 27 6.87%
1916 210 43.57% 168 34.85% 104 21.58%
1912 95 35.58% 33 12.36% 139 52.06%
1908 206 64.58% 89 27.90% 24 7.52%
1904 149 85.63% 14 8.05% 11 6.32%
1900 118 75.64% 36 23.08% 2 1.28%
1896 121 60.80% 76 38.19% 2 1.01%
1892 241 67.89% 0 0.00% 114 32.11%
1888 422 59.02% 180 25.17% 113 15.80%

Laws

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The Kansas Constitution was amended in 1986 to allow the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with the approval of voters. Greeley County remained a prohibition, or "dry", county until 2008, when voters approved to allow sales of liquor by the drink.[17]

Education

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Unified school districts

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Communities

[edit]
2005 map of Greeley County[18] (map legend)

List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Greeley County.[18]

Cities

[edit]

Ghost Towns

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  • Astor
  • Colokan
  • Hector
  • Walkinghood
  • Whitelaw

Townships

[edit]

Greeley County was previously divided into three townships. However, in 1992, Colony Township and Harrison Township were merged into Tribune Township, leaving only one township for the county. This was not reported to the U.S. census until 2006, thus the 2000 census did not reflect the merger, but the 2010 census did.[19]

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.

Township FIPS Population
center 		Population Population
density
/km2 (/sq mi) 		Land area
km2 (sq mi)		 Water area
km2 (sq mi)		 Water % Geographic coordinates
Colony 14975 172 0 (0) 919 (355) 0 (0) 0% 38°28′10″N 101°55′42″W / 38.46944°N 101.92833°W / 38.46944; -101.92833
Harrison 30325 107 0 (1) 511 (197) 0 (0) 0% 38°21′25″N 101°41′14″W / 38.35694°N 101.68722°W / 38.35694; -101.68722
Tribune 71475 Tribune 1,255 2 (6) 586 (226) 0 (0) 0% 38°31′51″N 101°44′36″W / 38.53083°N 101.74333°W / 38.53083; -101.74333
Sources: "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files". U.S. Census Bureau, Geography Division. Archived from the original on August 2, 2002.

See also

[edit]
Community information for Kansas

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c "QuickFacts; Greeley County, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 16, 2021. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
  2. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2021". Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ^ http://www.ipsr.ku.edu/ksdata/ksah/population/popden2.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  5. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 143.
  6. ^ Josiah Busnell Grinnell (1891). Men and Events of Forty Years. Boston: D. Lothrop. p. 87. ISBN 9780598638700. Retrieved February 13, 2009.
  7. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  8. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  9. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  10. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  11. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  12. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  13. ^ "Unified Greeley County, Kansas - Innovative Government - Greeley County, Kansas". greeleycounty.org. February 2012. Retrieved March 3, 2019.
  14. ^ Greeley County residents pass unification Archived March 21, 2009, at the Wayback Machine, Garden City Telegram, November 7, 2007. Accessed November 8, 2007.
  15. ^ TRIBUNE | City and county to unify, The Kansas City Star, November 7, 2007. Accessed November 8, 2007.
  16. ^ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 3, 2019.
  17. ^ "Map of Wet and Dry Counties". Alcoholic Beverage Control, Kansas Department of Revenue. November 2010. Archived from the original on September 30, 2011. Retrieved August 1, 2011.
  18. ^ a b "General Highway Map of Greeley County, Kansas" (PDF). Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT). December 2010. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 2, 2023.
  19. ^ Kansas: 2010, Population and Housing unit Counts, pdf p. 21 (2012)
Notes

Further reading

[edit]
See also: List of books about Kansas, including historical information about its counties and cities
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Greeley County, Kansas.
County
Maps

38°28′N 101°50′W / 38.467°N 101.833°W / 38.467; -101.833

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