Republic County, Kansas

Republic County, Kansas
Republic County Courthouse (2010)
Location in the U.S. state of Kansas
Kansas's location in the U.S.
Founded	February 27, 1860
Named for	Republican River
Seat	Belleville
Largest city	Belleville
Area
• Total	720.31 sq mi (1,866 km2)
• Land	716.38 sq mi (1,855 km2)
• Water	3.93 sq mi (10 km2), 0.55%
Population
• (2010)	4,980
• Density	7.2/sq mi (3/km²)
Congressional district	1st
Time zone	Central: UTC-6/-5
Website	RepublicCounty.org

June 24, 1947 flood of the Republican River on the border of Jewell County, Kansas and Republic County, Kansas near Hardy, Nebraska and Webber, Kansas, just south of Nebraska NE-8 on Kansas 1 Rd/CR-1 bridge over the Republican River. The normal flood stage for the river is at the tree line in the foreground.

Republic County (standard abbreviation: RP) is a county located in the state of Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 4,980. The largest city and county seat is Belleville. It is south from the Nebraska state line.

History

19th century

1915 railroad map of Republic County

Republic County was first settled around 1860 by Daniel and Conrad Myers. The territory was principally inhabited by Pawnees, Iowas, and Otoes who peaceable greeted the incoming settlers, who were mostly farmers. By 1868, Republic County was holding elections.

During the late 19th century, Belleville became the urban center for the immigrants that were attracted to the surrounding areas, most notably from Sweden and Bohemia (now Czech Republic).

In 1887, Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway built a branch line from Neva (3 miles west of Strong City) to Superior, Nebraska. This branch line connected Strong City, Neva, Rockland, Diamond Springs, Burdick, Lost Springs, Jacobs, Hope, Navarre, Enterprise, Abilene, Talmage, Manchester, Longford, Oak Hill, Miltonvale, Aurora, Huscher, Concordia, Kackley, Courtland, Webber, Superior. At some point, the line from Neva to Lost Springs was pulled but the right of way has not been abandoned. This branch line was originally called "Strong City and Superior line" but later the name was shortened to the "Strong City line". In 1996, the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway merged with Burlington Northern Railroad and renamed to the current BNSF Railway. Most locals still refer to this railroad as the "Santa Fe".

Law and government

Republic 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.

Geography

According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 720.31 square miles (1,865.6 km²), of which 716.38 square miles (1,855.4 km²) (or 99.45%) is land and 3.93 square miles (10.2 km²) (or 0.55%) is water.

Adjacent counties

• Thayer County, Nebraska (north)
• Jefferson County, Nebraska (northeast)
• Washington County (east)
• Cloud County (south)
• Jewell County (west)
• Nuckolls County, Nebraska (northwest)

Demographics

Age pyramid

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1870	1,281		—
1880	14,913		1,064.2%
1890	19,002		27.4%
1900	18,248		−4.0%
1910	17,447		−4.4%
1920	15,855		−9.1%
1930	14,745		−7.0%
1940	13,124		−11.0%
1950	11,478		−12.5%
1960	9,768		−14.9%
1970	8,498		−13.0%
1980	7,569		−10.9%
1990	6,482		−14.4%
2000	5,835		−10.0%
2010	4,980		−14.7%
Est. 2014	4,803		−3.6%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2013

As of the census of 2000, there were 5,835 people, 2,557 households, and 1,685 families residing in the county. The population density was 8 people per square mile (3/km²). There were 3,113 housing units at an average density of 4 per square mile (2/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.56% White, 0.26% Black or African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.33% from other races, and 0.46% from two or more races. 0.94% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 24.1% were of German, 13.6% Swedish, 12.4% Czech, 9.2% English, 9.0% Irish and 8.6% American ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 2,557 households out of which 25.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.80% were married couples living together, 4.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.10% were non-families. 31.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.80.

In the county the population was spread out with 22.30% under the age of 18, 4.50% from 18 to 24, 22.10% from 25 to 44, 25.00% from 45 to 64, and 26.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 93.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,494, and the median income for a family was $39,215. Males had a median income of $25,260 versus $17,274 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,433. About 6.00% of families and 9.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.40% of those under age 18 and 8.90% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Unified school districts

• Pike Valley USD 426
• Republic County USD 109

Communities

2005 KDOT map of Republic County (map legend)

Incorporated cities

• Agenda
• Belleville
• Courtland
• Cuba
• Munden
• Narka
• Republic
• Scandia

Unincorporated cities

• Kackley
• Norway
• Talmo
• Wayne

Ghost town

• White Rock

Townships

Republic County is divided into twenty townships. The city of Belleville 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.

Sources: 2000 U.S. Gazetteer from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Township	FIPS	Population center	Population	Population density /km² (/sq mi)	Land area km² (sq mi)	Water area km² (sq mi)	Water %	Geographic coordinates
Albion	00900		174	2 (5)	92 (36)	0 (0)	0.12%
Beaver	05150		137	2 (4)	91 (35)	3 (1)	3.04%
Belleville	05625		231	3 (7)	89 (34)	0 (0)	0.11%
Big Bend	06550		242	3 (7)	92 (35)	1 (0)	1.39%
Courtland	16050		450	5 (12)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0.06%
Elk Creek	20275		175	2 (5)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0.15%
Fairview	22575		155	2 (4)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0.49%
Farmington	23200		81	1 (2)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.20%
Freedom	24675		186	2 (5)	90 (35)	0 (0)	0.28%
Grant	28050		77	1 (2)	95 (37)	0 (0)	0.15%
Jefferson	35325		107	1 (3)	95 (37)	0 (0)	0.05%
Liberty	40325		52	1 (1)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.19%
Lincoln	41075		103	1 (3)	92 (36)	0 (0)	0.09%
Norway	51575		163	2 (5)	92 (36)	1 (0)	1.19%
Richland	59575		318	3 (9)	92 (36)	0 (0)	0.11%
Rose Creek	61200		170	2 (5)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0.44%
Scandia	63375		541	6 (15)	92 (36)	1 (0)	1.23%
Union	72300		51	1 (1)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.18%
Washington	75700		95	1 (3)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.24%
White Rock	77975		88	1 (2)	92 (36)	1 (0)	1.09%

Notable people

File:Larry Cheney, head-and-shoulders portrait.jpg

Major League Baseball pitcher Larry Cheney

Arts and entertainment

• Robert Gordon, actor (1895–1971)
• Greta Granstedt, actress
• Harry A. Pollard, silent film actor

Athletes

• Herb Bradley, Major League Baseball player
• Thomas Bushby, player for the Cincinnati "Football" Reds in 1934 and the Philadelphia Eagles in 1935.
• Lloyd Cardwell, American football player
• Larry Cheney, Major League Baseball player
• Dean Nesmith, professional football player, Olympic athletic trainer
• Ronald Severa, Olympic water polo player, 1956 and 1960.
• Anthony Zuzzio, offensive lineman for the Detroit Lions.

Clergy

• Allen Wikgren, pastor and Bible scholar
• Richard B. Wilke, former pastor in Scandia, writer of the Disciple ministry series

Journalists

• J. C. Humphrey, founder of the Belleville Telescope newspaper

Medicine

• C. M. Arbuthnot, early physician and pharmacist in the county

Philanthropy

• Elizabeth A. Johnson, Kansas history advocate

Politicians

• Clay Aurand, member of Kansas Legislature
• Charles H. Blosser (1895—1989), namesake of Blosser Municipal Airport in Concordia, Kansas
• Edwin C. Johnson, Governor of Colorado
• William C. Perry, 34th Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court
• Isaac O. Savage, state senator in the Kansas legislature

Settlers

• Ransom Henry Gile, early settler in Scandia
• Thomas Lovewell, founded settlement of White Rock, namesake of Lovewell Reservoir

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Republic County, Kansas

Community information for Kansas

• Kansas locations by per capita income
• List of counties in Kansas
• List of cities in Kansas
• List of unincorporated communities in Kansas
• List of townships in Kansas
• List of ghost towns in Kansas

Education information for Kansas

• List of colleges and universities in Kansas
• List of high schools in Kansas
• List of unified school districts in Kansas

Historical information for Kansas

• List of museums in Kansas
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Kansas

Further reading

• History of the State of Kansas; William G. Cutler; A.T. Andreas Publisher; 1883. (Online HTML eBook)
• Kansas : A Cyclopedia of State History, Embracing Events, Institutions, Industries, Counties, Cities, Towns, Prominent Persons, Etc; 3 Volumes; Frank W. Blackmar; Standard Publishing Co; 944 / 955 / 824 pages; 1912. (Volume1 - Download 54MB PDF eBook),(Volume2 - Download 53MB PDF eBook), (Volume3 - Download 33MB PDF eBook)

External links

County

• Republic County - Official Website
• Republic County - Directory of Public Officials

Historical

• Cutler's History of Republic County, Kansas
• Republic County Historical Society Museum

Maps

• Republic County Maps: Current, Historic, KDOT
• Kansas Highway Maps: Current, Historic, KDOT
• Kansas Railroad Maps: Current, 1996, 1915, KDOT and Kansas Historical Society