Rice County, Kansas

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Rice County, Kansas
Map of Kansas highlighting Rice County
Location in the U.S. state of Kansas
Map of the United States highlighting Kansas
Kansas's location in the U.S.
Founded February 26, 1867
Named for Samuel Allen Rice
Seat Lyons
Largest city Lyons
Area
 • Total 728 sq mi (1,886 km2)
 • Land 726 sq mi (1,880 km2)
 • Water 1.7 sq mi (4 km2), 0.2%
Population
 • (2010) 10,083
 • Density 14/sq mi (5/km²)
Congressional district 1st
Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5
Website ricecounty.us

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Samuel Allen Rice in 1864
1845 Santa Fe Trail crossing Rice County

Rice County (standard abbreviation: RC) is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 10,083.[1] The largest city and county seat is Lyons.[2] The county was named in memory of Samuel Allen Rice, Brigadier-General, United States volunteers, killed April 30, 1864, at Jenkins Ferry, Arkansas.[3]

History

19th century

For millennia, the land now known as Kansas was inhabited by Native Americans. In 1803, most of modern Kansas was secured by the United States as part of the Louisiana Purchase. In 1854, the Kansas Territory was organized, then in 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state. In 1867, Rice County was founded.

The Santa Fe Trail followed the route of present day U.S. Route 56. Ruts in the earth from the trail are still visible in several locations. (Ralph's Ruts are visible in aerial photos at Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found..)[4]

In 1878, Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway and parties from Marion County and McPherson County chartered the Marion and McPherson Railway Company.[5] In 1879, a branch line was built from Florence to McPherson, in 1880 it was extended to Lyons, in 1881 it was extended to Ellinwood.[6] The line was leased and operated by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. The line from Florence to Marion, was abandoned in 1968.[7] In 1992, the line from Marion to McPherson was sold to Central Kansas Railway. In 1993, after heavy flood damage, the line from Marion to McPherson was abandoned. The original branch line connected Florence, Marion, Canada, Hillsboro, Lehigh, Canton, Galva, McPherson, Conway, Windom, Little River, Mitchell, Lyons, Chase, Ellinwood.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 728 square miles (1,890 km2), of which 726 square miles (1,880 km2) is land and 1.7 square miles (4.4 km2) (0.2%) is water.[8]

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1870 5
1880 9,292 185,740.0%
1890 14,451 55.5%
1900 14,745 2.0%
1910 15,106 2.4%
1920 14,832 −1.8%
1930 13,800 −7.0%
1940 17,213 24.7%
1950 15,635 −9.2%
1960 13,909 −11.0%
1970 12,320 −11.4%
1980 11,900 −3.4%
1990 10,610 −10.8%
2000 10,761 1.4%
2010 10,083 −6.3%
Est. 2014 10,015 [9] −0.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]
1790-1960[11] 1900-1990[12]
1990-2000[13] 2010-2013[1]

As of the census[14] of 2000, there were 10,761 people, 4,050 households, and 2,830 families residing in the county. The population density was 15 people per square mile (6/km²). There were 4,609 housing units at an average density of 6 per square mile (2/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 94.68% White, 1.15% Black or African American, 0.57% Native American, 0.33% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.84% from other races, and 1.39% from two or more races. 5.61% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,050 households out of which 31.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.10% were married couples living together, 7.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.10% were non-families. 27.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the county the population was spread out with 24.70% under the age of 18, 13.30% from 18 to 24, 22.80% from 25 to 44, 21.30% from 45 to 64, and 18.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 92.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,671, and the median income for a family was $40,960. Males had a median income of $31,175 versus $18,968 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,064. About 8.50% of families and 10.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.60% of those under age 18 and 8.20% of those age 65 or over.

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, Rice County has remained a prohibition, or "dry", county.[15]

Education

Unified school districts

Colleges and Universities

Communities

2005 KDOT Map of Rice County (map legend)

Cities

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Townships

Rice County is divided into twenty townships. The cities of Lyons and Sterling 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.

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
Atlanta 03075 233 3 (7) 90 (35) 0 (0) 0.25% Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Bell 05375 18 0 (0) 94 (36) 1 (0) 0.65% Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Center 12075 136 1 (4) 95 (37) 0 (0) 0.04% Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
East Washington 19725 179 2 (5) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0.03% Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Eureka 21900 65 1 (2) 95 (37) 0 (0) 0% Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Farmer 23100 441 5 (12) 94 (36) 0 (0) 0% Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Galt 25175 51 1 (1) 94 (36) 0 (0) 0.22% Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Harrison 30425 192 2 (5) 92 (35) 0 (0) 0.06% Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Lincoln 41100 577 6 (16) 95 (37) 0 (0) 0% Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Mitchell 47525 131 1 (4) 94 (36) 0 (0) 0.18% Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Odessa 52150 55 1 (2) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0.10% Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Pioneer 55925 101 1 (3) 94 (36) 0 (0) 0.03% Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Raymond 58575 185 2 (5) 92 (36) 1 (0) 0.71% Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Rockville 60725 134 1 (4) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0.04% Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Sterling 68225 223 2 (5) 114 (44) 1 (0) 1.01% Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Union 72325 741 8 (21) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0% Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Valley 73100 276 4 (9) 77 (30) 1 (0) 1.11% Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Victoria 73825 364 4 (10) 94 (36) 0 (0) 0.06% Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
West Washington 77425 138 1 (4) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0.12% Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Wilson 79775 147 2 (4) 94 (36) 0 (0) 0.02% Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

See also

Further reading

Rice County
Kansas
Trails

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  5. Marion County Kansas : Past and Present; Sondra Van Meter; MB Publishing House; LCCN 72-92041; 344 pages; 1972.
  6. Fourth Annual Report of the Board of Railroad Commissioners for the Year Ending December 1, 1886 in State of Kansas; Kansas Publishing House; 1886.
  7. Railway Abandonment 1968
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External links

Official
Maps