Harvey County, Kansas

Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox U.S. county

Harvey County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat and most populous city is Newton.<ref name="GR6">Template:Cite web</ref> As of the 2020 census, the county population was 34,024.<ref name="QF">Template:Cite web</ref> The county was named for James Harvey, a U.S. senator and the fifth governor of Kansas.

History

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In 1854, the Kansas Territory was organized, then in 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state.

In 1871, the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway extended a main line from Emporia to Newton.<ref name="Santa Fe Rail History">Santa Fe Rail History</ref> The next year, in 1872, Harvey County was founded from portions of McPherson, Marion, and Sedgwick counties, and named in honor of the fifth Governor of Kansas, James M. Harvey, with Newton designated the county seat.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref name=":0">Template:Cite book</ref>

The first settlers arrived in 1869, and by 1871, there was already significant pressure to organize a new county in what was then the northern portion of Sedgwick County, an effort which succeeded in 1872. The early years of Harvey County's government were dogged by persistent public discontent over missing records and financial irregularities, but by the mid-1870s confidence in the county's government was restored and the county grew rapidly, particularly with the arrival of large numbers of Mennonite settlers in 1872.<ref name=":0" />

The county developed quickly, with churches, schools, and businesses established within a few years of its founding. Despite early hardship from prairie fires, storms, and the devastating grasshopper plague of 1874, Harvey County rebounded with strong agricultural output and infrastructure improvements. The county's abundant water resources, fertile farmland, and natural materials like gypsum and limestone further strengthened its economy. By 1910, Harvey County had a population of 19,200 and no public debt, a rare achievement among Kansas counties at that time.<ref name=":0" />

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert (0.2%) is water.<ref name="GR1">Template:Cite web</ref> The Little Arkansas River flows through the county.

Adjacent counties

Marion County (northeast)
Butler County (east)
Sedgwick County (south)
Reno County (west)
McPherson County (northwest)

Demographics

File:USA Harvey County, Kansas age pyramid.svg

Population pyramid based on 2000 census age data

Template:US Census population Harvey County is part of the Wichita metropolitan area.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census,<ref name="GR2">Template:Cite web</ref> there were 32,869 people, 12,581 households, and 8,932 families residing in the county. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 13,378 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the county was 91.04% White, 1.59% Black or African American, 0.52% Native American, 0.52% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 4.17% from other races, and 2.14% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.97% of the population.

There were 12,581 households, out of which 32.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.20% were married couples living together, 7.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.00% were non-families. 25.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.60% 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 3.00.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.00% under the age of 18, 9.10% from 18 to 24, 26.50% from 25 to 44, 21.60% from 45 to 64, and 16.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $40,907, and the median income for a family was $48,793. Males had a median income of $35,037 versus $22,492 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,715. About 4.20% of families and 6.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.50% of those under age 18 and 5.00% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Presidential elections

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Laws

Following amendment to the Kansas Constitution in 1986, the county remained a prohibition, or "dry", county until 1996, when voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with a 30% food sales requirement.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The county voted "No" on the 2022 Kansas abortion referendum, an anti-abortion ballot measure, by 53% to 47% despite backing Donald Trump with 59% of the vote to Joe Biden's 39% in the 2020 presidential election.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Education

Colleges

Bethel College in North Newton
Hesston College in Hesston

Unified school districts

School district office in neighboring county

Communities

File:Map of Harvey Co, Ks, USA.png

2005 map of Harvey County<ref name="County-Map-Current"/> (map legend)

List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Harvey County.<ref name="County-Map-Current">Template:Cite web</ref>

Cities

‡ means a community has portions in an adjacent county. Template:Div col

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Unincorporated communities

Ghost towns

Annelly
Van Arsdale

Townships

File:Stouffer's Railroad Map of Kansas 1915-1918 Harvey County.png

1915 railroad map

Harvey County is divided into fifteen townships. The cities of Halstead and Newton 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.

Township	FIPS	Population	Population density /km² (/sq mi)	Land area km² (sq mi)	Water area km² (sq mi)	Water %	Geographic coordinates
Alta	01500	221	2 (6)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.48%	Template:Coord
Burrton	09600	1,143	12 (32)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.17%	Template:Coord
Darlington	17025	601	7 (17)	92 (35)	0 (0)	0.10%	Template:Coord
Emma	21025	4,181	45 (116)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0%	Template:Coord
Garden	25300	294	3 (8)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0%	Template:Coord
Halstead	29625	353	4 (10)	92 (35)	0 (0)	0.07%	Template:Coord
Highland	31875	415	5 (12)	92 (35)	0 (0)	0.19%	Template:Coord
Lake	37825	173	2 (5)	92 (36)	1 (0)	1.05%	Template:Coord
Lakin	38150	357	4 (10)	92 (35)	0 (0)	0.06%	Template:Coord
Macon	43925	1,056	11 (30)	92 (36)	0 (0)	0%	Template:Coord
Newton	50500	1,950	28 (73)	69 (27)	0 (0)	0.07%	Template:Coord
Pleasant	56250	439	5 (12)	93 (36)	1 (0)	0.81%	Template:Coord
Richland	59350	360	4 (10)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0.20%	Template:Coord
Sedgwick	63825	1,711	18 (48)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0%	Template:Coord
Walton	75225	552	6 (15)	95 (37)	0 (0)	0.06%	Template:Coord
Sources: Template:Cite web

References

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Notes

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External links

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County

Historical

Maps

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

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