Pratt County, Kansas

Pratt County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat and largest city is Pratt.<ref name="GR6">Template:Cite web</ref> As of the 2020 census, the county population was 9,157.<ref name="QF">Template:Cite web</ref> The county was named for Caleb Pratt, a U.S. soldier who died in the Battle of Wilson's Creek during the Civil War and who had previously been involved in Bleeding Kansas.

The county consists overwhelmingly of prairie and contains few watercourses; the most important of these is the Ninnescah River.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite book</ref>

Farming continues to be important to the county, which is among the state’s leading winter wheat producers.<ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref>

History

Pratt County was established in 1867. The county's first attempt at organization, termed the "fraudulent organization," occurred in 1873. A group from Hutchinson traveled through various counties, organizing them as they went. However, since there were no genuine settlers in Pratt County at the time, this organization required the submission of false statements to the governor. This fraudulent attempt was not recognized, and the Pratt County was legitimately organized in 1879.<ref name=":0" />

The county's first bona fide settler, A. J. Johnson, arrived in the fall of 1873 near Springvale in the southwest corner, where he cultivated the county's first crops. The county saw significant settlement in 1877, primarily from Iowa, and further in 1878 from all sections of the United States, keeping land office officials busy with pre-emption claims. Despite a prosperous period for crops in 1879 and 1880, many settlers departed in subsequent years, while others arrived in large numbers, especially in 1882. During the county's early years, owing to the scarcity of lumber, many constructed sod houses or dugouts.<ref name=":0" />

The special election of September 2, 1879, focused on the choice of a county seat, was disputed due to irregularities. After a lawsuit second election was scheduled for August 19, 1880. In the lead-up to that election, a proponent of Saratoga named W. F. Gibbons made a deal with W. H. Weidner from Medicine Lodge, agreeing to pay him $40 to bring about fifteen cowboys into Pratt County thirty days before the election to vote for Saratoga. Each cowboy was promised $5, free whisky, and a free dance at Saratoga on the night of the election. Weidner located the cowboys and provided Gibbons with a list of names as agreed, receiving $25 as part payment. However, due to a contract dispute, all the cowboys left Pratt County before the election, causing Saratoga to lose their intended votes. Iuka was ultimately declared the county seat with a significant majority.<ref name=":0" />

Efforts to relocate the county seat to Pratt commenced in 1885 and succeeded in 1888 over the objections of Saratoga. An 1888 blizzard killed over 80% of the county's cattle, causing widespread hardship.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" />

In 1887, the Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway extended its main line from Herington to Pratt.<ref name="Rock Island Rail History">Template:Cite web</ref> This main line connected Herington, Ramona, Tampa, Durham, Waldeck, Canton, Galva, McPherson, Groveland, Inman, Medora, Hutchinson, Whiteside, Partridge, Arlington, Langdon, Turon, Preston, Natrona and Pratt. In 1888, this main line was extended to Liberal. Later, this line was extended to Tucumcari, New Mexico and El Paso, Texas. This line is called the "Golden State Limited".

During World War II, Pratt Army Airfield trained, processed, and housed B-29s and their crews before they were sent to war.<ref name=":1" />

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 (0.09%) is water.<ref name="GR1">Template:Cite web</ref>

Adjacent counties

• Stafford County (north)
• Reno County (northeast)
• Kingman County (east)
• Barber County (south)
• Kiowa County (west)
• Edwards County (northwest)

Demographics

File:USA Pratt County, Kansas age pyramid.svg

Population pyramid based on 2000 census age data

As of the census<ref name="GR2">Template:Cite web</ref> of 2000, there were 9,647 people, 3,963 households, and 2,639 families residing in the county. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 4,633 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the county was 95.28% White, 0.98% Black or African American, 0.35% Native American, 0.55% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.73% from other races, and 1.07% from two or more races. 3.09% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,963 households, out of which 30.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.70% were married couples living together, 7.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.40% were non-families. 30.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.50% under the age of 18, 9.40% from 18 to 24, 24.00% from 25 to 44, 22.80% from 45 to 64, and 19.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 94.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,529, and the median income for a family was $43,156. Males had a median income of $31,138 versus $20,679 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,906. About 6.70% of families and 9.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.50% of those under age 18 and 8.90% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Laws

Following amendment to the Kansas Constitution in 1986, Pratt County remained a prohibition, or "dry", county until 2000, when voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with a 30 percent food sales requirement.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Education

Colleges

• Pratt Community College

Unified school districts

• Pratt USD 382
• Skyline USD 438

Communities

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

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

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

Cities

• Byers
• Coats
• Cullison
• Iuka
• Pratt (county seat)
• Preston
• Sawyer

Unincorporated communities

• Cairo
• Croft
• Hopewell
• Natrona

Townships

Pratt County is divided into seven townships. The city of Pratt 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
Township No. 6	71223		565	1 (4)	381 (147)	1 (0)	0.17%	Template:Coord
Township No. 7	71228		366	3 (7)	136 (52)	0 (0)	0.02%	Template:Coord
Township No. 8	71233		181	1 (2)	197 (76)	0 (0)	0%	Template:Coord
Township No. 9	71238		317	1 (2)	379 (146)	0 (0)	0.05%	Template:Coord
Township No. 10	71242		191	1 (3)	188 (73)	0 (0)	0.01%	Template:Coord
Township No. 11	71245		496	2 (5)	281 (109)	0 (0)	0.06%	Template:Coord
Township No. 12	71248		961	3 (8)	321 (124)	1 (0)	0.19%	Template:Coord

References

Notes

Further reading

• Standard Atlas of Pratt County, Kansas; Geo. A. Ogle & Co; 67 pages; 1922.
• Standard Atlas of Pratt County, Kansas; Geo. A. Ogle & Co; 54 pages; 1906.

External links

County

• Template:Official website
• Pratt County - Directory of Public Officials

Maps

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