Editing Elk County, Kansas

{{short description|County in Kansas, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
|county             = Elk County
|state              = Kansas
|type               = [[County (United States)|County]]
|ex image           = Elk County, KS Courthouse.jpg
|ex image cap       = Elk County Courthouse in [[Howard, Kansas|Howard]] (2023)
|founded            = March 25, 1875
|named for          = [[Elk River (Kansas)|Elk River]]
|seat wl            = Howard
|largest city wl    = Howard

|area_total_sq_mi   = 650
|area_land_sq_mi    = 644
|area_water_sq_mi   = 6.2
|area percentage    = 1.0%

|population_footnotes = <ref name="QF" />
|population_as_of   = 2020
|population_total   = 2483
|pop_est_footnotes  = <ref name=qf>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/jaycountyindiana/PST045223|title=Jay County, Indiana|website=Census.gov|access-date= }}</ref>
|pop_est_as_of      = 2024
|population_est     = 2436 {{decrease}}
|population_density_sq_mi = 3.8

|area codes         = [[Area code 620|620]]
|district           = 4th
|time zone          = Central
|website            = {{URL|https://www.elkcountyks.org/|elkcountyks.org}}
|coordinates        = {{coord|37|27|N|96|14|W|region:US-KS_type:adm2nd_source:GNIS|display=title}}
}}

'''Elk County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Kansas]].  Its [[county seat]] and most populous city is [[Howard, Kansas|Howard]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 }}</ref>  As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the county population was 2,483.<ref name="QF">{{cite web |title=QuickFacts; Elk County, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/elkcountykansas/POP010220 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=August 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210816061236/https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/elkcountykansas/POP010220 |archive-date=August 16, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref>  The county was named for the [[Elk River (Kansas)|Elk River]].

==History==
===Early history===
{{See also|History of Kansas}}
For many [[millennia]], the [[Great Plains]] of [[North America]] was inhabited by [[nomadic]] [[Native Americans in the United States|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 (1762)|Treaty of Fontainebleau]].

===19th century===
In 1802, Spain returned most of the land to France, but keeping title to about 7,500 square miles. In 1803, most of the land for [[History of Kansas|modern day Kansas]] was acquired by the United States from France as part of the 828,000 square mile [[Louisiana Purchase]] for 2.83 [[Penny (United States coin)|cents]] per [[acre]].

In 1854, after first serving as an area to relocate Native American tribes from the east, the United States organized [[Kansas Territory]]. In 1861, [[Kansas]] was admitted as the 34th [[U.S. state]]. The area that today is Elk County was, for a brief period, reserved to the [[Osage Indians]] as hunting grounds for buffalo and other game. In 1867, when Howard County was formed, it encompassed both present day Elk and [[Chautauqua County, Kansas|Chautauqua]] counties. Disputes over county seats caused a division.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://abandonedkansas.wordpress.com/2022/06/16/elk-county/ | title=Elk County | date=June 16, 2022 }}</ref> In 1875, '''Elk County''' was established, named for the [[Elk River (Kansas)|Elk River]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.kshs.org/geog/geog_counties/view/county:EK | title=Elk County, Kansas | publisher=Kansas Historical Society | access-date=March 20, 2014}}</ref>

The first railroad in Elk County was built in 1879.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_o8X5krq3fP8C | title=Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, Embracing Events, Institutions, Industries, Counties, Cities, Towns, Prominent Persons, Etc. | publisher=Standard Publishing Company | author=Blackmar, Frank Wilson | year=1912 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_o8X5krq3fP8C/page/n569 573]–574}}</ref> It connected cattle ranches and farms to eastern markets.

==Geography==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|650|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|644|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|6.2|sqmi}} (1.0%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref>

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Greenwood County, Kansas|Greenwood County]] (north)
* [[Wilson County, Kansas|Wilson County]] (east)
* [[Montgomery County, Kansas|Montgomery County]] (southeast)
* [[Chautauqua County, Kansas|Chautauqua County]] (south)
* [[Cowley County, Kansas|Cowley County]] (southwest)
* [[Butler County, Kansas|Butler County]] (northwest)

==Demographics==
[[Image:USA Elk County, Kansas age pyramid.svg|thumb|175px|left|[[Population pyramid]] based on 2000 census age data]]
{{US Census population
|1880= 10623
|1890= 12216
|1900= 11443
|1910= 10128
|1920= 9034
|1930= 9210
|1940= 8180
|1950= 6679
|1960= 5048
|1970= 3858
|1980= 3918
|1990= 3327
|2000= 3261
|2010= 2882
|2020= 2483
|estyear= 2024
|estimate= 2436
|estref=
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 24, 2014}}</ref><br />1790-1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=July 24, 2014}}</ref> 1900-1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/ks190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 24, 2014}}</ref><br />1990-2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 24, 2014}}</ref> 2010-2020<ref name="QF"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.html|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 3, 2024}}</ref>2024<ref name=qf/>
}}
 
As of the [[2000 United States Census|2000 census]],<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> there were 3,261 people, 1,412 households, and 923 families residing in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|5|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 1,860 housing units at an average density of {{convert|3|/mi2|/km2|}}. The [[Race (United States Census)|racial makeup]] of the county was 95.06% [[White American|White]], 0.21% [[Black American|Black]] or [[African American]], 0.95% [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]], 0.18% [[Asian American|Asian]], 0.06% [[Pacific Islander American|Pacific Islander]], 1.20% from other races, and 2.33% from [[Multiracial|two or more races]]. [[Hispanic]] or [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Latino]] of any race were 2.18% of the population.

There were 1,412 [[household]]s, out of which 24.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.00% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 6.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.60% were non-families. 32.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.84.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.50% under the age of 18, 5.80% from 18 to 24, 20.00% from 25 to 44, 26.50% from 45 to 64, and 25.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 91.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.70 males.

The [[Median household income|median income for a household]] in the county was $27,267, and the median income for a family was $34,148. Males had a median income of $28,580 versus $16,219 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $16,066. About 9.20% of families and 13.80% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 18.80% of those under age 18 and 15.00% of those age 65 or over.

==Government==

===Presidential elections===
As is the case in most Kansas counties outside the eastern cities, Elk County votes predominantly Republican; the last Democratic candidate to carry the county was [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] [[1932 United States presidential election|in]] the [[1932 United States presidential election in Kansas|1932 campaign]].

{{Hidden
|headercss  = background: #ccccff; font-size: 100%; width: 100%;
|contentcss = text-align: left; font-size: 100%; width: 100%;
|header     = Presidential election results
|content    =
{{PresHead|place=Elk County, Kansas|source=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title = Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|1,123|191|24|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|1,140|195|26|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|1,048|160|51|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|1,049|281|39|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|1,042|363|29|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|1,119|369|27|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|1,080|402|68|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|933|488|222|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|748|485|509|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|1,075|608|23|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|1,301|452|32|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|1,280|482|75|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|1,087|865|30|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|1,522|428|52|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|1,327|503|223|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1964|Republican|1,267|994|12|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|1,830|823|20|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|1,909|812|10|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|2,380|717|19|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|1,962|1,087|26|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|2,283|954|9|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|2,774|1,478|31|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1936|Republican|2,355|2,059|9|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|1,746|2,239|72|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|3,007|831|42|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|2,443|1,104|255|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|2,253|1,110|89|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|1,769|2,053|204|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|605|971|935|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|1,454|1,187|46|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|1,713|706|120|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|1,632|1,311|13|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|1,339|1,464|12|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1892|Populist|1,235|0|1,382|Kansas}}
{{PresFoot|1888|Republican|1,566|696|654|Kansas}}
}}<!-- End of Hidden template -->

===Laws===
The [[Kansas Constitution]] was amended in 1986 to allow the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink, with approval by voters. Elk County voters have chosen to remain a prohibition, or [[dry county|"dry"]], county.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ksrevenue.org/abcwetdrymap.htm |title=Map of Wet and Dry Counties |publisher=Alcoholic Beverage Control, Kansas Department of Revenue |date=November 2004 |access-date=January 21, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071008013617/http://www.ksrevenue.org/abcwetdrymap.htm |archive-date=October 8, 2007 }}</ref>

==Education==

===Unified school districts===
* [[West Elk USD 282]]
* [[Elk Valley USD 283]]<ref>[http://www.usd283.org/ Elk Valley USD 283]</ref>

==Communities==
[[Image:Map of Elk Co, Ks, USA.png|thumb|300px|2005 map of Elk County<ref name="County-Map-Current"/> ([[:File:Kansas official transportation map legend.png|map legend]])]]
List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Elk County.<ref name="County-Map-Current">{{cite web |title=General Highway Map of Elk County, Kansas |url=https://www.ksdot.gov/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/burTransPlan/maps/county-pdf/elk.PDF |publisher=[[Kansas Department of Transportation]] (KDOT) |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231114010354/https://www.ksdot.gov/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/burTransPlan/maps/county-pdf/elk.PDF |archive-date=November 14, 2023 |date=August 2007 |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Cities===
* [[Elk Falls, Kansas|Elk Falls]]
* [[Grenola, Kansas|Grenola]]
* [[Howard, Kansas|Howard]] (county seat)
* [[Longton, Kansas|Longton]]
* [[Moline, Kansas|Moline]]

===Unincorporated communities===
* [[Busby, Kansas|Busby]]
* [[Oak Valley, Kansas|Oak Valley]]

===Ghost towns===
* [[Cave Springs, Kansas|Cave Springs]]
* [[Fiat, Kansas|Fiat]]
* [[Upola, Kansas|Upola]]

===Townships===
Elk County is divided into ten [[Civil township|townships]]. None of the cities within the county is designated as ''governmentally independent''. All population 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.

{| class="toccolours" border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=4 style="text-align:center; border-collapse:collapse; font-size:90%;"
|- style="background:#ccccff"
! Township !! [[FIPS place code|FIPS]] !! Population<br/>center
! Population !! Population<br/>density<br/><small>/km<sup>2</sup> (/sq&nbsp;mi)</small>
! Land area<br/><small>km<sup>2</sup> (sq&nbsp;mi)</small> !! Water area<br/><small>km<sup>2</sup> (sq&nbsp;mi)</small> !! Water %
! Geographic coordinates
|-
| [[Elk Falls Township, Elk County, Kansas|Elk Falls]]|| 20325 || || 196 || 1 (3) || 152 (59) || 0 (0) || 0.19% || {{coord|37|22|17|N|96|12|26|W|}}
|-
| [[Greenfield Township, Elk County, Kansas|Greenfield]]|| 28550 || || 321 || 2 (5) || 171 (66) || 1 (0) || 0.62% || {{coord|37|21|8|N|96|27|5|W|}}
|-
| [[Howard Township, Elk County, Kansas|Howard]]|| 33275 || [[Howard, Kansas|Howard]] || 1,006 || 6 (16) || 166 (64) || 1 (1) || 0.86% || {{coord|37|28|3|N|96|15|14|W|}}
|-
| [[Liberty Township, Elk County, Kansas|Liberty]]|| 40025 || || 117 || 1 (2) || 154 (59) || 0 (0) || 0.19% || {{coord|37|34|22|N|96|1|55|W|}}
|-
| [[Longton Township, Elk County, Kansas|Longton]]|| 42675 || || 530 || 5 (12) || 116 (45) || 0 (0) || 0.11% || {{coord|37|22|38|N|96|5|27|W|}}
|-
| [[Oak Valley Township, Elk County, Kansas|Oak Valley]]|| 51950 || || 154 || 1 (3) || 116 (45) || 0 (0) || 0.24% || {{coord|37|21|59|N|96|1|14|W|}}
|-
| [[Painterhood Township, Elk County, Kansas|Painterhood]]|| 54075 || || 68 || 0 (1) || 154 (59) || 1 (0) || 0.37% || {{coord|37|27|35|N|96|2|37|W|}}
|-
| [[Paw Paw Township, Elk County, Kansas|Paw Paw]]|| 54925 || || 116 || 1 (2) || 141 (54) || 0 (0) || 0.24% || {{coord|37|33|19|N|96|13|46|W|}}
|-
| [[Union Center Township, Elk County, Kansas|Union Center]]|| 72500 || || 116 || 0 (1) || 371 (143) || 2 (1) || 0.46% || {{coord|37|31|44|N|96|23|31|W|}}
|-
| [[Wild Cat Township, Elk County, Kansas|Wildcat]]|| 79150 || || 637 || 5 (12) || 135 (52) || 2 (1) || 1.35% || {{coord|37|21|33|N|96|19|10|W|}}
|-
|colspan=9|Sources: {{Cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/places2k.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020802223743/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/places2k.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 2, 2002 |title=Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, Geography Division }}
|}

==See also==
{{Portal|Kansas}}
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Kansas#Elk County|National Register of Historic Places listings in Elk County, Kansas]]
{{See also Kansas counties}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
{{Kansas books}}
* ''Elk County, Kansas''; H. F. Smith; 1927.
* [https://www.kansasmemory.org/item/225066/ ''Handbook of Elk and Chautauqua Counties, Kansas'']; C.S. Burch Publishing Co; 24 pages; 1886.
* ''Elk County Rural Landowners Plat Map''; 1927.
* [https://www.kansasmemory.org/item/209401/ ''Standard Atlas of Elk County, Kansas'']; George A. Ogle & Co; 43 pages; 1903.
* [https://www.kansasmemory.org/item/223994/ ''Atlas of Elk County'']; Davy Map & Atlas Co; 45 pages; 1885.

==External links==
{{Commons category|Elk County, Kansas}}
;County
* {{Official website|https://www.elkcountyks.org/|Elk County - Official}}
* [https://www.lkm.org/members/?id=41260425 Elk County - Directory of Public Officials]
;Maps
* Elk County Maps: [https://www.ksdot.org/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/burTransPlan/maps/county-pdf/elk.PDF Current], [https://www.ksdot.org/bureaus/burtransplan/maps/PastPublishedCounty.asp Historic], KDOT
* Kansas Highway Maps: [https://www.ksdot.org/burtransplan/maps/MapsState.asp Current], [https://www.ksdot.org/burtransplan/maps/HistoricStateMaps.asp Historic], KDOT
* Kansas Railroad Maps: [https://www.ksdot.org/BurTransPlan/maps/RRStateMap.asp Current], [https://www.kansasmemory.org/item/227379 1996], [https://www.kansasmemory.org/item/227380 1915], KDOT and Kansas Historical Society

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Elk County, Kansas
|North     = [[Greenwood County, Kansas|Greenwood County]]
|Northeast = [[Wilson County, Kansas|Wilson County]]
|East      = 
|Southeast = [[Montgomery County, Kansas|Montgomery County]]
|South     = [[Chautauqua County, Kansas|Chautauqua County]]
|Southwest = [[Cowley County, Kansas|Cowley County]]
|West      = 
|Northwest = [[Butler County, Kansas|Butler County]]
}}

{{Elk County, Kansas}}
{{Kansas}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Elk County, Kansas| ]]
[[Category:Kansas counties]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1875]]
[[Category:1875 establishments in Kansas]]