Editing Graham County, Kansas

{{short description|County in Kansas, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
|county              = Graham County
|state               = Kansas
| ex image           = Antelope Lake Park (Graham Co, KS) N shelter 1.JPG
| ex image size      = 220px
| ex image cap       = [[National Register of Historic Places in Graham County, Kansas|Antelope Lake Park]] near [[Morland, Kansas|Morland]] (2014)
|type                = [[County (United States)|County]]
|founded             = February 26, 1887
|named for           = John L. Graham
|seat wl             = Hill City
|largest city wl     = Hill City
|area_total_sq_mi    = 899
|area_land_sq_mi     = 899
|area_water_sq_mi    = 0.2
|area percentage     = 0.03%

|population_footnotes = <ref name="QF"/>
|population_as_of    = 2020
|population_total    = 2415
|pop_est_footnotes   =
|pop_est_as_of       =
|population_est      =
|population_density_sq_mi = 2.7

|district            = 1st
|time zone           = Central
|website             = {{URL|https://www.grahamcountyks.com/|grahamcountyks.com}}
}}

'''Graham County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Kansas]].  Its [[county seat]] and most populous city is [[Hill City, Kansas|Hill City]].<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 2,415.<ref name="QF">{{cite web |title=QuickFacts; Graham County, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/grahamcountykansas/POP010220 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=August 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210816072106/https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/grahamcountykansas/POP010220 |archive-date=August 16, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref>  The county was named for John Graham, a captain in the [[American Civil War|Civil War]] who died during the [[Battle of Chickamauga]].  The county is home to [[Nicodemus, Kansas|Nicodemus]], founded in 1877, which is the only remaining western town established by [[African American]]s during the [[Reconstruction era|Reconstruction period]] following the Civil War.

==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, the [[Kansas Territory]] was organized, then in 1861 [[Kansas]] became the 34th [[U.S. state]]. Graham County was organized in 1880.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=o8X5krq3fP8C&pg=PA771 | 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=771| isbn=9780722249055 }}</ref>  In 1887, '''Graham County''' was established and named for Captain John L. Graham,<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9V1IAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA140 | title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States | publisher=Govt. Print. Off. | author=Gannett, Henry | year=1905 | pages=140}}</ref> a Union soldier killed in action at the [[Battle of Chickamauga]] in [[Tennessee]] on September 19, 1863.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Graham County, Kansas - Kansapedia - Kansas Historical Society |url=https://www.kansashistory.gov/kansapedia/graham-county-kansas/15288 |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=Kansas Historical Society}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|899|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|899|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|0.2|sqmi}} (0.03%) 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>

Graham County roughly contains 3600 quarter sections, and is the fourth county east of [[Colorado]] line and the second county south of the [[Nebraska]] line. The [[100th meridian west]] passes nearly through its center. The average elevation in the county is {{convert|2700|ft|m}} above sea level.
It is intersected by the south fork of [[Solomon River]], and drained by [[Saline River (Kansas)|Saline River]].<ref name=ac>{{Cite AmCyc|wstitle=Graham|display=Graham. II. A N. W. unsettled county of Kansas}}</ref>

===Adjacent counties===
{{div col}}
* [[Norton County, Kansas|Norton County]] (north)
* [[Phillips County, Kansas|Phillips County]] (northeast)
* [[Rooks County, Kansas|Rooks County]] (east)
* [[Ellis County, Kansas|Ellis County]] (southeast)
* [[Trego County, Kansas|Trego County]] (south)
* [[Gove County, Kansas|Gove County]] (southwest)
* [[Sheridan County, Kansas|Sheridan County]] (west)
* [[Decatur County, Kansas|Decatur County]] (northwest)
{{div col end}}

===National protected area===
* [[Nicodemus National Historic Site]]

==Demographics==
[[Image:USA Graham County, Kansas age pyramid.svg|thumb|175px|left|[[Population pyramid]] based on 2000 census age data]]
{{US Census population
|1880= 4258
|1890= 5029
|1900= 5173
|1910= 8700
|1920= 7624
|1930= 7772
|1940= 6071
|1950= 5020
|1960= 5586
|1970= 4751
|1980= 3995
|1990= 3543
|2000= 2946
|2010= 2597
|2020= 2415
|estyear=2023
|estimate=2376
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2023">{{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>
|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"/>
}}

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 2,946 people, 1,263 households, and 847 families residing in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|3|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 1,553 housing units at an average density of {{convert|2|/mi2|/km2|}}. The [[Race (United States Census)|racial makeup]] of the county was 94.91% [[White American|White]], 3.22% [[Black American|Black]] or [[African American]], 0.34% [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]], 0.27% [[Asian American|Asian]], 0.03% [[Pacific Islander American|Pacific Islander]], 0.41% from other races, and 0.81% from [[Multiracial|two or more races]]. [[Hispanic]] or [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Latino]] of any race were 0.78% of the population.

There were 1,263 [[household]]s, out of which 27.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.50% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 5.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.90% were non-families. 30.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.84.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.50% under the age of 18, 5.30% from 18 to 24, 23.10% from 25 to 44, 25.40% from 45 to 64, and 23.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 95.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.20 males.

The [[Median household income|median income for a household]] in the county was $31,286, and the median income for a family was $38,036. Males had a median income of $26,642 versus $18,222 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $18,050. About 8.60% of families and 11.50% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 13.60% of those under age 18 and 10.40% of those age 65 or over.

==Government==

===Presidential elections===
{{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=Graham 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|1,055|210|22|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|1,080|228|29|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|1,025|188|71|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|1,056|256|28|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|1,060|325|38|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|1,082|334|24|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|1,058|346|70|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|1,031|432|163|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|752|554|606|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|1,139|702|27|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|1,423|480|20|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|1,450|473|122|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|1,112|936|40|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|1,440|488|36|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|1,308|597|249|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1964|Republican|1,194|1,193|21|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|1,572|918|7|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|1,676|725|11|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|1,859|686|15|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|1,380|913|35|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|1,651|814|17|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|1,804|1,135|20|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|1,462|1,734|6|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|1,284|2,082|98|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|1,832|1,087|51|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|1,631|629|773|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|1,658|762|168|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|1,150|1,801|277|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|327|636|650|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|911|723|110|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|921|244|258|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1900|Democratic|561|694|19|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|343|648|8|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1892|Populist|436|0|546|Kansas}}
{{PresFoot|1888|Republican|797|342|476|Kansas}}
}}<!-- End of Hidden template -->

===Laws===
Following amendment to the [[Kansas Constitution]] in 1986, Graham County remained a prohibition, or [[dry county|"dry"]], county until 1992, when voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink without a food sales requirement.<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 2006 |access-date=December 28, 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===
* [[Graham County USD 281]]

==Communities==
[[Image:Map of Graham Co, Ks, USA.png|thumb|300px|2005 map of Graham 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 Graham County.<ref name="County-Map-Current">{{cite web |title=General Highway Map of Graham County, Kansas |url=https://www.ksdot.gov/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/burTransPlan/maps/county-pdf/graham.PDF |publisher=[[Kansas Department of Transportation]] (KDOT) |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231003051123/https://www.ksdot.gov/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/burTransPlan/maps/county-pdf/graham.PDF |archive-date=October 3, 2023 |date=May 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Cities===
{{div col}}
* [[Bogue, Kansas|Bogue]]
* [[Hill City, Kansas|Hill City]] (county seat)
* [[Morland, Kansas|Morland]]
{{div col end}}

===Unincorporated communities===
† means a community is designated a [[Census-designated place|Census-Designated Place]] (CDP) by the [[United States Census Bureau]].
{{div col}}
* [[Nicodemus, Kansas|Nicodemus]]†
* [[Penokee, Kansas|Penokee]]
* [[St. Peter, Kansas|St. Peter]]
{{div col end}}

===Ghost towns===
{{div col}}
* [[Fargo, Kansas|Fargo]]
* [[Happy, Kansas|Happy]]
* [[Houston, Kansas|Houston]]
* [[Kebar, Kansas|Kebar]]
* [[Millbrook, Kansas|Millbrook]]
* [[Olean, Kansas|Olean]]
* [[Roscoe, Kansas|Roscoe]]
* [[Togo, Kansas|Togo]]
* [[Turnerville, Kansas|Turnerville]]
* [[Whitfield, Kansas|Whitfield]]
* [[Wild Horse, Kansas|Wild Horse]]
{{div col end}}

===Townships===
Graham County is divided into thirteen [[Civil township|townships]]. None of the cities within the county are considered ''governmentally independent'', and all 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
|-
| [[Allodium Township, Graham County, Kansas|Allodium]]|| 01325 || || 46 || 0 (1) || 175 (67) || 0 (0) || 0.06% || {{coord|39|29|23|N|100|4|42|W|}}
|-
| [[Bryant Township, Graham County, Kansas|Bryant]]|| 08850 || || 115 || 0 (1) || 233 (90) || 0 (0) || 0.04% || {{coord|39|11|22|N|100|5|7|W|}}
|-
| [[Gettysburg Township, Graham County, Kansas|Gettysburg]]|| 26175 || || 83 || 0 (1) || 227 (88) || 0 (0) || 0.04% || {{coord|39|23|11|N|100|1|50|W|}}
|-
| [[Graham Township, Graham County, Kansas|Graham]]|| 27175 || || 53 || 0 (1) || 186 (72) || 0 (0) || 0.02% || {{coord|39|31|3|N|99|47|51|W|}}
|-
| [[Happy Township, Graham County, Kansas|Happy]]|| 29950 || || 72 || 0 (1) || 233 (90) || 0 (0) || 0.05% || {{coord|39|12|17|N|99|53|7|W|}}
|-
| [[Hill City Township, Graham County, Kansas|Hill City]]|| 32200 || [[Hill City, Kansas|Hill City]] || 1,747 || 16 (41) || 112 (43) || 0 (0) || 0.15% || {{coord|39|22|17|N|99|50|29|W|}}
|-
| [[Indiana Township, Graham County, Kansas|Indiana]]|| 34000 || || 42 || 0 (1) || 174 (67) || 0 (0) || 0.01% || {{coord|39|29|28|N|99|57|59|W|}}
|-
| [[Millbrook Township, Graham County, Kansas|Millbrook]]|| 46625 || || 150 || 1 (2) || 159 (62) || 0 (0) || 0.04% || {{coord|39|19|1|N|99|55|2|W|}}
|-
| [[Morlan Township, Graham County, Kansas|Morland]]|| 48250 || || 68 || 0 (1) || 286 (111) || 0 (0) || 0.05% || {{coord|39|13|46|N|99|41|15|W|}}
|-
| [[Nicodemus Township, Graham County, Kansas|Nicodemus]]|| 50575 || || 52 || 1 (2) || 84 (32) || 0 (0) || 0.03% || {{coord|39|24|40|N|99|38|55|W|}}
|-
| [[Pioneer Township, Graham County, Kansas|Pioneer]]|| 55900 || || 57 || 0 (1) || 161 (62) || 0 (0) || 0.02% || {{coord|39|31|1|N|99|40|2|W|}}
|-
| [[Solomon Township, Graham County, Kansas|Solomon]]|| 66300 || [[Morland, Kansas|Morland]] || 209 || 1 (3) || 159 (61) || 0 (0) || 0.01% || {{coord|39|18|57|N|100|4|44|W|}}
|-
| [[Wildhorse Township, Graham County, Kansas|Wildhorse]]|| 79225 || [[Bogue, Kansas|Bogue]] || 252 || 2 (5) || 137 (53) || 0 (0) || 0.06% || {{coord|39|20|45|N|99|40|13|W|}}
|-
|colspan=9|Sources: {{Cite web| url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/places2k.html| title=Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, Geography Division| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020802223743/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/places2k.html| archive-date=August 2, 2002}}
|}

==In art==
Noted regional artist [[Birger Sandzén]] frequently painted landscapes in Graham County, where his wife's parents moved in 1906.<ref name = North24-27>North, 24-27</ref> Examples include ''Still Water'' currently profiled in the collection at Kansas State University's [[Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art]] which depicts [[Wild Horse Creek (Kansas)|Wild Horse Creek]] in the county.<ref name = North24-27/>

==See also==
{{Portal|Kansas}}
* [[USS Graham County (LST-1176)|USS ''Graham County'' (LST-1176)]]
{{See also Kansas counties}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}
;Notes
{{Notelist}}

==Further reading==
{{Kansas books}}
* {{cite book| last = North| first = Bill| title = ...to build up a rich collection...:Selected Works From the Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art| year = 2003| publisher = [[Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art]]| isbn = 1-890751-11-1}}; 156 pages; 2003.
* [http://www.kansasmemory.org/item/209425/ ''Standard Atlas of Graham County, Kansas'']; Geo. A. Ogle & Co; 61 pages; 1906.

==External links==
{{Commons category|Graham County, Kansas}}
;County
* {{Official website|https://www.grahamcountyks.com/|Graham County - Official Website}}
* [https://www.lkm.org/members/?id=41260433 Graham County - Directory of Public Officials]
;Historical
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20161027153737/http://grahamhistorical.ruraltel.net/ Graham County Historical Society]
;Maps
* Graham County Maps: [http://www.ksdot.org/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/burTransPlan/maps/county-pdf/graham.PDF Current], [http://www.ksdot.org/bureaus/burtransplan/maps/PastPublishedCounty.asp Historic], KDOT
* Kansas Highway Maps: [http://www.ksdot.org/burtransplan/maps/MapsState.asp Current], [http://www.ksdot.org/burtransplan/maps/HistoricStateMaps.asp Historic], KDOT
* Kansas Railroad Maps: [http://www.ksdot.org/BurTransPlan/maps/RRStateMap.asp Current], [http://www.kansasmemory.org/item/227379 1996], [http://www.kansasmemory.org/item/227380 1915], KDOT and Kansas Historical Society

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Graham County, Kansas
|North     = [[Norton County, Kansas|Norton County]]
|Northeast = [[Phillips County, Kansas|Phillips County]]
|East      = [[Rooks County, Kansas|Rooks County]]
|Southeast = 
|South     = [[Trego County, Kansas|Trego County]]
|Southwest = [[Gove County, Kansas|Gove County]]
|West      = [[Sheridan County, Kansas|Sheridan County]]
|Northwest = 
}}

{{Graham County, Kansas}}
{{Kansas}}
{{Authority control}}
{{coord|39|21|N|99|53|W|type:adm2nd_region:US-KS|display=title}}

[[Category:Graham County, Kansas| ]]
[[Category:Kansas counties]]
[[Category:1887 establishments in Kansas]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1887]]