Editing Gray County, Kansas

{{short description|County in Kansas, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
|county             = Gray County
|state              = Kansas
|ex image           = Old Gray County Kansas courthouse from NE 1.JPG
|ex image size      = 220px
|ex image cap       = Former [[Old Gray County Courthouse|Gray County Courthouse]] in [[Cimarron, Kansas|Cimarron]] (2015)
|type               = [[County (United States)|County]]
|founded            = March 13, 1881
|named for          = [[Alfred Gray (Kansas politician)|Alfred Gray]]
|seat wl            = Cimarron
|largest city wl    = Cimarron
|area_total_sq_mi   = 869
|area_land_sq_mi    = 869
|area_water_sq_mi   = 0.4
|area percentage    = 0.05%

|population_footnotes = <ref name="QF"/>
|population_as_of   = 2020
|population_total   = 5653
|pop_est_footnotes  =
|pop_est_as_of      =
|population_est     =
|population_density_sq_mi = 6.5

|district           = 1st
|time zone          = Central
|website            = {{URL|http://www.grayco.org/|GrayCo.org}}
}}

'''Gray County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Kansas]].  Its [[county seat]] and most populous city is [[Cimarron, Kansas|Cimarron]].<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 5,653.<ref name="QF">{{cite web |title=QuickFacts; Gray County, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/graycountykansas/POP010220 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=August 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210816073306/https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/graycountykansas/POP010220 |archive-date=August 16, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref>  The county was named after [[Alfred Gray (Kansas politician)|Alfred Gray]], a 19th century Kansas politician.

==History==
{{See also|History of Kansas}}
For [[millennia]], the [[Great Plains]] of [[North America]] were inhabited by [[nomadic]] [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]].

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

Gray County was founded in 1881 and named for [[Alfred Gray (Kansas politician)|Alfred Gray]].<ref>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ | title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States | publisher=Govt. Print. Off. | author=Gannett, Henry | year=1905 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n141 142]}}</ref> Between 1887 and 1893, a [[Gray County War|county seat war]] took place in Gray County that involved several notable [[American frontier|Old West]] figures, such as [[Bat Masterson]], [[Bill Tilghman]], and [[Ben Daniels (pioneer)|Ben Daniels]]. As a result of the dispute, Cimarron became the permanent county seat of Gray County.<ref name="wordpress.com">{{Cite web| title=Feudin' and Fightin' Friday: County Seat Wars – Diggin' History| url=http://historydepot.wordpress.com/2014/03/28/feudin-and-fightin-friday-county-seat-wars/| access-date=April 6, 2014| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407153015/http://historydepot.wordpress.com/2014/03/28/feudin-and-fightin-friday-county-seat-wars/| archive-date=April 7, 2014| url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Geography ==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|869|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|869|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|0.4|sqmi}} (0.05%) 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>

Since 2001, [[NextEra Energy Resources]] has operated the largest wind farm in Kansas—170 turbines with a generating capacity of 110 megawatts—on a {{convert|12000|acre|km2|adj=on}} site near [[Montezuma, Kansas|Montezuma]].<ref>{{Cite web| url=http://www.aquilaenergyresources.com/aer/renewable/graycounty.shtml| title=Gray County Wind Farm| publisher=Aquila, Inc| access-date=June 2, 2007| archive-date=June 13, 2007| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070613040304/http://www.aquilaenergyresources.com/aer/renewable/graycounty.shtml| url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Adjacent counties ===
* [[Finney County, Kansas|Finney County]] (north)
* [[Hodgeman County, Kansas|Hodgeman County]] (northeast)
* [[Ford County, Kansas|Ford County]] (east)
* [[Meade County, Kansas|Meade County]] (south)
* [[Haskell County, Kansas|Haskell County]] (west)

== Demographics ==
[[File:USA Gray County, Kansas age pyramid.svg|thumb|175px|left|[[Population pyramid]] based on 2000 census age data]]
{{US Census population
|1890= 2415
|1900= 1264
|1910= 3121
|1920= 4711
|1930= 6211
|1940= 4773
|1950= 4894
|1960= 4380
|1970= 4516
|1980= 5138
|1990= 5396
|2000= 5904
|2010= 6006
|2020= 5653
|estyear=2023
|estimate=5743
|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 5,904 people, 2,045 households, and 1,556 families residing in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|7|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 2,181 housing units at an average density of {{convert|2|/mi2|/km2|}}. The [[Race (United States Census)|racial makeup]] of the county was 92.31% [[White American|White]], 0.46% [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]], 0.19% [[Black American|Black]] or [[African American]], 0.10% [[Asian American|Asian]], 0.07% [[Pacific Islander American|Pacific Islander]], 5.42% from other races, and 1.46% from [[Multiracial|two or more races]]. [[Hispanic]] or [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Latino]] of any race were 9.81% of the population.

There were 2,045 [[household]]s, out of which 42.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.70% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 5.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.90% were non-families. 21.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.82 and the average family size was 3.31.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 31.60% under the age of 18, 8.30% from 18 to 24, 27.30% from 25 to 44, 20.20% from 45 to 64, and 12.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 100.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.20 males.

The [[Median household income|median income for a household]] in the county was $40,000, and the median income for a family was $45,299. Males had a median income of $31,519 versus $21,563 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $18,632. About 6.50% of families and 9.10% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 11.80% of those under age 18 and 8.00% of those age 65 or over.

=== Religion ===
Gray County has by far the highest percentage of adherents of the [[Church of God in Christ, Mennonite]] in the US. There were 1,032 members of the Church in Gray County in 2010, which is 17.18% of the population. It is the largest Church in the county.<ref>[http://www.thearda.com/ql2010/QL_C_2010_2_1022c.asp Association of Religious Data Archives: Church of God in Christ, Mennonite Counties (2010)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190731072717/http://www.thearda.com/ql2010/QL_C_2010_2_1022c.asp |date=July 31, 2019 }} Retrieved May 2, 2015</ref>

== Government ==

=== Presidential elections ===
Gray County votes predominantly for Republican candidates in presidential elections. The last time a Democratic candidate carried this county was [[Jimmy Carter]] in [[1976 United States presidential election in Kansas|1976]].
{{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=Gray 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|1,837|324|32|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|1,911|341|36|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|1,698|263|105|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|1,603|324|31|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|1,643|436|40|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|1,816|408|21|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|1,631|482|47|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|1,457|404|176|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|1,039|443|691|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|1,180|696|41|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|1,580|514|32|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|1,310|583|164|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|837|1,111|41|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|1,235|511|40|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|952|612|159|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|643|1,136|14|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|1,150|744|5|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|1,278|627|9|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|1,515|537|9|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|1,035|869|24|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|1,057|775|22|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|1,056|962|18|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|764|1,459|2|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|910|1,348|59|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|1,294|606|18|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|959|463|194|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|962|507|78|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|660|889|158|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1912|Progressive|112|243|347|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|372|338|85|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|285|113|44|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|188|145|4|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1896|Republican|153|133|0|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1892|Republican|274|0|230|Kansas}}
{{PresFoot|1888|Republican|417|268|90|Kansas}}
}}<!-- End of Hidden template -->

=== Laws ===
Although the [[Kansas Constitution]] was amended in 1986 to allow the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with the approval of voters, Gray County has remained 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 ===
* [https://www.cimarronschools.net/ Cimarron–Ensign USD 102]
* [https://www.usd371.org/ Montezuma USD 371]
* [https://www.usd371.org/ Copeland USD 476]
* [https://www.ingallsusd477.com/ Ingalls USD 477]

== Communities ==
[[File:Map of Gray Co, Ks, USA.png|thumb|300px|2005 map of Gray 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 Gray County.<ref name="County-Map-Current">{{cite web |title=General Highway Map of Gray County, Kansas |url=https://www.ksdot.gov/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/burTransPlan/maps/county-pdf/gray.PDF |publisher=[[Kansas Department of Transportation]] (KDOT) |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231003054431/https://www.ksdot.gov/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/burTransPlan/maps/county-pdf/gray.PDF |archive-date=October 3, 2023 |date=December 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Cities and Towns ===
* [[Cimarron, Kansas|Cimarron]] (county seat)
* [[Copeland, Kansas|Copeland]]
* [[Ensign, Kansas|Ensign]]
* [[Ingalls, Kansas|Ingalls]]
* [[Montezuma, Kansas|Montezuma]]

=== Unincorporated communities ===
* [[Charleston, Kansas|Charleston]]
* [[Haggard, Kansas|Haggard]]

=== Townships ===
Gray County is divided into seven [[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
|-
| [[Cimarron Township, Gray County, Kansas|Cimarron]]|| 13300 || [[Cimarron, Kansas|Cimarron]] || 2,379 || 9 (24) || 254 (98) || 0 (0) || 0.03% || {{coord|37|48|22|N|100|20|52|W|}}
|-
| [[Copeland Township, Gray County, Kansas|Copeland]]|| 15500 || [[Copeland, Kansas|Copeland]] || 540 || 2 (6) || 233 (90) || 0 (0) || 0.15% || {{coord|37|33|57|N|100|37|14|W|}}
|-
| [[East Hess Township, Gray County, Kansas|East Hess]]|| 19525 || || 372 || 1 (3) || 281 (108) || 0 (0) || 0.03% || {{coord|37|37|45|N|100|15|39|W|}}
|-
| [[Foote Township, Gray County, Kansas|Foote]]|| 23675 || || 126 || 0 (1) || 310 (120) || 0 (0) || 0.02% || {{coord|37|55|44|N|100|20|46|W|}}
|-
| [[Ingalls Township, Gray County, Kansas|Ingalls]]|| 34250 || || 646 || 2 (5) || 349 (135) || 0 (0) || 0.03% || {{coord|37|47|43|N|100|30|23|W|}}
|-
| [[Logan Township, Gray County, Kansas|Logan]]|| 41900 || || 216 || 1 (2) || 309 (119) || 0 (0) || 0.04% || {{coord|37|55|20|N|100|33|52|W|}}
|-
| [[Montezuma Township, Gray County, Kansas|Montezuma]]|| 47900 || [[Montezuma, Kansas|Montezuma]] || 1,625 || 3 (8) || 514 (198) || 0 (0) || 0.07% || {{coord|37|35|56|N|100|26|11|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}}
* [[Dry counties]]
{{See also Kansas counties}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Further reading ==
{{Kansas books}}
{{See also|Santa Fe Trail#Further reading|l1=List of books about Santa Fe Trail}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Gray County, Kansas}}
;County
* {{Official website|http://www.grayco.org/|Gray County – Official}}
* [https://www.lkm.org/members/?id=41260435 Gray County – Directory of Public Officials]
;Other
* [http://kansastravel.org/graycountywindfarm.htm Gray County Wind Farm], largest wind farm in Kansas
;Maps
* Gray County Maps: [http://www.ksdot.org/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/burTransPlan/maps/county-pdf/gray.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    = Gray County, Kansas
|North     = [[Finney County, Kansas|Finney County]]
|Northeast = [[Hodgeman County, Kansas|Hodgeman County]]
|East      = [[Ford County, Kansas|Ford County]]
|Southeast = 
|South     = [[Meade County, Kansas|Meade County]]
|Southwest = 
|West      = [[Haskell County, Kansas|Haskell County]]
|Northwest = 
}}

{{Gray County, Kansas}}
{{Kansas}}
{{Authority control}}
{{coord|37|44|N|100|26|W|type:adm2nd_region:US-KS|display=title}}

[[Category:Gray County, Kansas| ]]
[[Category:Kansas counties]]
[[Category:1881 establishments in Kansas]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1881]]