Editing Hamilton County, Kansas

{{short description|County in Kansas, United States}}
{{Distinguish|Hamilton, Kansas}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
|county             = Hamilton County
|state              = Kansas
|type               = [[County (United States)|County]]
|ex image           = Hamilton County Courthouse (Kansas) from SW.JPG
|ex image cap       = Hamilton County Courthouse in [[Syracuse, Kansas|Syracuse]] (2010)
|founded            = March 20, 1873
|named for          = [[Alexander Hamilton]]
|seat wl            = Syracuse
|largest city wl    = Syracuse
|area_total_sq_mi   = 998
|area_land_sq_mi    = 997
|area_water_sq_mi   = 1.1
|area percentage    = 0.1%

|population_footnotes = <ref name="QF"/>
|population_as_of   = 2020
|population_total   = 2518
|pop_est_footnotes  =
|pop_est_as_of      =
|population_est     =
|population_density_sq_mi = 2.5

|district           = 1st
|time zone          = Mountain
|website            = {{URL|https://hamiltoncountyks.org/|hamiltoncountyks.org}}
}}

'''Hamilton County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Kansas]].  Its [[county seat]] and most populous city is [[Syracuse, Kansas|Syracuse]].<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}}</ref>  As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the county population was 2,518.<ref name="QF">{{cite web |title=QuickFacts; Hamilton County, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/hamiltoncountykansas/POP010220 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=August 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210817022841/https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/hamiltoncountykansas/POP010220 |archive-date=August 17, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref>  The county was founded in 1873 and named for [[Alexander Hamilton]], a founding father of the United States.<ref name=":0">{{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/n799 803]}}</ref>

==History==
{{See also|History of Kansas}}In 1873, '''Hamilton County''' was established and named for [[Alexander Hamilton]], though its boundaries were later expanded in 1883 to include parts of present-day Grant, Kearny, and Stanton counties. In 1887 the original boundaries were restored. Many early American exploring expeditions, including those led by [[Zebulon Pike]] in 1806 and Stephen Long in 1820, passed through the county. [[Fort Aubrey]], established in 1865 near what would become Mayline, briefly served as a military post. The first permanent settlement came in 1872 when a colony from [[Syracuse, New York]], selected land in the county, though their attempt to rename the county to Onondaga was unsuccessful.<ref name=":0" />

By early 1886, the county's population had grown enough to seek formal organization. A petition signed by 250 citizens led Governor [[John Martin (Governor of Kansas)|John A. Martin]] to authorize a census, which confirmed 1,893 residents. On January 29, 1886, Hamilton County was officially organized, initially encompassing Stanton and parts of Kearny and Grant counties. Kendall was named the temporary county seat, but a battle for the permanent designation ensued between Kendall and Syracuse. Allegations of election fraud led to a Supreme Court ruling invalidating Syracuse's initial victory, but a second vote in November 1886 confirmed Syracuse as the county seat.<ref name=":0" />

The dispute continued for several years, with two rival sets of county officials and divided records until the Kansas Supreme Court finally ruled in favor of Syracuse. The arrival of the [[Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway|Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad]] hastened the county's development, and by 1910, Hamilton County had eight townships, 27 school districts, and high schools in Coolidge and Syracuse.<ref name=":0" />

In the 1930s, the prosperity of the area was severely affected by its location within the [[Dust Bowl]]. This catastrophe intensified the economic impact of the [[Great Depression]] in the region.

==Geography==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|998|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|997|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|1.1|sqmi}} (0.1%) 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>

The [[Arkansas River]] flows through the county. White magnesian limestone and gypsum deposits are found in the region.<ref name=":0" />

===Major highways===
*[[File:US 50.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 50 in Kansas|U.S. Highway 50]]
*[[File:US 400.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 400#Kansas|U.S. Highway 400]]
*[[File:K-27.svg|20px]] [[K-27 (Kansas highway)|K-27]]

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Greeley County, Kansas|Greeley County]] (north)
* [[Wichita County, Kansas|Wichita County]] (northeast/Central Time border)
* [[Kearny County, Kansas|Kearny County]] (east/Central Time border)
* [[Stanton County, Kansas|Stanton County]] (south/Central Time border)
* [[Prowers County, Colorado|Prowers County]], [[Colorado]] (west)

==Demographics==
[[Image:USA Hamilton County, Kansas age pyramid.svg|thumb|175px|left|[[Population pyramid]] based on 2000 census age data]]
{{US Census population
|1880= 168
|1890= 2027
|1900= 1426
|1910= 3360
|1920= 2586
|1930= 3328
|1940= 2645
|1950= 3696
|1960= 3144
|1970= 2747
|1980= 2514
|1990= 2388
|2000= 2670
|2010= 2690
|2020= 2518
|estyear=2023
|estimate=2437
|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 26, 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 26, 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 26, 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 26, 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 2,670 people, 1,054 households, and 715 families residing in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|3|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 1,211 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1|/mi2|/km2|}}. The [[Race (United States Census)|racial makeup]] of the county was 81.65% [[White American|White]], 0.56% [[Asian American|Asian]], 0.49% [[Black American|Black]] or [[African American]], 0.49% [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]], 15.13% from other races, and 1.69% from [[Multiracial|two or more races]]. [[Hispanic]] or [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Latino]] of any race were 20.60% of the population.

There were 1,054 [[household]]s, out of which 33.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.90% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 7.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.10% were non-families. 29.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.09.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 28.40% under the age of 18, 7.20% from 18 to 24, 25.30% from 25 to 44, 20.90% from 45 to 64, and 18.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 97.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.60 males.

The [[Median household income|median income for a household]] in the county was $32,033, and the median income for a family was $38,550. Males had a median income of $26,701 versus $21,000 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $16,484. About 10.90% of families and 15.70% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 21.50% of those under age 18 and 9.40% of those age 65 or over.

==Government==

Hamilton County has, since the 1940s, nearly always been carried by Republican candidates. The last time a Democratic candidate has carried Hamilton County was in 1976 by [[Jimmy Carter]]. As with many adjacent counties, Republicans have been increasing their influence in the county's presidential elections, when [[Donald J. Trump]] in 2016 won by a margin of approximately 70%, as [[Hillary Clinton]] only managed to get 14% of the county's vote.

===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=Hamilton 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|671|131|13|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|698|141|20|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|705|121|50|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|693|163|21|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|844|233|19|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|888|229|13|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|901|264|27|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|811|342|96|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|716|386|276|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|801|517|17|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|1,037|408|23|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|889|402|84|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|560|746|37|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|941|394|64|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|751|410|174|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|685|726|10|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|885|591|5|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|865|552|9|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|1,209|437|17|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|749|722|8|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|795|471|9|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|798|569|10|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|720|885|11|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|651|1,021|103|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|839|363|24|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|610|307|250|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|591|371|63|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|511|522|127|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|134|263|232|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|415|275|34|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|215|126|26|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1900|Democratic|182|194|17|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|185|216|5|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1892|Republican|252|0|196|Kansas}}
{{PresFoot|1888|Republican|480|295|37|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, Hamilton 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===
* [[Syracuse USD 494]]

==Communities==
[[Image:Map of Hamilton Co, Ks, USA.png|thumb|300px|2005 map of Hamilton 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 Hamilton County.<ref name="County-Map-Current">{{cite web |title=General Highway Map of Hamilton County, Kansas |url=https://www.ksdot.gov/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/burTransPlan/maps/county-pdf/hamilton.PDF |publisher=[[Kansas Department of Transportation]] (KDOT) |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230208030430/https://www.ksdot.gov/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/burTransPlan/maps/county-pdf/hamilton.PDF |archive-date=February 8, 2023 |date=January 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Cities===
* [[Coolidge, Kansas|Coolidge]]
* [[Syracuse, Kansas|Syracuse]] (county seat)

===Unincorporated community===
* [[Kendall, Kansas|Kendall]]

===Townships===
[[File:Map of states and counties affected by the Dust Bowl, sourced from US federal government dept. (NRCS SSRA-RAD).svg|thumb|right|Area affected by 1930s [[Dust Bowl]]]]
Hamilton County is divided into eight [[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
|-
| [[Bear Creek Township, Hamilton County, Kansas|Bear Creek]] || 04850 || || 69 || 0 (0) || 452 (174) || 1 (0) || 0.19% || {{coord|37|49|19|N|101|56|36|W|}}
|-
| [[Coolidge Township, Hamilton County, Kansas|Coolidge]] || 15425 || || 128 || 0 (1) || 297 (115) || 1 (0) || 0.37% || {{coord|38|2|22|N|101|59|41|W|}}
|-
| [[Kendall Township, Hamilton County, Kansas|Kendall]] || 36425 || || 101 || 0 (1) || 234 (90) || 0 (0) || 0% || {{coord|37|59|41|N|101|35|3|W|}}
|-
| [[Lamont Township, Hamilton County, Kansas|Lamont]] || 38275 || || 89 || 0 (1) || 426 (164) || 0 (0) || 0.02% || {{coord|37|48|9|N|101|38|41|W|}}
|-
| [[Liberty Township, Hamilton County, Kansas|Liberty]] || 40075 || || 38 || 0 (0) || 257 (99) || 0 (0) || 0.03% || {{coord|38|7|29|N|101|44|4|W|}}
|-
| [[Medway Township, Hamilton County, Kansas|Medway]] || 45650 || || 53 || 0 (0) || 279 (108) || 1 (0) || 0.28% || {{coord|38|4|51|N|101|51|13|W|}}
|-
| [[Richland Township, Hamilton County, Kansas|Richland]] || 59325 || || 27 || 0 (0) || 426 (164) || 0 (0) || 0% || {{coord|38|13|21|N|101|46|17|W|}}
|-
| [[Syracuse Township, Hamilton County, Kansas|Syracuse]] || 69875 || || 2,165 || 10 (27) || 210 (81) || 0 (0) || 0.01% || {{coord|37|59|10|N|101|45|5|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}}
|}

==Gallery==
<gallery widths="200px" heights="150px" perrow="4">
Image:Hamilton County, KS, Library IMG_5835.JPG|Hamilton County [[Public Library]] in [[Syracuse, Kansas|Syracuse]]
Image:Christ's New Covenant Church, Syracuse, KS IMG_5837.JPG|[[Christ]]'s New Covenant Church and Syracuse Christian Academy in Syracuse
</gallery>

==See also==
{{Portal|Kansas}}
{{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|Hamilton County, Kansas}}
;County
* [https://hamiltoncountyks.org/ Hamilton County - Official]
* [https://www.lkm.org/members/?id=41260438 Hamilton County - Directory of Public Officials]
;Maps
* Hamilton County Maps: [https://www.ksdot.org/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/burTransPlan/maps/county-pdf/hamilton.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
|Center    = Hamilton County, Kansas
|North     = [[Greeley County, Kansas|Greeley County]]
|Northeast = [[Wichita County, Kansas|Wichita County]]
|East      = [[Kearny County, Kansas|Kearny County]]
|Southeast = [[Grant County, Kansas|Grant County]]
|South     = [[Stanton County, Kansas|Stanton County]]
|Southwest = [[Prowers County, Colorado]]
|West      = [[Prowers County, Colorado]]
|Northwest = [[Kiowa County, Colorado]]
}}

{{Hamilton County, Kansas}}
{{Kansas}}
{{Authority control}}
{{coord|38|01|N|101|40|W|type:adm2nd_region:US-KS|display=title}}

[[Category:Hamilton County, Kansas| ]]
[[Category:Kansas counties]]
[[Category:1873 establishments in Kansas]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1873]]