Editing Mitchell County, Kansas

{{short description|County in Kansas, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
|county             = Mitchell County
|state              = Kansas
|type               = [[County (United States)|County]]
|ex image           = Mitchell County, Kansas courthouse from SW 1.JPG
|ex image cap       = Mitchell County courthouse in [[Beloit, Kansas|Beloit]] (2014)
|founded            = February 26, 1867
|named for          = William D. Mitchell
|seat wl            = Beloit
|largest city wl    = Beloit
|area_total_sq_mi   = 719
|area_land_sq_mi    = 702
|area_water_sq_mi   = 17
|area percentage    = 2.4%

|population_footnotes = <ref name="QF" />
|population_as_of   = 2020
|population_total   = 5796
|pop_est_footnotes  =<ref>{{Cite web |title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html |access-date=March 24, 2024 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>
|pop_est_as_of      =2023
|population_est     =5719 {{decrease}}
|population_density_sq_mi = 8.3

|area codes         =
|district           = 1st
|time zone          = Central
|website            = {{URL|https://www.mitchellcountykansas.com/|County Website}}
|coordinates        = {{coord|39|24|N|98|12|W|type:adm2nd_region:US-KS|display=title}}
}}

'''Mitchell County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Kansas]].  Its [[county seat]] and largest city is [[Beloit, Kansas|Beloit]].<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 5,796.<ref name="QF">{{cite web |title=QuickFacts; Mitchell County, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/mitchellcountykansas/POP010220 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=August 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818030908/https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/mitchellcountykansas/POP010220 |archive-date=August 18, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref>  The county was named for William Mitchell.

==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]]. In 1867, '''Mitchell County''' was established.

==Geography==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|719|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|702|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|17|sqmi}} (2.4%) 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===
* [[Jewell County, Kansas|Jewell County]] (north)
* [[Cloud County, Kansas|Cloud County]] (east)
* [[Ottawa County, Kansas|Ottawa County]] (southeast)
* [[Lincoln County, Kansas|Lincoln County]] (south)
* [[Osborne County, Kansas|Osborne County]] (west)

==Demographics==
[[Image:USA Mitchell County, Kansas age pyramid.svg|thumb|175px|left|[[Population pyramid]] based on 2000 census age data]]
{{US Census population
|1870= 485
|1880= 14911
|1890= 15037
|1900= 14647
|1910= 14089
|1920= 13886
|1930= 12774
|1940= 11339
|1950= 10320
|1960= 8866
|1970= 8010
|1980= 8117
|1990= 7203
|2000= 6932
|2010= 6373
|2020= 5796
|estyear=2023
|estimate=5719
|estref=<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>
|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 27, 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 27, 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 27, 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 27, 2014}}</ref> 2010-2020<ref name="QF" />
}}

As of the [[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> of 2010, there were 6,373 people, 2,790 households, and 1,725 families residing in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|8.8|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 3,296 housing units at an average density of {{convert|4.6|/mi2|/km2|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 97.97% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 0.20% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.37% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.29% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.07% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.26% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.80% from two or more races. 1.14% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 2,790 households, out of which 24.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.29% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 6.23% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.17% were non-families. 33.08% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.12% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.20 and the average family size was 2.77.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 21.44% under the age of 18, 8.00% from 18 to 24, 19.83% from 25 to 44, 29.67% from 45 to 64, and 21.04% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45.6 years. For every 100 females there were 102.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.2 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $44,247, and the median income for a family was $54,502. Males had a median income of $30,044 versus $20,094 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $23,350. About 4.90% of families and 8.26% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 12.04% of those under age 18 and 12.33% of those age 65 or over.

==Government==

===Presidential elections===
Prior to 1940, Mitchell County was a swing county, backing the national winner in every presidential election from 1900 to 1936. Since 1940, it has become a Republican stronghold, with only [[George H. W. Bush]] in 1992 failing to win a majority in the county due to [[Ross Perot]]'s strong showing in Kansas.

{{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=Mitchell County, Kansas|source=<ref>{{cite web|author=David Leip |url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS |title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections |publisher=Uselectionatlas.org |access-date=September 13, 2019}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|2,608|528|36|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|2,504|558|39|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|2,308|477|157|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|2,327|584|54|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|2,440|701|62|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|2,609|693|47|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|2,350|751|165|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|2,435|833|276|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|1,601|938|1,111|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|2,257|1,145|60|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|3,036|919|41|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|2,821|876|256|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|2,095|1,700|85|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|2,830|1,030|93|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|2,428|1,144|289|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1964|Republican|1,951|1,898|31|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|2,779|1,692|26|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|3,198|1,214|20|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|4,167|961|18|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|2,998|1,750|75|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|3,238|1,579|40|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|3,681|2,060|51|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|2,781|3,289|41|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|2,502|3,176|181|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|3,245|1,855|64|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|3,161|1,470|656|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|3,310|1,409|126|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|2,413|3,197|215|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|737|1,441|1,163|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|1,765|1,570|160|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|2,037|867|285|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|1,764|1,702|87|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|1,428|1,889|30|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1892|Populist|1,467|0|1,905|Kansas}}
{{PresFoot|1888|Republican|1,676|880|442|Kansas}}
}}<!-- End of Hidden template -->

===Laws===
Following amendment to the [[Kansas Constitution]] in 1986, the county remained a prohibition, or [[dry county|"dry"]], county until 1996, when voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with a 30% 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 26, 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==

===Colleges===
* [[North Central Kansas Technical College]] in Beloit

===Unified school districts===
* [[Waconda USD 272]]
* [[Beloit USD 273]]

===Private schools===
* [[St. John's Catholic High School (Beloit, Kansas)|St. John's Catholic High School]]
* Tipton Catholic High School

==Communities==
[[Image:Map of Mitchell Co, Ks, USA.png|thumb|300px|2005 map of Mitchell 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 Mitchell County.<ref name="County-Map-Current">{{cite web |title=General Highway Map of Mitchell County, Kansas |url=https://www.ksdot.gov/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/burTransPlan/maps/county-pdf/mitchell.PDF |publisher=[[Kansas Department of Transportation]] (KDOT) |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230517050719/https://www.ksdot.gov/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/burTransPlan/maps/county-pdf/mitchell.PDF |archive-date=May 17, 2023 |date=July 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Cities===
‡ means a community has portions in an adjacent county.
{{div col}}
* [[Beloit, Kansas|Beloit]] (county seat) 
* [[Cawker City, Kansas|Cawker City]]
* [[Glen Elder, Kansas|Glen Elder]]
* [[Hunter, Kansas|Hunter]]
* [[Scottsville, Kansas|Scottsville]]
* [[Simpson, Kansas|Simpson]]‡
* [[Tipton, Kansas|Tipton]]
{{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}}
* [[Asherville, Kansas|Asherville]]†
* [[Solomon Rapids, Kansas|Solomon Rapids]]
{{div col end}}

===Ghost towns===
{{div col}}
* [[Blue Hill, Kansas|Blue Hill]]
* [[Buel, Kansas|Buel]]
* [[Coursens Grove, Kansas|Coursens Grove]]
* [[Elmira, Kansas|Elmira]]
* [[Saltville, Kansas|Saltville]]
* [[Sunflower, Kansas|Sunflower]]
* [[Victor, Kansas|Victor]]
* [[Walnut Grove, Kansas|Walnut Grove]]
* [[West Asher, Kansas|West Asher]]
{{div col end}}

===Townships===
Mitchell County is divided into twenty [[Civil township|townships]]. The city of [[Beloit, Kansas|Beloit]] 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.

{| class="toccolours" border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=4 style="text-align:center; border-collapse:collapse; font-size:90%;"
|+align="bottom"|Sources: [https://web.archive.org/web/20020802223743/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/places2k.html 2000 U.S. Gazetteer] from the [[U.S. Census Bureau]].
|- style="background:#ccf;"
! 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
|-
| Asherville || 02625 || || 122 || 1 (3) || 93 (36) || 0 (0) || 0.08% || {{coord|39|25|48|N|97|59|28|W|}}
|-
| Beloit || 05800 || [[Beloit, Kansas|Beloit]] || 4,003 || 48 (125) || 83 (32) || 0 (0) || 0.02% || {{coord|39|26|40|N|98|5|33|W|}}
|-
| Bloomfield || 07425 || || 83 || 1 (2) || 94 (36) || 0 (0) || 0.24% || {{coord|39|20|33|N|98|6|24|W|}}
|-
| Blue Hill || 07575 || || 36 || 0 (1) || 93 (36) || 0 (0) || 0.36% || {{coord|39|15|17|N|98|18|43|W|}}
|-
| Carr Creek || 10850 || || 31 || 0 (1) || 84 (33) || 9 (3) || 9.51% || {{coord|39|26|23|N|98|26|40|W|}}
|-
| Cawker || 11150 ||[[Cawker City, Kansas|Cawker City]] || 578 || 8 (20) || 75 (29) || 17 (7) || 18.68% || {{coord|39|30|55|N|98|26|2|W|}}
|-
| Center || 11875 || || 49 || 1 (1) || 93 (36) || 0 (0) || 0.03% || {{coord|39|21|26|N|98|12|2|W|}}
|-
| Custer || 16875 || [[Hunter, Kansas|Hunter]] || 132 || 1 (4) || 94 (36) || 0 (0) || 0.13% || {{coord|39|14|56|N|98|24|53|W|}}
|-
| Eureka || 21875 || || 41 || 0 (1) || 93 (36) || 0 (0) || 0.38% || {{coord|39|15|20|N|97|59|46|W|}}
|-
| Glen Elder || 26525 ||[[Glen Elder, Kansas|Glen Elder]]|| 553 || 7 (18) || 78 (30) || 15 (6) || 16.01% || {{coord|39|30|32|N|98|18|49|W|}}
|-
| Hayes || 30975 || || 21 || 0 (1) || 93 (36) || 0 (0) || 0.03% || {{coord|39|20|4|N|98|19|8|W|}}
|-
| Logan || 42025 || [[Simpson, Kansas|Simpson]] || 168 || 2 (5) || 93 (36) || 0 (0) || 0.12% || {{coord|39|21|59|N|97|56|21|W|}}
|-
| Lulu || 43225 || [[Scottsville, Kansas|Scottsville]] || 90 || 1 (3) || 92 (35) || 0 (0) || 0% || {{coord|39|31|53|N|97|58|34|W|}}
|-
| [[Pittsburg Township, Mitchell County, Kansas|Pittsburg]] || 56050 || [[Tipton, Kansas|Tipton]] || 346 || 4 (10) || 93 (36) || 0 (0) || 0.03% || {{coord|39|20|31|N|98|28|3|W|}}
|-
| Plum Creek || 56825 || || 119 || 1 (3) || 92 (36) || 0 (0) || 0.02% || {{coord|39|30|53|N|98|5|21|W|}}
|-
| Round Springs || 61500 || || 27 || 0 (1) || 93 (36) || 0 (0) || 0.14% || {{coord|39|15|51|N|98|11|28|W|}}
|-
| Salt Creek || 62825 || || 39 || 0 (1) || 93 (36) || 0 (0) || 0.37% || {{coord|39|15|12|N|98|6|11|W|}}
|-
| Solomon Rapids || 66450 || || 80 || 1 (2) || 91 (35) || 0 (0) || 0.14% || {{coord|39|31|19|N|98|12|58|W|}}
|-
| Turkey Creek || 71725 || || 134 || 1 (4) || 92 (36) || 0 (0) || 0.23% || {{coord|39|26|40|N|98|12|1|W|}}
|-
| Walnut Creek || 75150 || || 42 || 0 (1) || 88 (34) || 5 (2) || 5.78% || {{coord|39|26|49|N|98|19|1|W|}}
|}

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

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
{{Kansas books}}
* [http://www.kansasmemory.org/item/224025/ ''Standard Atlas of Mitchell County, Kansas'']; Geo. A. Ogle & Co; 73 pages; 1917.
* [http://www.kansasmemory.org/item/209392/ ''Standard Atlas of Mitchell County, Kansas'']; Geo. A. Ogle & Co; 56 pages; 1902.
* [http://www.kansasmemory.org/item/224024/ ''Atlas of Mitchell County, Kansas'']; Gillen & Davy; 45 pages; 1884.

==External links==
{{Commons category|Mitchell County, Kansas}}
;County
* {{Official website|https://www.mitchellcountykansas.com/|Mitchell County - Official Website}}
* [https://www.lkm.org/members/?id=41260462 Mitchell County - Directory of Public Officials]
;Maps
* Mitchell County Maps: [https://www.ksdot.org/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/burTransPlan/maps/county-pdf/mitchell.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    = Mitchell County, Kansas
|North     = [[Jewell County, Kansas|Jewell County]]
|Northeast = [[Cloud County, Kansas|Cloud County]]
|East      = 
|Southeast = [[Ottawa County, Kansas|Ottawa County]]
|South     = [[Lincoln County, Kansas|Lincoln County]]
|Southwest = [[Osborne County, Kansas|Osborne County]]
|West      = [[Osborne County, Kansas|Osborne County]]
|Northwest = [[Smith County, Kansas|Smith County]]
}}

{{Mitchell County, Kansas}}
{{Kansas}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Mitchell County, Kansas| ]]
[[Category:Kansas counties]]
[[Category:1867 establishments in Kansas]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1867]]