Editing Norton County, Kansas

{{Short description|County in Kansas, United States}}
{{Distinguish|Morton County, Kansas|Norton, Kansas}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
|county             = Norton County
|state              = Kansas
|type               = [[County (United States)|County]]
|ex image           = Norton Co KS Courthouse.JPG
|ex image cap       = [[Norton County Courthouse]] in [[Norton, Kansas|Norton]] (built 1929)
|founded            = February 26, 1867
|named for          = Orloff Norton
|seat wl            = Norton
|largest city wl    = Norton
|area_total_sq_mi   = 881
|area_land_sq_mi    = 878
|area_water_sq_mi   = 3.2
|area percentage    = 0.4%

|population_footnotes = <ref name="QF"/>
|population_as_of   = 2020
|population_total   = 5459
|pop_est_footnotes  =
|pop_est_as_of      =
|population_est     =
|population_density_sq_mi = 6.2

|area codes         = [[Area code 785|785]]
|district           = 1st
|time zone          = Central
|website            = {{URL|https://nortoncounty.org/|nortoncounty.org}}
|coordinates        = {{coord|39|48|N|99|55|W|type:adm2nd_region:US-KS|display=inline,title}}
}}

'''Norton County''' is a [[List of counties in Kansas|county]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Kansas]].  Its [[county seat]] and largest city is [[Norton, Kansas|Norton]].<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 5,459.<ref name="QF">{{cite web |title=QuickFacts; Norton County, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/nortoncountykansas/POP010220 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=August 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818211625/https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/nortoncountykansas/POP010220 |archive-date=August 18, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref>  The county was established in 1867 and named for Orloff Norton, captain of Company L, 15th Kansas Militia Infantry Regiment.<ref name=":0">{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_Qi9cXyTWt9EC | title=Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, Volume 2 | publisher=Standard Publishing Company | author=Blackmar, Frank Wilson | year=1912 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_Qi9cXyTWt9EC/page/n364 374]}}</ref>

==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]]. ''' Norton County''' was founded by Noah H. Billings, Thomas Beaumont, Henry Gordon, P. Hansen, and George Cole on August 22, 1872. In 1878 Norton became the county seat. The county gets its name for Civil War soldier Orloff Norton of the Fifteenth Kansas Cavalry, who was killed at [[Cane Hill, Arkansas]] in 1864.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kshs.org/geog/geog_counties/view/county:NT|title=Norton County, Kansas - Kansas Historical Society|website=www.kshs.org|publisher=Kansas Historical Society|access-date=August 6, 2019}}</ref><ref name=":0" />

The initial organization of Norton County in 1872 was fraught with deceit. N.H. Billings, aiming to exploit the county government for personal gain, submitted a forged petition to Governor Harvey, claiming 600 inhabitants when there were only 8 verifiable residents. After the governor initially rejected this, another fraudulent petition was sent, leading to the appointment of a fictitious census taker, Richard M. Johnson, which resulted in a fabricated census. This census allowed for the proclamation of Billingsville as the temporary county seat and the appointment of county officers. An election followed where Norton was declared the county seat, and various county officials were elected, including Billings, who engaged in further manipulation regarding school bonds and legislative actions.<ref name=":0" />

The first settlers arrived in 1871, with George Cole securing the first homestead. The influx of settlers increased in 1872, though the area was not entirely safe from Native American activity, leading to several "Indian scares." Community services began to establish with the first school in 1873, taught by J. H. Simmons, and the first physician, Mrs. P. A. O. Briggs, who was known for her dedication to patients regardless of their ability to pay.  Despite the early fraudulent population claims, by 1880, the real population had grown but was still significantly less than the initial bogus census count.<ref name=":0" />

The first county fair, although not official, was held in Leota in October 1878. After 1900 the fair was held yearly in Elmwood Park in Norton. The first school district was formed in Norton in 1872. School was held in a dugout beginning December 1, 1873.<ref>[https://nortoncounty.org/about/ About] nortoncounty.org</ref>

===21st century===
In 2020, Norton County became a major hotspot in the [[COVID-19 pandemic]]. In July, an inmate at the Norton Correctional Facility, a state prison, tested positive for coronavirus.<ref name="ksalprison">{{cite web |url=https://www.ksal.com/covid-19-at-norton-prison/ |title=COVID-19 at Norton Prison |newspaper=Https |access-date= October 20, 2020}}</ref> By mid-October, more than 130 cases had been reported at the prison.<ref name="MyUser_Https:_October_20_2020c">{{cite web |url=https://hayspost.com/posts/3c84384c-c7a0-44bd-88e4-53a06f2b8d5a |title=REVIEW: COVID-19 outbreak reported at Norton prison |newspaper=Https |date=October 19, 2020 |access-date= October 20, 2020}}</ref> On October 19, officials announced that all 62 residents of the Andbe Home nursing home in Norton had tested positive for COVID-19, 10 of whom had died.<ref name="cbscovid">{{cite web |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/coronavirus-andbe-nursing-home-norton-kansas-all-residents-some-staff-have-covid-10-deaths/ |title=All 62 residents at Kansas nursing home have COVID, 10 have died - CBS News |newspaper=Https |date=October 20, 2020 |access-date= October 20, 2020}}</ref> As of October 20, Norton County had the highest rate of infection over the previous 7 and 14 days of any county in the United States.<ref name="kctv5">{{cite web |url=https://www.kctv5.com/coronavirus/kansas-averages-700-new-cases-a-day-county-sees-top-us-jump/article_e8834df6-1255-11eb-99cf-3f80c376aebc.amp.html |title=Kansas averages 700 new cases a day; county sees top US jump |newspaper=Https |access-date= October 20, 2020}}</ref><ref name="nytdata">{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/us/coronavirus-us-cases.html |title=Covid in the U.S.: Latest Map and Case Count - The New York Times |newspaper=Https |access-date= October 20, 2020 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20201020195627/https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/us/coronavirus-us-cases.html |archive-date=2020-10-20}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|881|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|878|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|3.2|sqmi}} (0.4%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.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===
* [[Furnas County, Nebraska|Furnas County]], [[Nebraska]] (north)
* [[Harlan County, Nebraska|Harlan County]], [[Nebraska]] (northeast)
* [[Phillips County, Kansas|Phillips County]] (east)
* [[Graham County, Kansas|Graham County]] (south)
* [[Sheridan County, Kansas|Sheridan County]] (southwest)
* [[Decatur County, Kansas|Decatur County]] (west)

==Demographics==
[[Image:USA Norton County, Kansas age pyramid.svg|thumb|175px|left|[[Population pyramid]] based on 2000 census age data]]
{{US Census population
|1880= 6998
|1890= 10617
|1900= 11325
|1910= 11614
|1920= 11423
|1930= 11701
|1940= 9831
|1950= 8808
|1960= 8035
|1970= 7279
|1980= 6689
|1990= 5947
|2000= 5953
|2010= 5671
|2020= 5459
|estyear=2023
|estimate=5330
|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/prod/www/decennial.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 [[2000 US census]], there were 5,953 people, 2,266 households, and 1,470 families residing in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|7|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 2,673 housing units at an average density of {{convert|3|/mi2|/km2|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 93.35% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 4.05% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.44% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.42% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.02% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.02% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.71% from two or more races. 2.37% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 2,266 households, out of which 28.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.50% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 7.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.10% were non-families. 32.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.90% 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 2.89.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.00% under the age of 18, 7.70% from 18 to 24, 28.30% from 25 to 44, 22.30% from 45 to 64, and 19.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 122.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 122.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,050, and the median income for a family was $37,036. Males had a median income of $25,983 versus $20,381 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $16,835. About 6.10% of families and 10.50% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 12.70% of those under age 18 and 8.20% of those age 65 or over.

==Government==

===County===
Noah H. Billings was an early county settler, county superintendent of schools, county attorney, and state representative. [[Keith Sebelius]] served as a U.S. congressman from 1969 to 1981.<ref name=Pedia>[http://www.kshs.org/kansapedia/norton-county-kansas/15324 Norton County, Kansas], ''Kansas Historical Society''</ref>

===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=Norton County, Kansas|source=<ref name="uselectionatlas">{{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|website=uselectionatlas.org|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|access-date=December 11, 2020}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|1,882|346|47|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|2,007|364|44|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|1,840|281|113|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|1,878|398|49|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|1,878|497|40|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|2,092|473|34|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|1,744|598|109|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|1,814|640|277|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|1,469|779|820|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|1,923|855|69|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|2,515|611|50|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|2,625|666|186|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|2,201|1,337|97|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|2,688|776|82|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|2,543|841|202|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1964|Republican|2,245|1,449|42|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|2,781|1,300|8|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|3,052|1,194|18|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|3,530|1,047|54|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|2,461|1,414|161|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|2,890|1,159|29|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|3,415|1,378|66|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1936|Republican|2,829|2,307|24|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|2,272|2,705|168|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|3,365|1,087|96|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|2,778|1,261|643|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|2,288|1,082|137|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|1,616|2,876|222|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|598|1,081|815|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|1,448|1,337|125|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|1,570|417|350|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|1,329|1,212|31|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|941|1,260|36|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1892|Populist|1,054|0|1,130|Kansas}}
{{PresFoot|1888|Republican|1,471|631|497|Kansas}}
}}<!-- End of Hidden template -->

Like all the High Plains, Norton County is overwhelmingly Republican. In 1964, the last time the Republicans did ''not'' carry Kansas’ electoral votes, Norton County was [[Barry Goldwater]]’s second-best county in the state behind [[Clay County, Kansas|Clay County]]. The last Democrat to reach forty percent of the county’s vote was [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] in 1936, ironically against [[list of Governors of Kansas|Kansas Governor]] [[Alf Landon]]. Roosevelt in 1932 was the last Democrat to carry Norton County, and the only others are Woodrow Wilson (twice) and [[William Jennings Bryan]] in his first 1896 campaign.

===Laws===
Following amendment to the [[Kansas Constitution]] in 1986, the county remained a prohibition, or [[dry county|"dry"]], county until 1992, when voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with a 30 percent 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 ==

=== Unified school districts ===
School districts include:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st20_ks/schooldistrict_maps/c20137_norton/DC20SD_C20137.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Norton County, KS|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2024-12-15}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st20_ks/schooldistrict_maps/c20137_norton/DC20SD_C20137_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>
* [[Logan USD 326]]
* [[Norton USD 211]]
* [[Northern Valley USD 212]] [https://www.nvhuskies.org/]
* [[Oberlin USD 294]]

==Communities==
[[Image:Map of Norton Co, Ks, USA.png|thumb|upright=1.7|2005 map of Norton 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 Norton County.<ref name="County-Map-Current">{{cite web |title=General Highway Map of Norton County, Kansas |url=https://www.ksdot.gov/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/burTransPlan/maps/county-pdf/norton.PDF |publisher=[[Kansas Department of Transportation]] (KDOT) |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230730192859/https://www.ksdot.gov/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/burTransPlan/maps/county-pdf/norton.PDF |archive-date=July 30, 2023 |date=November 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Cities===
‡ means a community has portions in an adjacent county.
{{div col}}
* [[Almena, Kansas|Almena]]
* [[Clayton, Kansas|Clayton]]‡
* [[Edmond, Kansas|Edmond]]
* [[Lenora, Kansas|Lenora]]
* [[Norton, Kansas|Norton]] (county seat)
{{div col end}}

===Unincorporated communities===
{{div col}}
* [[Calvert, Kansas|Calvert]]
* [[Dellvale, Kansas|Dellvale]]
* [[Densmore, Kansas|Densmore]]
* [[New Almelo, Kansas|New Almelo]]
* [[Oronoque, Kansas|Oronoque]]
* [[Reager, Kansas|Reager]]
{{div col end}}

===Ghost towns===
{{div col}}
* [[Bower, Kansas|Bower]]
* [[Brett, Kansas|Brett]]
* [[Cactus, Kansas|Cactus]]
* [[Devizes, Kansas|Devizes]]
* [[Fairhaven, Kansas|Fairhaven]]
* [[Hanback, Kansas|Hanback]]
* [[Hedgewood, Kansas|Hedgewood]]
* [[Rayville, Kansas|Rayville]]
* [[Rockwell, Kansas|Rockwell]]
* [[Smithton, Kansas|Smithton]]
* [[Wakeman, Kansas|Wakeman]]
{{div col end}}

===Townships===
Norton County is divided into four [[Civil township|townships]]. The city of [[Norton, Kansas|Norton]] 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. The 2010 census shows the area of the former Harrison-District 6 as combined into that of Almena-District 4.

{| class="toccolours" border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=4 style="text-align:center; border-collapse:collapse; font-size:90%;"
|+align="bottom"|Sources: Kansas Historical Society,<ref name="kshs" /> [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:#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
|-
| Almena-District 4 || 01450 || || 508 || 2 (6) || 278 (107) || 0 (0) || 0% || {{coord|39|53|10|N|99|41|2|W|}}
|-
| Center-District 1 || 12260 || || 1,521 || 2 (5) || 654 (253) || 0 (0) || 0.08% || {{coord|39|53|43|N|99|57|2|W|}}
|-
| Harrison-District 6 (defunct<ref name="kshs">{{cite web|url=http://www.kshs.org/geog/geog_counties/view/county:NT|title=Norton County, Kansas - Kansas Historical Society|website=kshs.org|access-date=December 11, 2020}}</ref>) || 30460 || || 12 ([[2000 United States census|2000 census]]) || 0 (0) || 93 (36) || 0 (0) || 0.02% || {{coord|39|56|54|N|99|48|25|W|}}
|-
| Highland-District 2 || 32060 || || 546 || 1 (3) || 748 (289) || 9 (3) || 1.13% || {{coord|39|41|24|N|100|1|49|W|}}
|-
| Solomon-District 3 || 66410 || || 137 || 0 (1) || 496 (192) || 0 (0) || 0.02% || {{coord|39|40|38|N|99|45|56|W|}}
|}

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

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

==Further reading==
{{Kansas books}}
* [https://www.kansasmemory.org/item/225068/ ''Handbook of Norton County, Kansas'']; C.S. Burch Publishing Co; 16 pages; 1880s.
* [https://www.kansasmemory.org/item/224029/ ''Standard Atlas of Norton County, Kansas'']; Geo. A. Ogle & Co; 71 pages; 1917.

==External links==
{{Commons category|Norton County, Kansas}}
;County
* {{Official website|https://nortoncounty.org/|Norton County - Official Website}}
* [https://www.lkm.org/members/?id=41260469 Norton County - Directory of Public Officials]
;Maps
* Norton County Maps: [https://www.ksdot.org/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/burTransPlan/maps/county-pdf/norton.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    = Norton County, Kansas
|North     = [[Furnas County, Nebraska]]
|Northeast = [[Harlan County, Nebraska]]
|East      = [[Phillips County, Kansas|Phillips County]]
|Southeast = [[Rooks County, Kansas|Rooks County]]
|South     = [[Graham County, Kansas|Graham County]]
|Southwest = [[Sheridan County, Kansas|Sheridan County]]
|West      = [[Decatur County, Kansas|Decatur County]]
|Northwest = [[Red Willow County, Nebraska]]
}}

{{Norton County, Kansas}}
{{Kansas}}
{{Authority control}}

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