Editing Rush County, Kansas

{{short description|County in Kansas, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
|county             = Rush County
|state              = Kansas
|type               = [[County (United States)|County]]
|ex image           = Rush County, Kansas, courthouse from E 2.JPG
|ex image cap       = Rush County courthouse in [[La Crosse, Kansas|La Crosse]] (2016)
|founded            = February 26, 1867
|named for          = Alexander Rush
|seat wl            = La Crosse
|largest city wl    = La Crosse
|area_total_sq_mi   = 718
|area_land_sq_mi    = 718
|area_water_sq_mi   = 0.2
|area percentage    = 0.03

|population_footnotes = <ref name="QF"/>
|population_as_of   = 2020
|population_total   = 2956
|pop_est_footnotes  =
|pop_est_as_of      =
|population_est     =
|population_density_sq_mi = 4.1

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

'''Rush County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Kansas]]. Its [[county seat]] and largest city is [[La Crosse, Kansas|La Crosse]].<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 2,956.<ref name="QF">{{cite web |title=QuickFacts; Rush County, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/rushcountykansas/POP010220 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=August 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210819224808/https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/rushcountykansas/POP010220 |archive-date=August 19, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref> The county was named for [[Alexander Rush]].

==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 kept 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, '''Rush County''' was established. Rush County was organized on December 5, 1874.<ref>[https://www.kshs.org/kansapedia/rush-county-kansas/15337 Rush County, Kansas, Kansapedia]</ref> There was a county seat struggle between [[La Crosse, Kansas|La Crosse]] and [[Rush Center, Kansas|Rush Center]] lasting 10 years until La Crosse finally became the county seat.

===20th century===
The first county fair was held in 1910 south of Rush Center.{{Citation needed|date=May 2016}}

===21st century===
In 2015, the "Alexander [[Wind farm|Wind Farm]]" was constructed south of [[Alexander, Kansas|Alexander]]. It cost about $85 million and generates 48 [[megawatt]]s of power.<ref>[http://www.onlinetes.com/njr-clean-energy-kansas-wind-farm-102414.aspx NJR Clean Energy acquires Kansas wind farm; October 24, 2014.]</ref><ref>[http://www.kake.com/home/headlines/Siemens-touts-order-for-21-wind-turbines-for-Kansas-project-289575681.html Siemens touts order for 21 wind turbines for Kansas project; KAKE tv; January 23, 2015.] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20150124191626/http://www.kake.com/home/headlines/Siemens-touts-order-for-21-wind-turbines-for-Kansas-project-289575681.html |date=January 24, 2015 }}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|718|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|718|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>

It is intersected by Walnut Creek, a tributary of the [[Arkansas River]], and watered by other streams.<ref>{{Cite AmCyc|wstitle=Rush (county)|display=Rush. II. A W. central county of Kansas}}</ref>

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Ellis County, Kansas|Ellis County]] (north)
* [[Russell County, Kansas|Russell County]] (northeast)
* [[Barton County, Kansas|Barton County]] (east)
* [[Pawnee County, Kansas|Pawnee County]] (south)
* [[Ness County, Kansas|Ness County]] (west)

==Demographics==
[[Image:USA Rush County, Kansas age pyramid.svg|thumb|175px|left|[[Population pyramid]] based on 2000 census age data]]
{{US Census population
|1880= 5490
|1890= 5204
|1900= 6134
|1910= 7826
|1920= 8360
|1930= 9093
|1940= 8285
|1950= 7231
|1960= 6160
|1970= 5117
|1980= 4516
|1990= 3842
|2000= 3551
|2010= 3307
|2020= 2956
|estyear=2023
|estimate=2830
|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 28, 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 28, 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 28, 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 28, 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 2000, there were 3,551 people, 1,548 households, and 1,013 families residing in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|5|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 1,928 housing units at an average density of {{convert|3|/mi2|/km2|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 98.45% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 0.31% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.42% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.11% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.17% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.54% from two or more races. 1.04% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 1,548 households, out of which 26.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.10% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 5.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.50% were non-families. 31.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.80.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.10% under the age of 18, 5.50% from 18 to 24, 22.90% from 25 to 44, 24.20% from 45 to 64, and 25.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 94.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,268, and the median income for a family was $38,821. Males had a median income of $25,408 versus $20,307 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $18,033. About 6.70% of families and 9.70% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 12.50% of those under age 18 and 9.90% 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=Rush 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|1,315|264|27|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|1,350|295|32|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|1,197|233|73|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|1,166|367|37|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|1,225|504|52|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|1,226|517|46|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|1,235|505|114|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|1,239|547|203|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|756|689|670|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|1,045|1,020|88|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|1,758|718|54|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|1,840|557|175|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|1,170|1,359|52|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|1,639|806|67|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|1,471|864|225|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|1,098|1,778|25|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|1,668|1,418|11|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|2,007|1,080|7|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|2,650|843|17|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|1,840|1,360|62|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|2,193|1,076|14|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|2,394|1,588|19|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|1,733|2,482|4|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|1,433|2,275|66|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|1,985|1,296|26|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|1,780|787|542|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|2,017|605|125|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|1,223|1,478|235|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|210|870|751|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1908|Democratic|764|894|39|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|883|570|64|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1900|Democratic|681|717|7|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|515|643|10|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1892|Populist|570|0|630|Kansas}}
{{PresFoot|1888|Republican|681|424|55|Kansas}}
}}<!-- End of Hidden template -->

Rush County is presently overwhelmingly Republican, although as recently as 1988 [[Michael Dukakis]], aided by [[1988–89 North American drought|a major Great Plains drought]], came within 25 votes of carrying the county for the Democrats.

===Laws===
Rush County was a prohibition, or [[dry county|"dry,"]] county until the [[Kansas Constitution]] was amended in 1986 and 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 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===
* [[La Crosse USD 395]]
* [https://www.usd403.org/ Otis-Bison USD 403]

==Communities==
[[Image:Map of Rush Co, Ks, USA.png|thumb|300px|2005 map of Rush 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 Rush County.<ref name="County-Map-Current">{{cite web |title=General Highway Map of Rush County, Kansas |url=https://www.ksdot.gov/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/burTransPlan/maps/county-pdf/rush.PDF |publisher=[[Kansas Department of Transportation]] (KDOT) |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230512204502/https://www.ksdot.gov/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/burTransPlan/maps/county-pdf/rush.PDF |archive-date=May 12, 2023 |date=October 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Cities===
{{div col}}
* [[Alexander, Kansas|Alexander]]
* [[Bison, Kansas|Bison]]
* [[La Crosse, Kansas|La Crosse]] (county seat)
* [[Liebenthal, Kansas|Liebenthal]]
* [[McCracken, Kansas|McCracken]]
* [[Otis, Kansas|Otis]]
* [[Rush Center, Kansas|Rush Center]]
* [[Timken, Kansas|Timken]]
{{div col end}}

===Unincorporated communities===
{{div col}}
* [[Hargrave, Kansas|Hargrave]]
* [[Loretta, Kansas|Loretta]]
* [[Nekoma, Kansas|Nekoma]]
* [[Schaffer, Kansas|Schaffer]]
{{div col end}}

===Ghost towns===
{{div col}}
* [[Belfield, Kansas|Belfield]]
* [[Brookdale, Kansas|Brookdale]]
* [[Fenton, Kansas|Fenton]]
* [[Flavius, Kansas|Flavius]]
* [[Hampton, Kansas|Hampton]]
* [[Hutton, Kansas|Hutton]]
* [[Lippard, Kansas|Lippard]]
* [[Olney, Kansas|Olney]]
* [[Pioneer, Kansas|Pioneer]]
* [[Ryan, Kansas|Ryan]]
* [[Saunders, Kansas|Saunders]]
* [[West Point, Kansas|West Point]]
{{div col end}}

===Townships===
Rush County is divided into twelve [[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%;"
|+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:#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
|-
| Alexander-Belle Prairie || 01087 || || 139 || 1 (2) || 220 (85) || 0 (0) || 0.02% || {{coord|38|27|23|N|99|31|49|W|}}
|-
| Banner || 04075 || || 191 || 1 (4) || 139 (54) || 0 (0) || 0.01% || {{coord|38|25|53|N|99|11|28|W|}}
|-
| Big Timber || 06775 || || 164 || 1 (3) || 122 (47) || 0 (0) || 0.03% || {{coord|38|39|1|N|99|18|54|W|}}
|-
| Center || 12125 || || 256 || 2 (5) || 139 (54) || 0 (0) || 0% || {{coord|38|26|6|N|99|18|13|W|}}
|-
| Garfield || 25800 || || 132 || 1 (2) || 139 (54) || 0 (0) || 0.01% || {{coord|38|25|15|N|99|4|45|W|}}
|-
| Hampton-Fairview || 29812 || || 304 || 1 (3) || 276 (107) || 0 (0) || 0.11% || {{coord|38|37|32|N|99|30|12|W|}}
|-
| Illinois || 33750 || || 47 || 0 (1) || 125 (48) || 0 (0) || 0.01% || {{coord|38|38|48|N|99|11|28|W|}}
|-
| La Crosse-Brookdale || 37525 || || 1,475 || 7 (17) || 218 (84) || 0 (0) || 0.01% || {{coord|38|32|2|N|99|20|15|W|}}
|-
| Lone Star || 42500 || || 319 || 3 (8) || 110 (42) || 0 (0) || 0% || {{coord|38|31|21|N|99|11|46|W|}}
|-
| Pioneer || 55950 || || 426 || 4 (10) || 108 (42) || 0 (0) || 0.01% || {{coord|38|32|13|N|99|4|4|W|}}
|-
| Pleasantdale || 56325 || || 33 || 0 (1) || 124 (48) || 0 (0) || 0.07% || {{coord|38|38|20|N|99|5|17|W|}}
|-
| Union || 72350 || || 65 || 0 (1) || 141 (54) || 0 (0) || 0.01% || {{coord|38|26|4|N|99|25|47|W|}}
|}

===Former townships===
* [[West Point, Kansas]]

==See also==
{{Portal|Kansas}}
{{See also Kansas counties}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
{{Kansas books}}
* [http://www.kansasmemory.org/item/209383 ''Plat book of Rush County, Kansas'']; North West Publishing Co; 33 pages; 1901.

==External links==
{{Commons category|Rush County, Kansas}}
;County
* {{Official website|http://www.rushcountykansas.org/|Rush County - Official Website}}
* [https://www.lkm.org/members/?id=41260484 Rush County - Directory of Public Officials]
;Historical
* [http://www.rushcounty.org/history.html History of Cities in Rush County]
;Maps
* Rush County Maps: [http://www.ksdot.org/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/burTransPlan/maps/county-pdf/rush.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
|Center    = Rush County, Kansas
|North     = [[Ellis County, Kansas|Ellis County]]
|Northeast = [[Russell County, Kansas|Russell County]]
|East      = [[Barton County, Kansas|Barton County]]
|Southeast = [[Barton County, Kansas|Barton County]]
|South     = [[Pawnee County, Kansas|Pawnee County]]
|Southwest = [[Ness County, Kansas|Ness County]]
|West      = [[Ness County, Kansas|Ness County]]
|Northwest = [[Trego County, Kansas|Trego County]]
}}

{{Rush County, Kansas}}
{{Kansas}}
{{Authority control}}
{{coord|38|31|N|99|18|W|type:adm2nd_region:US-KS|display=title}}

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