Editing Scott County, Kansas

{{short description|County in Kansas, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
|county             = Scott County
|state              = Kansas
|type               = [[County (United States)|County]]
|ex image           = Battle Canyon (Scott Co KS) monument 2.JPG
|ex image cap       = [[Northern Cheyenne Exodus|Monument at Battle Canyon, site of the Battle of Punished Woman's Fork during the Northern Cheyenne Exodus of 1878]]
|founded            = March 20, 1873
|named for          = [[Winfield Scott]]<ref name="eponym">{{cite web |url=http://ks-scott.manatron.com/ |title=Welcome to the Scott County website |publisher=Scott County, Kansas |access-date=November 4, 2012}}</ref>
|seat wl            = Scott City
|largest city wl    = Scott City
|area_total_sq_mi   = 718
|area_land_sq_mi    = 718
|area_water_sq_mi   = 0.1
|area percentage    = 0.02
|population_footnotes = <ref name="QF"/>
|population_as_of   = 2020
|population_total   = 5151
|pop_est_as_of      = 2023
|population_est     = 4922 {{loss}}
|density_sq_mi      = auto
|district           = 1st
|time zone          = Central
|website            = {{URL|http://ks-scott.manatron.com|County Website}}
}}

'''Scott County''' is a [[U.S. county|county]] located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Kansas]].  Its [[county seat]] is [[Scott City, Kansas|Scott City]],<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> the only incorporated city in the county.  As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the county population was 5,151.<ref name="QF">{{cite web |title=QuickFacts; Scott County, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/scottcountykansas/POP010220 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=August 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210819234325/https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/scottcountykansas/POP010220 |archive-date=August 19, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref>  The county was named after [[Winfield Scott]], a general in the United States Army from 1814 to 1861.

==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 1873, '''Scott County''' was established.

==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|0.1|sqmi}} (0.02%) 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===
* [[Gove County, Kansas|Gove County]] (northeast)
* [[Lane County, Kansas|Lane County]] (east)
* [[Finney County, Kansas|Finney County]] (south)
* [[Kearny County, Kansas|Kearny County]] (southwest)
* [[Wichita County, Kansas|Wichita County]] (west)
* [[Logan County, Kansas|Logan County]] (northwest)

==Demographics==
[[Image:USA Scott County, Kansas age pyramid.svg|thumb|175px|left|[[Population pyramid]] based on 2000 census age data]]
{{US Census population
|1880= 43
|1890= 1262
|1900= 1098
|1910= 3047
|1920= 3121
|1930= 3976
|1940= 3773
|1950= 4921
|1960= 5228
|1970= 5606
|1980= 5782
|1990= 5289
|2000= 5120
|2010= 4936
|2020= 5151
|estyear=2023
|estimate=4922
|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 29, 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 29, 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 29, 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 29, 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 5,120 people, 2,045 households, and 1,435 families residing in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|7|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people}}. There were 2,291 housing units at an average density of {{convert|3|/mi2|/km2}}. The racial makeup of the county was 95.47% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 0.10% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.55% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.12% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 2.75% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.02% from two or more races. 6.31% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 2,045 households, out of which 33.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.00% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 6.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.80% were non-families. 27.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.10% under the age of 18, 6.60% from 18 to 24, 25.30% from 25 to 44, 24.40% from 45 to 64, and 16.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 97.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $40,534, and the median income for a family was $50,549. Males had a median income of $32,166 versus $20,221 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $20,443. About 2.10% of families and 5.10% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 6.00% of those under age 18 and 8.10% of those age 65 or over.

==Government==

===Presidential elections===
Prior to 1940, Scott County was a swing county, voting for the national winner in every presidential election from 1904 to 1936. From 1940 on, it has become one of the most Republican counties in the entire nation, with [[Barry Goldwater]] in 1964 being the lone Republican candidate since then to be held to single-digit margin of victory in the county. In addition, each of the last eight presidential elections have resulted in the Republican candidate winning over 70 percent of the county's vote & the Democratic candidate being held under 20 percent.
{{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=Scott 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|1,843|248|44|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|2,014|299|41|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|1,865|236|101|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|1,728|277|47|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|1,823|321|35|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|1,924|347|28|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|1,811|418|74|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|1,750|458|176|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|1,426|480|628|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|1,590|717|68|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|2,017|427|42|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|1,829|456|133|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|1,195|919|69|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|1,547|449|86|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|1,374|500|200|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1964|Republican|1,143|1,016|18|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|1,514|598|12|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|1,376|451|5|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|1,681|443|22|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|1,040|739|50|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|903|565|14|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|988|717|21|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|625|1,096|3|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|595|1,092|61|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|886|450|11|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|734|445|264|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|636|379|72|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|416|684|155|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|56|247|303|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|324|294|70|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|275|79|85|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1900|Democratic|128|159|3|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|91|161|1|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1892|Populist|142|0|167|Kansas}}
{{PresFoot|1888|Republican|294|182|62|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, Scott 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> with 3.2% cereal-malt beverages available in grocery stores.

==Education==

===Unified school districts===
* [http://www.usd466.com/ Scott County USD 466]

===Library===
The Scott County Public Library is located at 110 West 8th in Scott City. The Scott County Library was the first free county public library in the state of Kansas. It was started in September 1923 with the five members of the library committee each checking out a book for herself and one for her husband thus the library checked out ten books on the first day that it was open. Two rooms on the second floor of the Cretcher Lumber Company office building were made available for the library. L. W. Cretcher, owner of the lumber yard, gave the library a boost by painting the rooms, furnishing a stove, shelves, cupboards, lights, and free rent. In November 1924 a proposal was placed on the ballot for the library to be a county funded entity. A room was set aside in the basement of the newly built courthouse for the library, which at that time possessed 861 books. The library in the courthouse was opened to the public in July 1925. The library remained in the basement of the Scott County Courthouse until a separate library building was constructed at 110 West 8th Street in 1964. This building was {{convert|4150|sqft|m2}} with a {{convert|660|sqft|m2|adj=on}} meeting room available to the public. In 2004, the Scott County Library Board began a fundraising effort for a Library Building expansion of {{convert|7350|ft|m}}. The Library expansion and remodel to {{convert|12160|sqft|m2}} was completed in May 2009.<ref>''History of Early Scott County'', Scott County Historical Society, 1977. pp. 306-307.</ref>

==Communities==
[[Image:Map of Scott Co, Ks, USA.png|thumb|300px|2005 map of Scott 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 Scott County.<ref name="County-Map-Current">{{cite web |title=General Highway Map of Scott County, Kansas |url=https://www.ksdot.gov/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/burTransPlan/maps/county-pdf/scott.PDF |publisher=[[Kansas Department of Transportation]] (KDOT) |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230727150948/https://www.ksdot.gov/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/burTransPlan/maps/county-pdf/scott.PDF |archive-date=July 27, 2023 |date=November 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref><br/>
† means a community is designated a [[Census-designated place|Census-Designated Place]] (CDP) by the [[United States Census Bureau]].

===Cities===
* [[Scott City, Kansas|Scott City]] (county seat)

===Unincorporated communities===
{{div col}}
* [[Chevron, Kansas|Chevron]]
* [[Grigston, Kansas|Grigston]]
* [[Hutchins, Kansas|Hutchins]]
* [[Manning, Kansas|Manning]]
* [[Modoc, Kansas|Modoc]]
* [[Pence, Kansas|Pence]]
* [[Shallow Water, Kansas|Shallow Water]]†
{{div col end}}

===Townships===
Scott County is divided into seven [[Civil township|townships]].  [[Scott City, Kansas|Scott City]] 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:#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
|-
| Beaver || 05175 || || 302 || 1 (3) || 309 (119) || 0 (0) || 0.10% || {{coord|38|37|11|N|100|59|58|W|}}
|-
| Isbel || 34575 || || 110 || 1 (1) || 206 (80) || 0 (0) || 0% || {{coord|38|28|52|N|101|2|52|W|}}
|-
| Keystone || 36600 || || 106 || 1 (1) || 206 (80) || 0 (0) || 0% || {{coord|38|30|17|N|100|45|4|W|}}
|-
| Lake || 37850 || || 95 || 0 (1) || 311 (120) || 0 (0) || 0% || {{coord|38|20|23|N|100|49|39|W|}}
|-
| Michigan || 46175 || || 88 || 0 (1) || 308 (119) || 0 (0) || 0% || {{coord|38|36|23|N|100|48|23|W|}}
|-
| Scott || 63575 || || 309 || 2 (4) || 202 (78) || 0 (0) || 0% || {{coord|38|29|31|N|100|55|0|W|}}
|-
| Valley || 73125 || || 255 || 1 (2) || 311 (120) || 0 (0) || 0% || {{coord|38|21|6|N|100|58|13|W|}}
|}

==See also==
{{Portal|Kansas}}
* [[El Cuartelejo]] Apache and Puebloan site
* [[Lake Scott State Park]]
* [[Dry counties]]
{{See also Kansas counties}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
{{Kansas books}}
* [https://www.kansasmemory.org/item/209451/ ''Standard Atlas of Scott County, Kansas'']; Western Publishing Co; 34 pages; 1910.
* [https://www.kansasmemory.org/item/225301/ ''Handbook of Scott County, Kansas'']; C.S. Burch Publishing Co; 20 pages; 1887.

==External links==
{{Commons category|Scott County, Kansas}}
* {{Official website|http://ks-scott.manatron.com|Scott County - Official Website}}
* [https://www.lkm.org/members/?id=41260487 Scott County - Directory of Public Officials]
* [http://scottcounty.mykansaslibrary.org Scott County Library]
* Scott County Maps: [http://www.ksdot.org/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/burTransPlan/maps/county-pdf/scott.PDF Current], [http://www.ksdot.org/bureaus/burtransplan/maps/PastPublishedCounty.asp Historic], KDOT

{{Geographic location
|Center    = Scott County, Kansas
|North     = 
|Northeast = [[Gove County, Kansas|Gove County]]
|East      = [[Lane County, Kansas|Lane County]]
|Southeast = [[Finney County, Kansas|Finney County]]
|South     = [[Finney County, Kansas|Finney County]]
|Southwest = [[Kearny County, Kansas|Kearny County]]
|West      = [[Wichita County, Kansas|Wichita County]]
|Northwest = [[Logan County, Kansas|Logan County]]
}}

{{Scott County, Kansas}}
{{Kansas}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|38|28|N|100|54|W|type:adm2nd_region:US-KS|display=title}}

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