Editing Seward County, Kansas

{{short description|County in Kansas, United States}}
{{Distinguish|Seward, Kansas}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
|county             = Seward County
|state              = Kansas
|type               = [[County (United States)|County]]
|ex image           = Seward County, KS, Courthouse IMG_5985.JPG
|ex image cap       = Seward County Courthouse in [[Liberal, Kansas|Liberal]] (2010)
|founded            = March 20, 1873
|named for          = [[William H. Seward]]
|seat wl            = Liberal
|largest city wl    = Liberal
|area_total_sq_mi   = 640
|area_land_sq_mi    = 639
|area_water_sq_mi   = 1.0
|area percentage    = 0.2
|census yr          = 2020
|pop                = 21964
|pop_est_as_of      = 2023
|population_est     = 21067 {{loss}}
|density_sq_mi      = auto
|area codes         = [[Area code 620|620]]
|district           = 1st
|time zone          = Central
|website            = {{URL|http://www.sewardcountyks.org/|SewardCountyKS.org}}
|coordinates        = {{coord|37|12|N|100|50|W|type:adm2nd_region:US-KS|display=inline,title}}
}}

'''Seward County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] of the [[U.S. state]] of [[Kansas]].  Its [[county seat]] and largest city is [[Liberal, Kansas|Liberal]].<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 21,964.<ref name="QF">{{cite web |title=QuickFacts; Seward County, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/sewardcountykansas/POP010220 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=August 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210819234351/https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/sewardcountykansas/POP010220 |archive-date=August 19, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref>  The county was formed on March 20, 1873, and named after [[William Henry Seward|William Seward]], a politician and Secretary of State under [[Abraham Lincoln]] and [[Andrew Johnson]].

==History==
{{See also|History of Kansas}}
For [[millennia]], the [[Great Plains]] of [[North America]] were inhabited by [[nomadic]] [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]].

In 1854, the [[Kansas Territory]] was organized, then in 1861 [[Kansas]] became the 34th [[U.S. state]].

In 1873, '''Seward County''' was established, although it was administered from one of several neighboring counties until the county commissioners of [[Finney County, Kansas|Finney County]] organized Seward County as a municipal township of Finney County on June 10, 1885, with the temporary seat of government at Sunset City. The township was divided into two voting precincts - one headquartered at Sunset City and the other at Fargo Springs. The county was organized on June 17, 1886, with Governor John A. Martin designating Springfield the county seat and appointing men from Fargo Springs as county officers as not to favor one town over the other.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Brush |first=William L. |url=https://soar.wichita.edu/bitstream/handle/10057/25004/t1954_Brush.pdf |title=The Early History of Seward County |year=1954 |location=Wichita, KS |pages=8–12 |type=Master's Thesis}}</ref> Rivalry between Fargo Springs and Springfield became so intense both towns sent armed bodies of men to the other to prevent their voters from reaching the polls, causing a disputed election in 1885.<ref name=":0" />

The county seat dispute was finally settled when the railroads bypassed both Fargo Springs and Springfield in favor of an alignment through southern Seward County, spurring the rapid growth of Liberal, which won the final election for county seat in on December 8, 1892, by 125 votes.<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|640|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|639|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|1.0|sqmi}} (0.2%) 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 borders Oklahoma to the south.

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Haskell County, Kansas|Haskell County]] (north)
* [[Meade County, Kansas|Meade County]] (east)
* [[Beaver County, Oklahoma|Beaver County]], [[Oklahoma]] (southeast)
* [[Texas County, Oklahoma|Texas County]], [[Oklahoma]] (southwest)
* [[Stevens County, Kansas|Stevens County]] (west)

==Demographics==
[[Image:USA Seward County, Kansas age pyramid.svg|thumb|175px|left|[[Population pyramid]] based on 2000 census age data]]
{{US Census population
|1880= 5
|1890= 1503
|1900= 822
|1910= 4091
|1920= 6220
|1930= 8075
|1940= 6540
|1950= 9972
|1960= 15930
|1970= 15744
|1980= 17071
|1990= 18743
|2000= 22510
|2010= 22952
|2020= 21964
|estyear=2023
|estimate=21067
|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"/>
}}
The Liberal, KS [[Micropolitan Statistical Area]] includes all of Seward County.

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 22,510 people, 7,419 households, and 5,504 families residing in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|35|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 8,027 housing units at an average density of {{convert|13|/mi2|/km2|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 65.44% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 3.78% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.77% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 2.86% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.06% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 23.81% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 3.27% from two or more races. 42.14% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 7,419 households, out of which 43.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.60% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 10.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.80% were non-families. 20.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.98 and the average family size was 3.46.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 32.00% under the age of 18, 11.70% from 18 to 24, 30.50% from 25 to 44, 16.90% from 45 to 64, and 8.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females, there were 105.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,752, and the median income for a family was $41,134. Males had a median income of $29,765 versus $21,889 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $15,059. About 13.90% of families and 16.90% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 21.00% of those under age 18 and 7.30% 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=Seward 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|3,133|1,354|86|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|3,372|1,833|89|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|3,159|1,628|251|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|3,617|1,490|69|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|3,791|1,493|52|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|4,272|1,122|45|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|3,869|1,126|101|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|3,812|1,309|452|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|3,477|1,488|1,841|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|4,089|1,655|53|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|5,222|1,198|64|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|4,385|1,460|346|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|3,604|1,907|104|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|3,866|989|148|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|3,065|1,291|562|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1964|Republican|2,910|2,520|32|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|3,974|1,654|14|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|2,885|1,162|19|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|3,136|1,146|26|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|1,829|1,614|74|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|1,590|1,342|17|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|1,503|1,474|50|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|1,108|1,997|4|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|1,297|1,576|99|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|1,873|538|22|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|1,184|676|417|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|1,290|722|85|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|678|1,105|181|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|155|394|486|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|427|413|48|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|152|62|18|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|122|77|3|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1896|Republican|100|78|1|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1892|Republican|156|0|117|Kansas}}
{{PresFoot|1888|Republican|400|207|47|Kansas}}
}}<!-- End of Hidden template -->

Seward County has voted Republican since 1940.<ref>[http://www.uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/comparemaps.php?year=2010&fips=20&f=1&off=5&elect=0 David Leip's Atlas of US Elections]</ref> The last time Seward County voted for a Democratic candidate for president was when it favored incumbent Democrat [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] in 1936 over Kansas governor [[Alf Landon]].<ref>[http://geoelections.free.fr/USA/elec_comtes/1936.htm Geographie Electorale]</ref> In the [[Kansas Senate]] it is currently represented by Republican [[Garrett Love]]. In the [[Kansas House of Representatives]] it is represented by Republicans Bill Light and Carl Holmes.<ref>[http://www.ipsr.ku.edu/ksdata/vote/20175.shtml Institute for Policy and Social Research] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100616153426/http://www.ipsr.ku.edu/ksdata/vote/20175.shtml |date=June 16, 2010 }}</ref>

In [[2016 United States presidential election|2016]], [[Hillary Clinton]] became the first Democrat to break 30% in Seward County since [[Jimmy Carter]] in [[1976 United States presidential election|1976]]. [[2020 United States presidential election|Four years later]], Democrat [[Joe Biden]] would receive 34.6% of the vote, the highest share for a Democrat since [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] received 46.1% in Seward County in [[1964 United States presidential election|1964]].

===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>

The county narrowly voted "No" on the [[2022 Kansas abortion referendum]], an anti-abortion ballot measure, by 50.5% to 49.5%, and backed [[Donald Trump]] with 64% of the vote to [[Joe Biden]]'s 35% in the [[2020 United States presidential election|2020 presidential election]].<ref>{{cite report|url=https://www.sewardcountyks.org/DocumentCenter/View/4267|title=2022 Primary Election Abstract Summary|publisher=Seward County|date=August 8, 2022|accessdate=December 30, 2024}}</ref>

==Education==

===Unified school districts===
* [http://www.usd480.net/ Liberal USD 480]
* [http://www.usd483.net/ Kismet-Plains USD 483]

==Communities==
[[Image:Map of Seward Co, Ks, USA.png|thumb|300px|2005 map of Seward 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 Seward  County.<ref name="County-Map-Current">{{cite web |title=General Highway Map of Seward  County, Kansas |url=https://www.ksdot.gov/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/burTransPlan/maps/county-pdf/seward.PDF |publisher=[[Kansas Department of Transportation]] (KDOT) |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230208042858/https://www.ksdot.gov/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/burTransPlan/maps/county-pdf/seward.PDF |archive-date=February 8, 2023 |date=January 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Cities===
* [[Kismet, Kansas|Kismet]]
* [[Liberal, Kansas|Liberal]] (county seat)

===Unincorporated communities===
* [[Hayne, Kansas|Hayne]]

===Ghost towns===
* [[Arkalon, Kansas|Arkalon]]

===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]]]]
Seward County is divided into three [[Civil township|townships]]. The city of [[Liberal, Kansas|Liberal]] 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
|-
| Fargo || 23000 || || 1,684 || 3 (8) || 570 (220) || 2 (1) || 0.29% || {{coord|37|9|1|N|100|45|3|W|}}
|-
| Liberal || 39850 || || 803 || 2 (4) || 502 (194) || 0 (0) || 0.03% || {{coord|37|5|52|N|100|56|58|W|}}
|-
| Seward || 64075 || || 357 || 1 (2) || 556 (215) || 0 (0) || 0.06% || {{coord|37|18|55|N|100|50|34|W|}}
|}

==See also==
{{Portal|Kansas}}
* [[Golden Triangle of Meat-packing]]
{{See also Kansas counties}}

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

==Further reading==
{{Kansas books}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Seward County, Kansas}}
;County
* {{Official website|http://www.sewardcountyks.org/|Seward County - Official Website}}
* [https://www.lkm.org/members/?id=41260490 Seward County - Directory of Public Officials]
* [https://sewardheritage.com Seward County Historical Society]

;Historical railroad trestle - "Samson of the Cimarron"
* [http://www.kansastravel.org/cimarron.htm Samson of the Cimarron], kansastravel.org
* [http://www.leaderandtimes.com/index.php?option=com_content&id=7793:mighty-samson-bridge-nears-73rd-birthday&Itemid=40 Mighty Samson Bridge nears 73rd birthday] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160420011156/http://www.leaderandtimes.com/index.php?option=com_content&id=7793:mighty-samson-bridge-nears-73rd-birthday&Itemid=40 |date=April 20, 2016 }}, leaderandtimes.com
* [http://www.rits.org/www/structures/cimarron/cimarron106.html Sampson of the Cimarron history], rits.org

;Maps
* Seward County Maps: [http://www.ksdot.org/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/burTransPlan/maps/county-pdf/seward.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    = Seward County, Kansas
|North     = [[Haskell County, Kansas|Haskell County]]
|Northeast = 
|East      = [[Meade County, Kansas|Meade County]]
|Southeast = [[Beaver County, Oklahoma]]
|South     = 
|Southwest = [[Texas County, Oklahoma]]
|West      = [[Stevens County, Kansas|Stevens County]]
|Northwest = 
}}

{{Seward County, Kansas}}
{{Kansas}}
{{Authority control}}

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