Editing Stevens County, Kansas

{{short description|County in Kansas, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
|county             = Stevens County
|state              = Kansas
|type               = [[County (United States)|County]]
|ex image           = StevensCoCH.jpg
|ex image cap       = Stevens County Courthouse in [[Hugoton, Kansas|Hugoton]] (2009)
|founded            = August 3, 1886
|named for          = [[Thaddeus Stevens]]<ref name=ij/>
|seat wl            = Hugoton
|largest city wl    = Hugoton
|area_total_sq_mi   = 727
|area_land_sq_mi    = 727
|area_water_sq_mi   = 0.2
|area percentage    = 0.02
|census yr          = 2020
|pop                = 5250
|pop_est_as_of      = 2023
|population_est     = 5077 {{loss}}
|density_sq_mi      = auto
|area codes         = [[Area code 620|620]]
|district           = 1st
|time zone          = Central
|website            = {{URL|http://stevenscoks.org/|StevensCoKS.org}}
|coordinates        = {{coord|37|12|N|101|18|W|type:adm2nd_region:US-KS|display=inline,title}}
}}

'''Stevens County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Kansas]].  Its [[county seat]] is [[Hugoton, Kansas|Hugoton]].<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 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 }}</ref>  As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the county population was 5,250.<ref name="QF">{{cite web |title=QuickFacts; Stevens County, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/stevenscountykansas/POP010220 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=August 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210820170441/https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/stevenscountykansas/POP010220 |archive-date=August 20, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref>  The county is named for [[Thaddeus Stevens]], a Reconstruction era Pennsylvania politician.<ref name=ij>{{cite news|first=Tom|last=Knapp|title=Stevens to honor Stevens, Town was named for famous legislator, who got it a post office|url=http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/235847|work=[[Intelligencer Journal]]|date=April 3, 2009|access-date=May 9, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121208212041/http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/235847|archive-date=December 8, 2012}}</ref>

==History==
{{See also|History of Kansas}}

In 1886, '''Stevens County''' was established.

The first settlers came from McPherson, Kansas in 1885, originally naming their town Hugo after Victor Hugo, before changing it to [[Hugoton, Kansas|Hugoton]]. Other early towns included Lafayette, founded by Quakers in 1886, and Moscow, established in 1887.

In the late 1880s and early 1890s, a violent "[[county seat war]]" raged between Hugoton, which had been designated the temporary county seat, and [[Woodsdale, Kansas|Woodsdale]]. Incidents included arrests, kidnappings, and killings.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Stevens County, Kansas - Kansapedia - Kansas Historical Society |url=https://www.kshs.org/kansapedia/stevens-county-kansas/15349 |access-date=April 19, 2024 |website=www.kshs.org}}</ref> The conflict culminated in the July 25, 1888, murder of Sheriff Cross of Woodsdale and three of his men in the [[Hay Meadow massacre|Hay Meadow Massacre]] by Sam Robinson of Hugoton and his supporters. Robinson fled and was never tried for the murders.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Gribben |first=Brian |title=Research Guides: Kansas Heritage: Stevens County |url=https://fhsuguides.fhsu.edu/kansasheritage/stevenscounty |access-date=April 19, 2024 |website=fhsuguides.fhsu.edu |language=en}}</ref> The issue was eventually resolved in 1887 when Hugoton became the permanent county seat, though tensions remained high for several years after.<ref name=":0" />

Natural gas was discovered in Stevens County in 1927, leading to the development of the Hugoton Natural Gas Area and transforming Hugoton into a major center of the natural gas industry.<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|727|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|727|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|0.2|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>

===Major highways===
*[[File:K-25.svg|20px]] [[K-25 (Kansas highway)|Kansas Highway 25]]
*[[File:K-51.svg|20px]] [[K-51 (Kansas highway)|Kansas Highway 51]]
*[[File:US 56.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 56 in Kansas|U.S. Route 56]]

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Grant County, Kansas|Grant County]] (north)
* [[Haskell County, Kansas|Haskell County]] (northeast)
* [[Seward County, Kansas|Seward County]] (east)
* [[Texas County, Oklahoma]] (south)
* [[Morton County, Kansas|Morton County]] (west)
* [[Stanton County, Kansas|Stanton County]] (northwest)

===National protected area===
* [[Cimarron National Grassland]] (part)

==Demographics==
[[Image:USA Stevens County, Kansas age pyramid.svg|thumb|175px|left|[[Population pyramid]] based on 2000 census age data]]
{{US Census population
|1880= 12
|1890= 1418
|1900= 620
|1910= 2453
|1920= 3943
|1930= 4655
|1940= 3193
|1950= 4516
|1960= 4400
|1970= 4198
|1980= 4736
|1990= 5048
|2000= 5463
|2010= 5724
|2020= 5250
|estyear=2023
|estimate=5077
|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 5,463 people, 1,988 households, and 1,457 families residing in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|8|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 2,265 housing units at an average density of {{convert|3|/mi2|/km2|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 83.01% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 0.93% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.93% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.24% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.02% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 13.25% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.61% from two or more races. 21.73% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 1,988 households, out of which 38.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.10% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 7.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.70% were non-families. 24.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.27.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 31.20% under the age of 18, 8.30% from 18 to 24, 27.80% from 25 to 44, 19.40% from 45 to 64, and 13.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 95.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $41,830, and the median income for a family was $49,063. Males had a median income of $36,525 versus $22,803 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $17,814. About 8.30% of families and 10.30% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 15.10% of those under age 18 and 4.70% of those age 65 or over.

==Government==

===County===
Stevens County is governed by the Stevens County Commissioners. The current members are Joe D. Thompson, Tron Stegman, and Shannon Crawford.

===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=Stevens 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|1,595|210|30|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|1,760|237|34|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|1,599|220|72|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|1,749|252|33|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|1,815|283|29|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|1,936|310|19|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|1,714|345|52|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|1,548|405|231|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|1,408|390|679|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|1,642|612|53|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|1,863|386|22|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|1,502|478|105|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|1,262|901|42|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|1,392|408|69|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|1,157|528|297|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|992|1,006|22|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|1,405|630|9|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|1,273|565|7|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|1,480|423|15|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|822|666|33|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|760|414|2|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|851|674|21|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|701|1,023|6|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|578|1,225|57|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|1,133|300|10|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|913|302|157|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|876|346|39|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|391|646|131|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|117|237|251|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|258|215|62|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|122|40|28|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1900|Democratic|66|89|1|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|48|101|0|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1892|Populist|85|0|185|Kansas}}
{{PresFoot|1888|Republican|307|268|174|Kansas}}
}}<!-- End of Hidden template -->

Stevens County is overwhelmingly Republican. It has not been won by a Democrat at Presidential level since [[Lyndon Johnson]] won by fourteen votes in 1964. In fact, the last Democrat to crack thirty percent of the county's vote was [[Jimmy Carter]] in 1976, and since Carter only [[Michael Dukakis]] during the [[1988–89 North American drought|drought]] and farm crisis-influenced 1988 election has received so much as twenty percent.

=== Laws ===
The [[Kansas Constitution]] was amended in 1986 to allow the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with the approval of voters, either with or without a minimum of 30% of sales coming from food. Stevens County is one of 35 counties in the state that allows for the sale of liquor by the drink without the minimum food sales stipulation.<ref>{{Cite web|date=December 30, 2019|title=Map of Wet and Dry Counties|url=https://www.ksrevenue.org/pdf/abcwetdrymap.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201104064913/https://www.ksrevenue.org/pdf/abcwetdrymap.pdf|archive-date=November 4, 2020|access-date=November 4, 2020|publisher=[[Kansas Department of Revenue]] Alcoholic Beverage Control}}</ref>

==Education==

===Unified school districts===
* Moscow USD 209
* [http://www.usd210.org/ Hugoton USD 210]

==Communities==
[[Image:Map of Stevens Co, Ks, USA.png|thumb|300px|2005 map of Stevens County<ref name="County-Map-Current"/> ([[:File:Kansas official transportation map legend.png|map legend]])]]
List of current townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Stevens County.<ref name="County-Map-Current">{{cite web |title=General Highway Map of Stevens County, Kansas |url=https://www.ksdot.gov/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/burTransPlan/maps/county-pdf/stevens.PDF |publisher=[[Kansas Department of Transportation]] (KDOT) |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230207110539/https://www.ksdot.gov/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/burTransPlan/maps/county-pdf/stevens.PDF |archive-date=February 7, 2023 |date=April 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Cities===
* [[Hugoton, Kansas|Hugoton]] (county seat)
* [[Moscow, Kansas|Moscow]]

===Ghost towns===
* Feterita
* [[Woodsdale, Kansas|Woodsdale]]

===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]]]]
Stevens County is divided into six [[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
|-
| Banner || 04125 || || 164 || 1 (2) || 277 (107) || 0 (0) || 0% || {{coord|37|3|41|N|101|11|37|W|}}
|-
| Center || 12200 || || 4,131 || 15 (38) || 280 (108) || 0 (0) || 0.02% || {{coord|37|10|38|N|101|19|7|W|}}
|-
| Harmony || 30150 || || 143 || 1 (1) || 280 (108) || 0 (0) || 0% || {{coord|37|19|22|N|101|26|55|W|}}
|-
| Moscow || 48625 || || 711 || 2 (4) || 442 (171) || 0 (0) || 0.09% || {{coord|37|18|28|N|101|12|12|W|}}
|-
| Voorhees || 74200 || || 145 || 0 (1) || 349 (135) || 0 (0) || 0% || {{coord|37|3|26|N|101|23|16|W|}}
|-
| West Center || 76800 || || 169 || 1 (2) || 257 (99) || 0 (0) || 0% || {{coord|37|11|30|N|101|26|19|W|}}
|}

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

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

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

==External links==
{{Commons category|Stevens County, Kansas}}
;County
* {{Official website|http://stevenscoks.org/|Stevens County - Official Website}}
* [https://www.lkm.org/members/?id=41260497 Stevens County - Directory of Public Officials]
;Other
* [http://www.usd210.org Hugoton Schools]
;Maps
* Stevens County Maps: [http://www.ksdot.org/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/burTransPlan/maps/county-pdf/stevens.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    = Stevens County, Kansas
|North     = [[Grant County, Kansas|Grant County]]
|Northeast = [[Haskell County, Kansas|Haskell County]]
|East      = [[Seward County, Kansas|Seward County]]
|Southeast = [[Texas County, Oklahoma]]
|South     = [[Texas County, Oklahoma]]
|Southwest = [[Texas County, Oklahoma]]
|West      = [[Morton County, Kansas|Morton County]]
|Northwest = [[Stanton County, Kansas|Stanton County]]
}}

{{Stevens County, Kansas}}
{{Kansas}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Stevens County, Kansas| ]]
[[Category:Kansas counties]]
[[Category:1886 establishments in Kansas]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1886]]