Editing Wilson County, Kansas

{{short description|County in Kansas, United States}}
{{Distinguish|Wilson, Kansas}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
|county             = Wilson County
|state              = Kansas
|ex image           = Brown Hotel, Neodesha, KS.jpg
|ex image cap       = [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Wilson County, Kansas|Brown Hotel]] in [[Neodesha, Kansas|Neodesha]] (2017)
|type               = [[County (United States)|County]]
|founded            = 1855
|named for          = Hiero T. Wilson
|seat wl            = Fredonia
|largest city wl    = Neodesha
|area_total_sq_mi   = 575
|area_land_sq_mi    = 570
|area_water_sq_mi   = 4.7
|area percentage    = 0.8
|population_footnotes = <ref name="QF" />
|population_as_of   = 2020
|population_total   = 8624
|pop_est_footnotes  = <ref>{{Cite web |title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html |access-date=March 24, 2024 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>
|pop_est_as_of      = 2023
|population_est     = 8382 {{loss}}
|density_sq_mi      = auto
|district           = 2nd
|time zone          = Central
|website            = {{URL|http://www.wilsoncountykansas.org/|wilsoncountykansas.org}}
}}

'''Wilson County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] located in [[Southeast Kansas]].  Its [[county seat]] is [[Fredonia, Kansas|Fredonia]].<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 8,624.<ref name="QF">{{cite web |title=QuickFacts; Wilson County, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/wilsoncountykansas/POP010220 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=August 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210822015700/https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/wilsoncountykansas/POP010220 |archive-date=August 22, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref> The county was named after Hiero Wilson, a colonel in the American Civil War.

==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. In 1855, Wilson County was established and included what is now Wilson County and [[Montgomery County, Kansas|Montgomery County]]. It was named for Colonel Hiero T. Wilson. He was a successful Indian trader who had been the first white settler of [[Fort Scott, Kansas]] and had served as postmaster and [[sutler]] at the fort. He could speak Cherokee, Creek, and Osage and the Osage called him "Big White Chief". He was a delegate to the [[Constitution Hall (Lecompton, Kansas)|Lecompton Constitutional Convention]].<ref name=Rydjord317>Rydjord, p 317</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|575|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|570|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|4.7|sqmi}} (0.8%) 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===
* [[Woodson County, Kansas|Woodson County]] (north)
* [[Allen County, Kansas|Allen County]] (northeast)
* [[Neosho County, Kansas|Neosho County]] (east)
* [[Montgomery County, Kansas|Montgomery County]] (south)
* [[Elk County, Kansas|Elk County]] (west)
* [[Greenwood County, Kansas|Greenwood County]] (northwest)

==Demographics==
[[Image:USA Wilson County, Kansas age pyramid.svg|thumb|175px|left|[[Population pyramid]] based on 2000 census age data]]
{{US Census population
|1860= 27
|1870= 6694
|1880= 13775
|1890= 15286
|1900= 15621
|1910= 19810
|1920= 21157
|1930= 18646
|1940= 17723
|1950= 14815
|1960= 13077
|1970= 11317
|1980= 12128
|1990= 10289
|2000= 10332
|2010= 9409
|2020= 8624
|estyear=2023
|estimate=8382
|estref=<ref>{{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 10,332 people, 4,203 households, and 2,849 families residing in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|18|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 4,937 housing units at an average density of {{convert|9|/mi2|/km2|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 96.78% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 0.37% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.88% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.26% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.04% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.48% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.19% from two or more races. 1.67% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 4,203 households, out of which 29.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.10% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 7.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.20% were non-families. 29.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.40% under the age of 18, 7.40% from 18 to 24, 23.80% from 25 to 44, 23.40% from 45 to 64, and 19.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 94.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,747, and the median income for a family was $36,990. Males had a median income of $27,255 versus $18,670 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $14,910. About 7.50% of families and 11.30% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 13.40% of those under age 18 and 11.80% 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=Wilson 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|2,894|647|68|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|3,153|723|78|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|2,788|594|209|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|2,825|818|74|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|2,850|1,170|101|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|3,263|1,060|75|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|2,748|1,186|161|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|2,458|1,297|602|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|1,925|1,331|1,379|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|2,743|1,545|58|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|3,663|1,344|64|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|3,328|1,205|268|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|2,682|2,047|89|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|3,568|1,043|159|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|3,340|1,276|656|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1964|Republican|2,919|2,592|45|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|4,333|2,034|27|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|4,502|1,645|20|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|5,180|1,845|53|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|3,868|2,538|100|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|4,248|1,912|35|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|5,288|2,859|62|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1936|Republican|4,829|3,816|42|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|3,422|4,001|193|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|5,603|1,465|73|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|4,596|1,736|739|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|4,024|1,768|284|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|2,970|3,494|640|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1912|Progressive|849|1,304|2,108|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|2,428|1,777|364|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|2,583|1,034|459|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|2,193|1,711|42|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|1,852|1,959|17|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1892|Republican|1,803|0|1,678|Kansas}}
{{PresFoot|1888|Republican|2,191|1,035|723|Kansas}}
}}<!-- End of Hidden template -->

Wilson County has long voted predominantly Republican. No Democratic presidential candidate has carried Wilson County since [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] in 1932, and none has exceeded 36 percent since [[Jimmy Carter]] in 1976.

===Laws===
Following amendment to the [[Kansas Constitution]] in 1986, the county remained a prohibition, or [[dry county|"dry"]], county until 1998, 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===
* [https://www.usd387.org Altoona-Midway USD 387]<ref>[http://www.altoonamidway.org/ Altoona-Midway USD 387]</ref>
* [https://www.neodesha.k12.ks.us/ Neodesha USD 461]<ref>[https://www.neodesha.k12.ks.us/ Neodesha USD 461]</ref>
* [https://www.fredoniaks.com/ Fredonia USD 484]<ref>[https://www.fredoniaks.com/ Fredonia USD 484]</ref>

==Communities==
[[Image:Map of Wilson Co, Ks, USA.png|thumb|300px|2005 map of Wilson County<ref name="County-Map-Current"/> ([[:Image:Kansas official transportation map legend.png|map legend]])]]
List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Wilson County.<ref name="County-Map-Current">{{cite web |title=General Highway Map of Wilson County, Kansas |url=https://www.ksdot.gov/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/burTransPlan/maps/county-pdf/wilson.PDF |publisher=[[Kansas Department of Transportation]] (KDOT) |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240517182848/https://www.ksdot.gov/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/burTransPlan/maps/county-pdf/wilson.PDF |archive-date=May 17, 2024 |date=May 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Cities===
{{div col}}
* [[Altoona, Kansas|Altoona]]
* [[Benedict, Kansas|Benedict]]
* [[Buffalo, Kansas|Buffalo]]
* [[Coyville, Kansas|Coyville]]
* [[Fredonia, Kansas|Fredonia]] (county seat)
* [[Neodesha, Kansas|Neodesha]]
* [[New Albany, Kansas|New Albany]]
{{div col end}}

===Unincorporated communities===
† means a community is designated a [[Census-designated place|Census-Designated Place]] (CDP) by the [[United States Census Bureau]].
{{div col}}
* [[Buxton, Kansas|Buxton]]
* [[Lafontaine, Kansas|Lafontaine]]†
* [[Rest, Kansas|Rest]]
* [[Roper, Kansas|Roper]]
* [[Vilas, Kansas|Vilas]]
{{div col end}}

===Townships===
Wilson County is divided into fifteen [[Civil township|townships]]. The cities of [[Fredonia, Kansas|Fredonia]] and [[Neodesha, Kansas|Neodesha]] are considered ''governmentally independent'' and are 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
|-
| Cedar || 11375 || || 701 || 8 (19) || 93 (36) || 0 (0) || 0.11% || {{coord|37|31|21|N|95|40|14|W|type:city|name=Cedar Twp.}}
|-
| Center || 12225 || || 618 || 6 (16) || 103 (40) || 0 (0) || 0.14% || {{coord|37|31|5|N|95|49|11|W|type:city|name=Center Twp.}}
|-
| Chetopa || 13000 || || 188 || 2 (5) || 93 (36) || 0 (0) || 0.11% || {{coord|37|30|28|N|95|34|14|W|type:city|name=Chetopa Twp.}}
|-
| Clifton || 14250 || || 414 || 4 (12) || 93 (36) || 0 (0) || 0.53% || {{coord|37|41|56|N|95|42|23|W|type:city|name=Clifton Twp.}}
|-
| Colfax || 14825 || || 452 || 4 (10) || 123 (47) || 0 (0) || 0.17% || {{coord|37|40|55|N|95|36|20|W|type:city|name=Colfax Twp.}}
|-
| Duck Creek || 18800 || || 103 || 1 (3) || 93 (36) || 0 (0) || 0.23% || {{coord|37|26|14|N|95|54|58|W|type:city|name=Duck Creek Twp.}}
|-
| Fall River || 22825 || || 398 || 3 (8) || 131 (51) || 0 (0) || 0.16% || {{coord|37|32|21|N|95|55|33|W|type:city|name=Fall River Twp.}}
|-
| Guilford || 29200 || || 205 || 2 (6) || 93 (36) || 0 (0) || 0.06% || {{coord|37|36|32|N|95|43|22|W|type:city|name=Guilford Twp.}}
|-
| Neodesha || 49675 || || 583 || 6 (17) || 90 (35) || 0 (0) || 0.52% || {{coord|37|25|29|N|95|40|52|W|type:city|name=Neodesha Twp.}}
|-
| Newark || 50200 || || 226 || 2 (6) || 92 (36) || 0 (0) || 0.18% || {{coord|37|25|30|N|95|34|56|W|type:city|name=Newark Twp.}}
|-
| Pleasant Valley || 56650 || || 201 || 2 (4) || 123 (47) || 0 (0) || 0.09% || {{coord|37|36|25|N|95|36|21|W|type:city|name=Pleasant Valley Twp.}}
|-
| Prairie || 57425 || || 118 || 2 (4) || 78 (30) || 0 (0) || 0.28% || {{coord|37|36|17|N|95|49|26|W|type:city|name=Prairie Twp.}}
|-
| Talleyrand || 69900 || || 232 || 3 (7) || 92 (36) || 0 (0) || 0.06% || {{coord|37|25|19|N|95|48|25|W|type:city|name=Talleyrand Twp.}}
|-
| Verdigris || 73500 || || 394 || 4 (10) || 103 (40) || 0 (0) || 0.27% || {{coord|37|39|29|N|95|53|51|W|type:city|name=Verdigris Twp.}}
|-
| Webster || 76300 || || 51 || 1 (2) || 77 (30) || 0 (0) || 0.15% || {{coord|37|42|0|N|95|50|1|W|type:city|name=Webster Twp.}}
|}

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

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
{{Kansas books}}
* {{cite book|last=Rydjord|first=John|title=Kansas Place-Names|year=1972|publisher=University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, Oklahoma|isbn=0-8061-0994-7}} 
* [https://www.kansasmemory.org/item/225305/ ''Handbook of Wilson County, Kansas'']; C.S. Burch Publishing Co; 44 pages; 1886.
* [https://www.kansasmemory.org/item/209452/ ''Standard Atlas of Wilson County, Kansas'']; Geo. A. Ogle & Co; 52 pages; 1910.
* [https://www.kansasmemory.org/item/224010/ ''Historical Atlas of Wilson County, Kansas'']; John P. Edwards; 35 pages; 1881.

==External links==
{{Commons category|Wilson County, Kansas}}
;County
* {{Official website|http://www.wilsoncountykansas.org/|Wilson County - Official Website}}
* [https://www.lkm.org/members/?id=41260505 Wilson County - Directory of Public Officials]
;Maps
* Wilson County Maps: [https://www.ksdot.org/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/burTransPlan/maps/county-pdf/wilson.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    = Wilson County, Kansas
|North     = [[Woodson County, Kansas|Woodson County]]
|Northeast = [[Allen County, Kansas|Allen County]]
|East      = [[Neosho County, Kansas|Neosho County]]
|Southeast = 
|South     = [[Montgomery County, Kansas|Montgomery County]]
|Southwest = 
|West      = [[Elk County, Kansas|Elk County]]
|Northwest = [[Greenwood County, Kansas|Greenwood County]]
}}

{{Wilson County, Kansas}}
{{Kansas}}
{{Authority control}}
{{coord|37|34|N|95|44|W|type:adm2nd_region:US-KS|display=title}}

[[Category:Wilson County, Kansas| ]]
[[Category:Kansas counties]]
[[Category:1855 establishments in Kansas Territory]]