Thomas County, Kansas

Thomas County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat is Colby.<ref name="GR6">Template:Cite web</ref> As of the 2020 census, the county population was 7,930.<ref name="QF">Template:Cite web</ref> The county was named after George Thomas, a Union general during the Civil War.

History

Early history

Template:See also For many millennia, the Great Plains of North America was inhabited by nomadic 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.

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 modern day Kansas was acquired by the United States from France as part of the 828,000 square mile Louisiana Purchase for 2.83 cents per acre.

In 1854, the Kansas Territory was organized, then in 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state. Thomas County was founded on October 8, 1885. It was named for George Thomas, a Union general during the Civil War and hero of the Battle of Chickamauga. The townships of the county were named after the soldiers who died at the Battle of Chickamauga.<ref>A Brief History of Thomas County, Kansas</ref>

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert (0.01%) is water.<ref name="GR1">Template:Cite web</ref>

Major highways

• File:I-70.svg Interstate 70
• File:US 24.svg U.S. Highway 24
• File:US 83.svg U.S. Highway 83
• File:K-25.svg Kansas Highway 25

Adjacent counties

• Rawlins County (north)
• Decatur County (northeast)
• Sheridan County (east)
• Gove County (southeast)
• Logan County (south)
• Sherman County (west/Mountain Time border)

Demographics

File:USA Thomas County, Kansas age pyramid.svg

Population pyramid based on 2000 census age data

As of the census<ref name="GR2">Template:Cite web</ref> of 2000, there were 8,180 people, 3,226 households, and 2,125 families residing in the county. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 3,562 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the county was 97.14% White, 0.43% Black or African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.95% from other races, and 0.86% from two or more races. 1.85% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,226 households, out of which 32.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.10% were married couples living together, 6.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.10% were non-families. 28.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.30% under the age of 18, 13.50% from 18 to 24, 24.40% from 25 to 44, 21.20% from 45 to 64, and 14.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 94.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,034, and the median income for a family was $45,931. Males had a median income of $33,833 versus $21,310 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,028. About 6.60% of families and 9.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.90% of those under age 18 and 7.50% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Presidential elections

Thomas County is strongly Republican, and has increasingly been this way over the past few election cycles. The last time a Democratic candidate has carried Thomas County was in 1964 by Lyndon B. Johnson. Template:Hidden

Laws

Thomas County was a prohibition, or "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>Template:Cite web</ref>

Education

Colleges

• Colby Community College

Unified school districts

• Brewster USD 314
• Colby USD 315
• Golden Plains USD 316

Communities

File:Map of Thomas Co, Ks, USA.png

2005 map of Thomas County from KDOT<ref name="County-Map-Current"/> (map legend)

List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Thomas County.<ref name="County-Map-Current">Template:Cite web</ref>
‡ means a community has portions in an adjacent county. † means a community is designated a Census-Designated Place (CDP) by the United States Census Bureau.

Cities

• Brewster
• Colby (county seat)
• Gem
• Menlo
• Oakley‡
• Rexford

Unincorporated communities

• Halford
• Levant†
• Mingo

Ghost towns

• Copeland
• Cumberland
• Kuka
• Otterbourne
• Quickville

Townships

Thomas County is divided into thirteen townships. The townships were named in honor of men who were killed at the Battle of Chickamauga.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The city of Colby is considered governmentally independent and is excluded from the census figures for the townships. Geographically, Colby is surrounded by Morgan Township. 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.

Sources: 2000 U.S. Gazetteer from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Township	FIPS	Population center	Population	Population density /km2 (/sq mi)	Land area km2 (sq mi)	Water area km2 (sq mi)	Water %	Geographic coordinates
Barrett	04325		124	0 (1)	276 (107)	0 (0)	0.01%	Template:Coord
East Hale	19475		137	1 (3)	140 (54)	0 (0)	0%	Template:Coord
Kingery	36925		93	0 (1)	373 (144)	0 (0)	0%	Template:Coord
Lacey	37425	Gem	132	1 (4)	92 (36)	0 (0)	0%	Template:Coord
Menlo	45775	Menlo	112	1 (2)	140 (54)	0 (0)	0%	Template:Coord
Morgan	48200	Colby outskirts	755	3 (7)	271 (105)	0 (0)	0%	Template:Coord
North Randall	51300		107	1 (2)	138 (53)	0 (0)	0.03%	Template:Coord
Rovohl	61525		143	1 (1)	277 (107)	0 (0)	0%	Template:Coord
Smith	65900	Rexford	213	2 (6)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.03%	Template:Coord
South Randall	66875	Oakley outskirts	267	1 (2)	279 (108)	0 (0)	0.04%	Template:Coord
Summers	68975		197	1 (1)	373 (144)	0 (0)	0%	Template:Coord
Wendell	76650		84	0 (1)	183 (71)	0 (0)	0.02%	Template:Coord
West Hale	76975	Brewster	366	3 (7)	140 (54)	0 (0)	0%	Template:Coord

Further reading

• Standard Atlas of Thomas County, Kansas; Geo. A. Ogle & Co; 64 pages; 1907.

External links

County

• Template:Official website
• Thomas County - Directory of Public Officials

Maps

• Thomas County Maps: Current, Historic, KDOT
• Kansas Highway Maps: Current, Historic, KDOT
• Kansas Railroad Maps: Current, 1996, 1915, KDOT and Kansas Historical Society