Mitchell County, Kansas

Mitchell County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat and largest city is Beloit.<ref name="GR6">Template:Cite web</ref> As of the 2020 census, the county population was 5,796.<ref name="QF">Template:Cite web</ref> The county was named for William Mitchell.

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. In 1867, Mitchell County was established.

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 (2.4%) is water.<ref name="GR1">Template:Cite web</ref>

Adjacent counties

• Jewell County (north)
• Cloud County (east)
• Ottawa County (southeast)
• Lincoln County (south)
• Osborne County (west)

Demographics

File:USA Mitchell 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 2010, there were 6,373 people, 2,790 households, and 1,725 families residing in the county. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 3,296 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the county was 97.97% White, 0.20% Black or African American, 0.37% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.26% from other races, and 0.80% from two or more races. 1.14% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,790 households, out of which 24.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.29% were married couples living together, 6.23% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.17% were non-families. 33.08% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.12% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.20 and the average family size was 2.77.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 21.44% under the age of 18, 8.00% from 18 to 24, 19.83% from 25 to 44, 29.67% from 45 to 64, and 21.04% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45.6 years. For every 100 females there were 102.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.2 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $44,247, and the median income for a family was $54,502. Males had a median income of $30,044 versus $20,094 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,350. About 4.90% of families and 8.26% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.04% of those under age 18 and 12.33% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Presidential elections

Prior to 1940, Mitchell County was a swing county, backing the national winner in every presidential election from 1900 to 1936. Since 1940, it has become a Republican stronghold, with only George H. W. Bush in 1992 failing to win a majority in the county due to Ross Perot's strong showing in Kansas.

Laws

Following amendment to the Kansas Constitution in 1986, the county remained a prohibition, or "dry", county until 1996, when voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with a 30% food sales requirement.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Education

Colleges

• North Central Kansas Technical College in Beloit

Unified school districts

• Waconda USD 272
• Beloit USD 273

Private schools

• St. John's Catholic High School
• Tipton Catholic High School

Communities

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

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

List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Mitchell County.<ref name="County-Map-Current">Template:Cite web</ref>

Cities

‡ means a community has portions in an adjacent county. Template:Div col

• Beloit (county seat)
• Cawker City
• Glen Elder
• Hunter
• Scottsville
• Simpson‡
• Tipton

Unincorporated communities

† means a community is designated a Census-Designated Place (CDP) by the United States Census Bureau. Template:Div col

• Asherville†
• Solomon Rapids

Ghost towns

• Blue Hill
• Buel
• Coursens Grove
• Elmira
• Saltville
• Sunflower
• Victor
• Walnut Grove
• West Asher

Townships

Mitchell County is divided into twenty townships. The city of Beloit 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.

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
Asherville	02625		122	1 (3)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.08%	Template:Coord
Beloit	05800	Beloit	4,003	48 (125)	83 (32)	0 (0)	0.02%	Template:Coord
Bloomfield	07425		83	1 (2)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0.24%	Template:Coord
Blue Hill	07575		36	0 (1)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.36%	Template:Coord
Carr Creek	10850		31	0 (1)	84 (33)	9 (3)	9.51%	Template:Coord
Cawker	11150	Cawker City	578	8 (20)	75 (29)	17 (7)	18.68%	Template:Coord
Center	11875		49	1 (1)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.03%	Template:Coord
Custer	16875	Hunter	132	1 (4)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0.13%	Template:Coord
Eureka	21875		41	0 (1)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.38%	Template:Coord
Glen Elder	26525	Glen Elder	553	7 (18)	78 (30)	15 (6)	16.01%	Template:Coord
Hayes	30975		21	0 (1)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.03%	Template:Coord
Logan	42025	Simpson	168	2 (5)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.12%	Template:Coord
Lulu	43225	Scottsville	90	1 (3)	92 (35)	0 (0)	0%	Template:Coord
Pittsburg	56050	Tipton	346	4 (10)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.03%	Template:Coord
Plum Creek	56825		119	1 (3)	92 (36)	0 (0)	0.02%	Template:Coord
Round Springs	61500		27	0 (1)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.14%	Template:Coord
Salt Creek	62825		39	0 (1)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.37%	Template:Coord
Solomon Rapids	66450		80	1 (2)	91 (35)	0 (0)	0.14%	Template:Coord
Turkey Creek	71725		134	1 (4)	92 (36)	0 (0)	0.23%	Template:Coord
Walnut Creek	75150		42	0 (1)	88 (34)	5 (2)	5.78%	Template:Coord

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Mitchell County, Kansas

Further reading

• Standard Atlas of Mitchell County, Kansas; Geo. A. Ogle & Co; 73 pages; 1917.
• Standard Atlas of Mitchell County, Kansas; Geo. A. Ogle & Co; 56 pages; 1902.
• Atlas of Mitchell County, Kansas; Gillen & Davy; 45 pages; 1884.

External links

County

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

Maps

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