Jewell County, Kansas: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 17:40, 28 February 2025

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File:RepublicanRiver1947.jpg

June 24, 1947, flood of the Republican River on the border of Jewell County, Kansas and Republic County, Kansas, near Hardy, Nebraska, and Webber, Kansas, just south of Nebraska NE-8 on Kansas 1 Rd/CR-1 bridge over the Republican River. The normal flood stage for the river is at the tree line in the foreground.

Jewell County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat and most populous city is Mankato.<ref name="GR6">Template:Cite web</ref> As of the 2020 census, the county population was 2,932.<ref name="QF">Template:Cite web</ref> The county was named for Lewis Jewell, a lieutenant colonel of the 6th Regiment Kansas Volunteer Cavalry.

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 1887, Jewell County was established and named for Lieutenant Colonel Lewis R. Jewell of the 6th Regiment Kansas Volunteer Cavalry<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> who died from wounds received in the Battle of Cane Hill.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite book</ref> The county lies on the historic Pawnee road, which was crossed by the Pike Exedition in 1806. The first attempt at settlement was made by William Harshberger and his wife on White Rock Creek in 1862, but they were soon driven out by hostile Indian tribes. Subsequent settlement efforts along White Rock Creek in 1866 and 1867 were again subjected to Cheyenne raids in which many settlers were killed, after which the survivors evacuated the county. The Excelsior colony from New York attempted to settle in 1869 but was driven out by June. Despite these dangers, more settlers arrived later that year and into 1870. The first marriage was recorded in the county in 1871.<ref name=":0" />

In response to the persistent threat of Indian raids, settlers formed the "Buffalo Militia" in May 1870 to protect against an anticipated Cheyenne attack. They constructed a fort at what is now Jewell City, which they held until relieved by the Third U.S. Mounted Artillery the following month. After this, there were no further attacks from hostile tribes. The county's formal organization began with the appointment of county commissioners in July 1870, followed by an election in September to establish county officials and choose Jewell City as the county seat.<ref name=":0" />

In 1887, Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway built a branch line from Neva (3 miles west of Strong City) to Superior, Nebraska. This branch line connected Strong City, Neva, Rockland, Diamond Springs, Burdick, Lost Springs, Jacobs, Hope, Navarre, Enterprise, Abilene, Talmage, Manchester, Longford, Oak Hill, Miltonvale, Aurora, Huscher, Concordia, Kackley, Courtland, Webber, Superior. At some point, the line from Neva to Lost Springs was pulled but the right of way has not been abandoned. This branch line was originally called "Strong City and Superior line" but later the name was shortened to the "Strong City line". In 1996, the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway merged with Burlington Northern Railroad and renamed to the current BNSF Railway. Most locals still refer to this railroad as the "Santa Fe".

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 (0.5%) is water.<ref name="GR1">Template:Cite web</ref>

Adjacent counties

Nuckolls County, Nebraska (northeast)
Republic County (east)
Cloud County (southeast)
Mitchell County (south)
Osborne County (southwest)
Smith County (west)
Webster County, Nebraska (northwest)

Demographics

File:USA Jewell County, Kansas age pyramid.svg

Population pyramid based on 2000 census age data

Template:US Census population

As of the 2000 census,<ref name="GR2">Template:Cite web</ref> there were 3,791 people, 1,695 households, and 1,098 families residing in the county. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 2,103 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the county was 98.79% White, 0.34% Native American, 0.05% Asian, 0.03% Black or African American, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.05% from other races, and 0.71% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.71% of the population.

There were 1,695 households, out of which 23.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.10% were married couples living together, 4.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.20% were non-families. 32.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.80.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 21.90% under the age of 18, 4.40% from 18 to 24, 21.50% from 25 to 44, 26.20% from 45 to 64, and 25.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 97.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,538, and the median income for a family was $36,953. Males had a median income of $24,821 versus $18,170 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,644. About 8.40% of families and 11.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.80% of those under age 18 and 10.90% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Presidential elections

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Like all of Kansas outside the eastern cities, Jewell County is overwhelmingly Republican. The only Democratic presidential candidates to win a majority in the county have been Woodrow Wilson in 1916 and William Jennings Bryan in 1896, and the last Democrat to win a plurality was Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1932. Since 1940 only Lyndon Johnson in 1964 and Jimmy Carter in 1976 have exceeded 31 percent of the county's vote, a devotion to the GOP comparable to famous Appalachia Unionist strongholds like Avery County, North Carolina, or Grant County, West Virginia.

Laws

Although the Kansas Constitution was amended in 1986 to allow the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with the approval of voters, Jewell County restaurants serve only 3.2 beer and no hard alcohol.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Education

Unified school districts

Rock Hills USD 107

Communities

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

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

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

Townships

Jewell County is divided into twenty-five 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.

Township	FIPS	Population	Population density /km² (/sq mi)	Land area km² (sq mi)	Water area km² (sq mi)	Water %	Geographic coordinates
Allen	01225	43	0 (1)	90 (35)	0 (0)	0.02%	Template:Coord
Athens	02975	74	1 (2)	102 (39)	0 (0)	0%	Template:Coord
Browns Creek	08725	64	1 (2)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.02%	Template:Coord
Buffalo	09125	574	5 (14)	105 (41)	0 (0)	0.07%	Template:Coord
Burr Oak	09550	338	3 (9)	102 (39)	0 (0)	0%	Template:Coord
Calvin	10075	65	1 (2)	81 (31)	0 (0)	0.04%	Template:Coord
Center	11750	1,100	12 (31)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.07%	Template:Coord
Erving	21575	60	1 (2)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.08%	Template:Coord
Esbon	21625	222	2 (6)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.08%	Template:Coord
Grant	27725	220	2 (6)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0%	Template:Coord
Harrison	30350	52	1 (1)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0%	Template:Coord
Highland	31900	49	1 (1)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.03%	Template:Coord
Holmwood	32800	49	1 (1)	92 (36)	0 (0)	0.05%	Template:Coord
Ionia	34375	100	1 (3)	102 (39)	0 (0)	0.11%	Template:Coord
Jackson	34800	123	1 (3)	92 (35)	1 (0)	0.90%	Template:Coord
Limestone	40450	49	0 (1)	102 (39)	0 (0)	0.02%	Template:Coord
Montana	47800	93	1 (3)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0.14%	Template:Coord
Odessa	52125	34	0 (1)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.02%	Template:Coord
Prairie	57400	172	2 (5)	96 (37)	0 (0)	0.02%	Template:Coord
Richland	59375	36	0 (1)	83 (32)	9 (4)	10.13%	Template:Coord
Sinclair	65675	67	1 (2)	89 (34)	3 (1)	2.81%	Template:Coord
Vicksburg	73725	28	0 (1)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0%	Template:Coord
Walnut	75000	80	1 (2)	102 (39)	0 (0)	0.07%	Template:Coord
Washington	75650	50	1 (1)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0%	Template:Coord
White Mound	77925	49	1 (1)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.12%	Template:Coord
Sources: Template:Cite web

References

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External links

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County

Historical

Jewell County Kansas History and Heritage Project, Genealogy

Maps

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

Template:Geographic location

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