Stanton County, Kansas

Stanton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat is Johnson City. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 2,084. It was named for Edwin Stanton, the U.S. Secretary of War during most of the American Civil War.

History
For many millennia, the Great Plains of North America was inhabited by nomadic Native Americans.

In 1854, the Kansas Territory was organized, then in 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state.

In 1887, Stanton County was established, and named for Edwin Stanton.

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 United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 680 sqmi, of which 680 sqmi is land and 0.07 sqmi (0.01%) is water.

Major highways

 * US 160.svg U.S. Highway 160
 * K-27.svg Kansas Highway 27

Adjacent counties

 * Hamilton County (north/Mountain Time border)
 * Grant County (east)
 * Stevens County (southeast)
 * Morton County (south)
 * Baca County, Colorado (west/Mountain Time border)
 * Prowers County, Colorado (northwest/Mountain Time border)

Demographics


As of the census of 2000, there were 2,406 people, 858 households, and 638 families residing in the county. The population density was 4 /mi2. There were 1,007 housing units at an average density of 2 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 84.41% White, 0.62% Black or African American, 1.21% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 12.51% from other races, and 1.08% from two or more races. 23.69% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 858 households, out of which 40.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.50% were married couples living together, 6.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.60% were non-families. 22.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.21.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 30.80% under the age of 18, 8.40% from 18 to 24, 28.30% from 25 to 44, 19.50% from 45 to 64, and 13.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 104.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $40,172, and the median income for a family was $46,300. Males had a median income of $30,236 versus $21,250 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,043. About 10.70% of families and 14.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.80% of those under age 18 and 12.90% of those age 65 or over.

Government
Stanton County is almost always Republican, The last time a democratic candidate carried the county was in 1964 by Lyndon B. Johnson.

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, Stanton County remained a prohibition, or "dry", county, until the county voted to approve the amendment in 2022, with no restrictions of food sales.

Unified school districts

 * Stanton County USD 452

Communities
List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Stanton County. † means a community is designated a Census-Designated Place (CDP) by the United States Census Bureau.

Cities

 * Johnson City (county seat)
 * Manter

Unincorporated communities

 * Big Bow†
 * Julian
 * Saunders

Townships
Stanton County is divided into three 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.