Wichita County, Kansas

Wichita County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat is Leoti. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 2,152. The county was named after the Wichita tribe.

Early history
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, in accordance with 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 1886, Wichita County was established.

Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 719 sqmi, virtually all of which is land.

Major highways

 * K-25.svg Kansas Highway 25
 * K-96.svg Kansas Highway 96

Adjacent counties

 * Logan County (north)
 * Scott County (east)
 * Kearny County (south)
 * Hamilton County (southwest/Mountain Time border)
 * Greeley County (west/Mountain Time border)
 * Wallace County (northwest/Mountain Time border)

Demographics


As of the census of 2000, there were 2,531 people, 967 households, and 723 families residing in the county. The population density was 4 /mi2. There were 1,119 housing units at an average density of 2 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 86.25% White, 0.08% Black or African American, 0.71% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 10.51% from other races, and 2.37% from two or more races. 18.41% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 967 households, out of which 35.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.30% were married couples living together, 5.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.20% were non-families. 23.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.07.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 28.70% under the age of 18, 7.30% from 18 to 24, 25.70% from 25 to 44, 22.30% from 45 to 64, and 16.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 104.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,462, and the median income for a family was $41,034. Males had a median income of $27,523 versus $18,807 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,720. About 11.20% of families and 14.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.20% of those under age 18 and 4.70% of those age 65 or over.

Presidential elections
Wichita County is overwhelmingly Republican. It was last carried for the Democratic Party by Jimmy Carter in 1976, but since then the only Democrat to win over a quarter of the county's vote has been Michael Dukakis during the 1988 election when the Democratic vote was boosted by reaction against a major Great Plains drought. In the past six elections no Democrat has topped twenty percent of Wichita County's vote – a situation now almost general in the High Plains.

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, Wichita County has remained a prohibition, or "dry", county. The latest county alcohol control map indicates the county now allows liquor sales.

Education

 * Leoti USD 467

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

Cities

 * Leoti (county seat)

Unincorporated communities

 * Coronado
 * Lydia
 * Marienthal†
 * Selkirk

Ghost towns

 * Farmer City

Townships
Wichita County has a single township. 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.