Norton County, Kansas

Not to be confused with Norton, Kansas.
Norton County, Kansas
County

Norton County Courthouse in Norton
Map of Kansas highlighting Norton County
Location in the U.S. state of Kansas
Map of the United States highlighting Kansas
Kansas's location in the U.S.
Founded February 26, 1867
Named for Orloff Norton
Seat Norton
Largest city Norton
Area
 • Total 881 sq mi (2,282 km2)
 • Land 878 sq mi (2,274 km2)
 • Water 3.2 sq mi (8 km2), 0.4%
Population
 • (2010) 5,671
 • Density 6.5/sq mi (3/km²)
Congressional district 1st
Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5
Website NortonCounty.net

Coordinates: 39°48′N 99°55′W / 39.800°N 99.917°W / 39.800; -99.917

Norton County (standard abbreviation: NT) is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 5,671.[1] The largest city and county seat is Norton.[2] The county was established in 1867 and named for Orloff Norton, captain of Company L, 15th Kansas Militia Infantry Regiment.[3]

History

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, 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. Norton County was founded by Noah H. Billings, Thomas Beaumont, Henry Gordon, P. Hansen, and George Cole on August 22, 1872. In 1878 Norton became the county seat. The county gets its name for Civil War soldier Orloff Norton, who was killed at Cane Hill, Arkansas in 1864.

The first county fair, although not official, was held in Leota in October, 1878. After 1900 the fair was held yearly in Elmwood Park in Norton. The first school district was formed in Norton in 1872. School was held in a dugout beginning December 1, 1873.

20th century

On February 20, 1933, people in Norton and Decatur counties felt a moderate earthquake. Buildings and houses swayed and dishes and windows rattled. The earthquake was felt across a 6,000 square mile area in Kansas and Nebraska.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 881 square miles (2,280 km2), of which 878 square miles (2,270 km2) is land and 3.2 square miles (8.3 km2) (0.4%) is water.[4]

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Age pyramid
Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18806,998—
189010,61751.7%
190011,3256.7%
191011,6142.6%
192011,423−1.6%
193011,7012.4%
19409,831−16.0%
19508,808−10.4%
19608,035−8.8%
19707,279−9.4%
19806,689−8.1%
19905,947−11.1%
20005,9530.1%
20105,671−4.7%
Est. 20155,550[5]−2.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2013[1]

As of the 2000 US census, there were 5,953 people, 2,266 households, and 1,470 families residing in the county. The population density was 7 people per square mile (3/km²). There were 2,673 housing units at an average density of 3 per square mile (1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 93.35% White, 4.05% Black or African American, 0.44% Native American, 0.42% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.02% from other races, and 0.71% from two or more races. 2.37% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,266 households out of which 28.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.50% were married couples living together, 7.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.10% were non-families. 32.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.89.

In the county the population was spread out with 22.00% under the age of 18, 7.70% from 18 to 24, 28.30% from 25 to 44, 22.30% from 45 to 64, and 19.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 122.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 122.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,050, and the median income for a family was $37,036. Males had a median income of $25,983 versus $20,381 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,835. About 6.10% of families and 10.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.70% of those under age 18 and 8.20% of those age 65 or over.

Law and government

Following amendment to the Kansas Constitution in 1986, the county remained a prohibition, or "dry", county until 1992, when voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with a 30% food sales requirement.[10]

Noah H. Billings was an early county settler, county superintendent of schools, county attorney, and state representative. Keith Sebelius served as a U.S. congressman from 1969 to 1981.[11]

Education

Unified school districts

Communities

2005 KDOT Map of Norton County (map legend)

Cities

Townships

Norton County is divided into four townships. The city of Norton 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. The 2010 census shows the area of the former Harrison-District 6 as combined into that of Almena-District 4.

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
Almena-District 4 01450 614 2 (6) 278 (107) 0 (0) 0% 39°53′10″N 99°41′2″W / 39.88611°N 99.68389°W / 39.88611; -99.68389
Center-District 1 12260 1,382 2 (5) 654 (253) 0 (0) 0.08% 39°53′43″N 99°57′2″W / 39.89528°N 99.95056°W / 39.89528; -99.95056
Harrison-District 6 (defunct[12]) 30460 12 0 (0) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0.02% 39°56′54″N 99°48′25″W / 39.94833°N 99.80694°W / 39.94833; -99.80694
Highland-District 2 32060 737 1 (3) 748 (289) 9 (3) 1.13% 39°41′24″N 100°1′49″W / 39.69000°N 100.03028°W / 39.69000; -100.03028
Solomon-District 3 66410 196 0 (1) 496 (192) 0 (0) 0.02% 39°40′38″N 99°45′56″W / 39.67722°N 99.76556°W / 39.67722; -99.76556

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ↑ Blackmar, Frank Wilson (1912). Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, Volume 2. Standard Publishing Company. p. 374.
  4. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  5. ↑ "County Totals Dataset: Population, Population Change and Estimated Components of Population Change: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  6. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Map of Wet and Dry Counties". Alcoholic Beverage Control, Kansas Department of Revenue. November 2006. Retrieved 2007-12-26.
  11. ↑ Norton County, Kansas, Kansas Historical Society
  12. ↑ Kansas State Historical Society

Further reading

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