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Wilson County, Kansas

Coordinates: 37°34′N 95°44′W / 37.567°N 95.733°W / 37.567; -95.733
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Not to be confused with Wilson, Kansas.

Wilson County
County
Brown Hotel in Neodesha (2017)
Brown Hotel in Neodesha (2017)
Map of Kansas highlighting Wilson County
Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
Map of the United States highlighting Kansas
Kansas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°34′00″N 95°44′00″W / 37.5667°N 95.7333°W / 37.5667; -95.7333
Country United States
State Kansas
Founded1855
Named forHiero T. Wilson
SeatFredonia
Largest cityNeodesha
Area
 • Total575 sq mi (1,490 km2)
 • Land570 sq mi (1,500 km2)
 • Water4.7 sq mi (12 km2)  0.8%
Population
 (2020)[1]
 • Total8,624
 • Estimate 
(2023)[2]
8,382 Decrease
 • Density15/sq mi (5.8/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district2nd
Websitewilsoncountykansas.org

Wilson County is a county located in Southeast Kansas. Its county seat is Fredonia.[3] As of the 2020 census, the county population was 8,624.[1] The county was named after Hiero Wilson, a colonel in the American Civil War.

History

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Early history

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See also: History of Kansas

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

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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. In 1855, Wilson County was established and included what is now Wilson County and Montgomery County. It was named for Colonel Hiero T. Wilson. He was a successful Indian trader who had been the first white settler of Fort Scott, Kansas and had served as postmaster and sutler at the fort. He could speak Cherokee, Creek, and Osage and the Osage called him "Big White Chief". He was a delegate to the Lecompton Constitutional Convention.[4]

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 575 square miles (1,490 km2), of which 570 square miles (1,500 km2) is land and 4.7 square miles (12 km2) (0.8%) is water.[5]

Adjacent counties

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Demographics

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Population pyramid based on 2000 census age data
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
186027—
18706,69424,692.6%
188013,775105.8%
189015,28611.0%
190015,6212.2%
191019,81026.8%
192021,1576.8%
193018,646−11.9%
194017,723−5.0%
195014,815−16.4%
196013,077−11.7%
197011,317−13.5%
198012,1287.2%
199010,289−15.2%
200010,3320.4%
20109,409−8.9%
20208,624−8.3%
2023 (est.)8,382[6]−2.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010-2020[1]

As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 10,332 people, 4,203 households, and 2,849 families residing in the county. The population density was 18 people per square mile (6.9 people/km2). There were 4,937 housing units at an average density of 9 per square mile (3.5/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 96.78% White, 0.37% Black or African American, 0.88% Native American, 0.26% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.48% from other races, and 1.19% from two or more races. 1.67% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,203 households, out of which 29.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.10% were married couples living together, 7.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.20% were non-families. 29.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.40% under the age of 18, 7.40% from 18 to 24, 23.80% from 25 to 44, 23.40% from 45 to 64, and 19.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 94.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,747, and the median income for a family was $36,990. Males had a median income of $27,255 versus $18,670 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,910. About 7.50% of families and 11.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.40% of those under age 18 and 11.80% of those age 65 or over.

Government

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Presidential elections

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Presidential election results
United States presidential election results for Wilson County, Kansas[12]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 3,153 79.74% 723 18.29% 78 1.97%
2016 2,788 77.64% 594 16.54% 209 5.82%
2012 2,825 76.00% 818 22.01% 74 1.99%
2008 2,850 69.16% 1,170 28.39% 101 2.45%
2004 3,263 74.19% 1,060 24.10% 75 1.71%
2000 2,748 67.11% 1,186 28.96% 161 3.93%
1996 2,458 56.41% 1,297 29.77% 602 13.82%
1992 1,925 41.53% 1,331 28.72% 1,379 29.75%
1988 2,743 63.12% 1,545 35.55% 58 1.33%
1984 3,663 72.23% 1,344 26.50% 64 1.26%
1980 3,328 69.32% 1,205 25.10% 268 5.58%
1976 2,682 55.67% 2,047 42.49% 89 1.85%
1972 3,568 74.80% 1,043 21.87% 159 3.33%
1968 3,340 63.35% 1,276 24.20% 656 12.44%
1964 2,919 52.54% 2,592 46.65% 45 0.81%
1960 4,333 67.77% 2,034 31.81% 27 0.42%
1956 4,502 73.00% 1,645 26.67% 20 0.32%
1952 5,180 73.18% 1,845 26.07% 53 0.75%
1948 3,868 59.45% 2,538 39.01% 100 1.54%
1944 4,248 68.57% 1,912 30.86% 35 0.56%
1940 5,288 64.42% 2,859 34.83% 62 0.76%
1936 4,829 55.59% 3,816 43.93% 42 0.48%
1932 3,422 44.93% 4,001 52.53% 193 2.53%
1928 5,603 78.46% 1,465 20.52% 73 1.02%
1924 4,596 65.00% 1,736 24.55% 739 10.45%
1920 4,024 66.23% 1,768 29.10% 284 4.67%
1916 2,970 41.81% 3,494 49.18% 640 9.01%
1912 849 19.92% 1,304 30.60% 2,108 49.47%
1908 2,428 53.14% 1,777 38.89% 364 7.97%
1904 2,583 63.37% 1,034 25.37% 459 11.26%
1900 2,193 55.58% 1,711 43.36% 42 1.06%
1896 1,852 48.38% 1,959 51.18% 17 0.44%
1892 1,803 51.80% 0 0.00% 1,678 48.20%
1888 2,191 55.48% 1,035 26.21% 723 18.31%

Wilson County is overwhelmingly Republican. No Democratic presidential candidate has carried Wilson County since Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1932, and none have passed 36 percent since Jimmy Carter in 1976.

Laws

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Following amendment to the Kansas Constitution in 1986, the county remained a prohibition, or "dry", county until 1998, when voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with a 30 percent food sales requirement.[13]

Education

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Unified school districts

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Communities

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2005 map of Wilson County[17] (map legend)

List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Wilson County.[17]

Cities

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Unincorporated communities

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

Townships

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Wilson County is divided into fifteen townships. The cities of Fredonia and Neodesha are considered governmentally independent and are 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
Cedar 11375 701 8 (19) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0.11% 37°31′21″N 95°40′14″W / 37.52250°N 95.67056°W / 37.52250; -95.67056 (Cedar Twp.)
Center 12225 618 6 (16) 103 (40) 0 (0) 0.14% 37°31′5″N 95°49′11″W / 37.51806°N 95.81972°W / 37.51806; -95.81972 (Center Twp.)
Chetopa 13000 188 2 (5) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0.11% 37°30′28″N 95°34′14″W / 37.50778°N 95.57056°W / 37.50778; -95.57056 (Chetopa Twp.)
Clifton 14250 414 4 (12) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0.53% 37°41′56″N 95°42′23″W / 37.69889°N 95.70639°W / 37.69889; -95.70639 (Clifton Twp.)
Colfax 14825 452 4 (10) 123 (47) 0 (0) 0.17% 37°40′55″N 95°36′20″W / 37.68194°N 95.60556°W / 37.68194; -95.60556 (Colfax Twp.)
Duck Creek 18800 103 1 (3) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0.23% 37°26′14″N 95°54′58″W / 37.43722°N 95.91611°W / 37.43722; -95.91611 (Duck Creek Twp.)
Fall River 22825 398 3 (8) 131 (51) 0 (0) 0.16% 37°32′21″N 95°55′33″W / 37.53917°N 95.92583°W / 37.53917; -95.92583 (Fall River Twp.)
Guilford 29200 205 2 (6) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0.06% 37°36′32″N 95°43′22″W / 37.60889°N 95.72278°W / 37.60889; -95.72278 (Guilford Twp.)
Neodesha 49675 583 6 (17) 90 (35) 0 (0) 0.52% 37°25′29″N 95°40′52″W / 37.42472°N 95.68111°W / 37.42472; -95.68111 (Neodesha Twp.)
Newark 50200 226 2 (6) 92 (36) 0 (0) 0.18% 37°25′30″N 95°34′56″W / 37.42500°N 95.58222°W / 37.42500; -95.58222 (Newark Twp.)
Pleasant Valley 56650 201 2 (4) 123 (47) 0 (0) 0.09% 37°36′25″N 95°36′21″W / 37.60694°N 95.60583°W / 37.60694; -95.60583 (Pleasant Valley Twp.)
Prairie 57425 118 2 (4) 78 (30) 0 (0) 0.28% 37°36′17″N 95°49′26″W / 37.60472°N 95.82389°W / 37.60472; -95.82389 (Prairie Twp.)
Talleyrand 69900 232 3 (7) 92 (36) 0 (0) 0.06% 37°25′19″N 95°48′25″W / 37.42194°N 95.80694°W / 37.42194; -95.80694 (Talleyrand Twp.)
Verdigris 73500 394 4 (10) 103 (40) 0 (0) 0.27% 37°39′29″N 95°53′51″W / 37.65806°N 95.89750°W / 37.65806; -95.89750 (Verdigris Twp.)
Webster 76300 51 1 (2) 77 (30) 0 (0) 0.15% 37°42′0″N 95°50′1″W / 37.70000°N 95.83361°W / 37.70000; -95.83361 (Webster Twp.)

See also

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Community information for Kansas

Notes

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "QuickFacts; Wilson County, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 22, 2021. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
  2. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ^ Rydjord, p 317
  5. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  6. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  7. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  8. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  9. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  10. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  11. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  12. ^ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
  13. ^ "Map of Wet and Dry Counties". Alcoholic Beverage Control, Kansas Department of Revenue. November 2006. Archived from the original on October 8, 2007. Retrieved December 26, 2007.
  14. ^ Altoona-Midway USD 387
  15. ^ Neodesha USD 461
  16. ^ Fredonia USD 484
  17. ^ a b "General Highway Map of Wilson County, Kansas" (PDF). Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT). May 2011. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 17, 2024.

Further reading

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See also: List of books about Kansas, including historical information about its counties and cities
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wilson County, Kansas.
County
Maps

37°34′N 95°44′W / 37.567°N 95.733°W / 37.567; -95.733

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