Cherokee County, Kansas

{{Infobox U.S. county

|county = Cherokee County

|state = Kansas

|type = County

|ex image = Tri-state markers 2006-07-03.jpg

|ex image cap = Tri-State Marker (2006)

|founded = February 18, 1860

|named for = Cherokee Native Americans

|seat wl = Columbus

|largest city wl = Baxter Springs

|area_total_sq_mi = 591

|area_land_sq_mi = 588

|area_water_sq_mi = 3.5

|area percentage = 0.6%

|population_footnotes =

|population_as_of = 2020

|population_total = 19362

|pop_est_as_of = 2023

|population_est = 19054 {{loss}}

|density_sq_mi = auto

|area codes = 620

|district = 2nd

|time zone = Central

|website = {{URL|http://cherokeecountyks.gov/|cherokeecountyks.gov}}

|coordinates = {{coord|37|10|N|94|51|W|region:US-KS_type:adm2nd_source:GNIS|display=inline,title}}

}}

Cherokee County is a U.S. county located in Southeast Kansas. Its county seat is Columbus,{{cite web |url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150509170006/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 9, 2015 }} and its most populous city is Baxter Springs. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 19,362.{{cite web |title=QuickFacts; Cherokee County, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/cherokeecountykansas/POP010220 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=August 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210815221436/https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/cherokeecountykansas/POP010220 |archive-date=August 15, 2021 |url-status=live}} The county was named for the Cherokee tribe.

History

=19th century=

In 1803, United States acquired from France the 828,000-square mile Louisiana Purchase, the former French lands west of the Mississippi River, for 2.83 cents per acre. This territory included most of the land for modern-day Kansas.

In the 1830s, the United States conducted Indian Removal of the Five Civilized Tribes from the Southeast region, to extinguish their land claims and allow European-American settlement in the area. They were given lands in what was called Indian Territory west of the Mississippi River, mostly in present-day Oklahoma. This part of Kansas was included at the time in the Cherokee Neutral Lands, and the county was named after this tribe.

In 1854, the U.S. organized the Kansas Territory. Settlers began to move into the territory, with violence breaking out between supporters of slavery and those who wanted to abolish it. In 1861, Kansas was admitted as the 34th U.S. state; its constitution prohibited slavery. It was first founed in 1855, and in 1860, it was renamed Cherokee County.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of {{convert|591|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|588|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|3.5|sqmi}} (0.6%) is water.{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}

=Adjacent counties=

=Major highways=

Demographics

Image:USA Cherokee County, Kansas age pyramid.svg based on 2000 census age data]]

{{US Census population

|1860= 1501

|1870= 11038

|1880= 21905

|1890= 27770

|1900= 42694

|1910= 38162

|1920= 33609

|1930= 31457

|1940= 29817

|1950= 25144

|1960= 22279

|1970= 21549

|1980= 22304

|1990= 21374

|2000= 22605

|2010= 21603

|2020= 19362

|estyear=2023

|estimate=19054

|estref={{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.html|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 3, 2024}}

|align-fn=center

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 22, 2014}}
1790-1960{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=July 22, 2014|archive-date=August 11, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120811110448/http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/|url-status=dead}} 1900-1990{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/ks190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 22, 2014}}
1990-2000{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 22, 2014}} 2010-2020

}}

As of the 2000 census,{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }} there were 22,605 people, 8,875 households, and 6,239 families residing in the county. The population density was {{convert|38|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people |people|}}. There were 10,031 housing units at an average density of {{convert|17|/mi2|/km2|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 92.27% White, 0.61% Black or African American, 3.45% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.50% from other races, and 2.90% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.29% of the population.

There were 8,875 households, out of which 32.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.60% were married couples living together, 9.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.70% were non-families. 26.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.50% under the age of 18, 8.40% from 18 to 24, 26.90% from 25 to 44, 23.10% from 45 to 64, and 15.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 94.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,505, and the median income for a family was $37,284. Males had a median income of $29,045 versus $19,675 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,710. About 11.40% of families and 14.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.40% of those under age 18 and 10.60% of those age 65 or over.

Government

=Presidential elections=

For most of its history, Cherokee County had more of a Democratic lean in presidential elections than the rest of the state, particularly before 1968. Since then, it has only voted for Democratic candidates twice. In 1976 & 1992, it was their second and fourth best county in the state, respectively. From 1996 on, the county has swung powerfully Republican similar to the rest of Southeast Kansas.

{{Hidden

|headercss = background: #ccccff; font-size: 100%; width: 100%;

|contentcss = text-align: left; font-size: 100%; width: 100%;

|header = Presidential election results

|content =

{{PresHead|place=Cherokee County, Kansas|source={{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title = Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections}}}}

}}

=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, Cherokee County voters chose to remain a prohibition, or "dry", county on Sunday until 2012.{{Cite web| url=http://www.ksrevenue.org/pdf/abcwetdrymap.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025184558/http://ksrevenue.org/pdf/abcwetdrymap.pdf |archive-date=October 25, 2012 |url-status=live| title=Map of Wet and Dry Counties| publisher=Alcoholic Beverage Control, Kansas Department of Revenue|date=December 2012| access-date=December 26, 2013}}

Education

=Unified school districts=

School districts based in the county include:{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st20_ks/schooldistrict_maps/c20021_cherokee/DC20SD_C20021.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Cherokee County, KS|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=2024-11-21}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st20_ks/schooldistrict_maps/c20021_cherokee/DC20SD_C20021_SD2MS.txt Text list]

Southeast USD 247 (a.k.a. Cherokee USD 247)
Riverton USD 404 [https://www.usd404.org/ ]
Columbus USD 493 [https://www.usd493.com/ ]
Galena USD 499 [https://www.usd499.org/]
Baxter Springs USD 508 [http://www.usd508.org/ ]

Other school districts include:

Communities

Image:Map of Cherokee Co, Ks, USA.png)]]

List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Cherokee County.{{cite web |title=General Highway Map of Cherokee County, Kansas |url=https://www.ksdot.gov/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/burTransPlan/maps/county-pdf/cherokee.PDF |publisher=Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240601173750/https://www.ksdot.gov/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/burTransPlan/maps/county-pdf/cherokee.PDF |archive-date=June 1, 2024 |date=May 2011 |url-status=live}}

=Cities=

=Unincorporated communities=

‡ means a community has portions in an adjacent county.

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

=Ghost towns=

Treece, officially disincorporated in 2012{{cite book|last=Rydjord|first=John|title=Kansas Place-Names|year=1972|publisher=University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, Oklahoma|page=494|isbn=0-8061-0994-7}}[http://www.kansas.com/2012/09/27/2506628/former-residents-say-goodbye-to.html Former residents say goodbye to contaminated town of Treece; The Wichita Eagle; September 27, 2012.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120930014929/http://www.kansas.com/2012/09/27/2506628/former-residents-say-goodbye-to.html |date=September 30, 2012 }}

=Townships=

Cherokee County is divided into fourteen townships. The cities of Baxter Springs, Columbus, Galena, Scammon, and Weir 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.

class="toccolours" border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=4 style="text-align:center; border-collapse:collapse; font-size:90%;"

style="background:#ccccff"

! Township !! FIPS !! Population
center

! Population !! Population
density
/km² (/sq mi)

! Land area
km² (sq mi) !! Water area
km² (sq mi) !! Water %

! Geographic coordinates

Cherokee

12800

336

6 (15)

57 (22)

0 (0)

0.08%

{{coord|37|18|33|N|94|45|36|W

}

| Crawford|| 16225 || || 646 || 7 (18) || 94 (36) || 0 (0) || 0.24% || {{coord|37|9|21|N|94|47|11|W|}}

| Garden|| 25250 || || 3,039 || 41 (105) || 75 (29) || 2 (1) || 2.80% || {{coord|37|2|55|N|94|41|18|W|}}

| Lola|| 42350 || || 382 || 3 (9) || 115 (44) || 1 (0) || 0.50% || {{coord|37|10|25|N|95|0|15|W|}}

| Lowell|| 43075 || || 672 || 20 (52) || 33 (13) || 1 (0) || 3.04% || {{coord|37|6|11|N|94|40|23|W|}}

| Lyon|| 43400 || || 528 || 4 (11) || 130 (50) || 0 (0) || 0.08% || {{coord|37|2|19|N|94|52|37|W|}}

| Mineral|| 47000 || || 254 || 3 (8) || 79 (31) || 0 (0) || 0.15% || {{coord|37|15|32|N|94|47|29|W|}}

| Neosho|| 49725 || || 306 || 2 (5) || 157 (61) || 2 (1) || 1.08% || {{coord|37|3|15|N|95|1|37|W|}}

| Pleasant View|| 56675 || || 658 || 5 (13) || 136 (52) || 0 (0) || 0.14% || {{coord|37|17|4|N|94|40|1|W|}}

| Ross|| 61350 || || 893 || 6 (17) || 140 (54) || 1 (0) || 0.71% || {{coord|37|16|29|N|94|53|55|W|}}

| Salamanca|| 62575 || || 569 || 6 (17) || 89 (34) || 0 (0) || 0.07% || {{coord|37|10|3|N|94|52|37|W|}}

| Shawnee|| 64475 || || 505 || 6 (15) || 90 (35) || 1 (0) || 0.61% || {{coord|37|9|30|N|94|40|18|W|}}

| Sheridan|| 64625 || || 249 || 1 (4) || 172 (67) || 1 (1) || 0.79% || {{coord|37|15|41|N|95|0|15|W|}}

| Spring Valley|| 67725 || || 1,007 || 8 (21) || 122 (47) || 0 (0) || 0.36% || {{coord|37|3|11|N|94|46|5|W|}}

|colspan=9|Sources: {{Cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/places2k.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020802223743/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/places2k.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 2, 2002 |title=Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, Geography Division }}

References

External links

;County

{{Official website|http://cherokeecountyks.gov/|Cherokee County - Official}}
[https://www.lkm.org/members/?id=41260411 Cherokee County - Directory of Public Officials]

;Historical

[http://watch.ktwu.org/video/2365124638/ "Mined Lands" video]

;Maps

Cherokee County Maps: [https://www.ksdot.org/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/burTransPlan/maps/county-pdf/cherokee.PDF Current], [https://www.ksdot.org/bureaus/burtransplan/maps/PastPublishedCounty.asp Historic], KDOT
Kansas Highway Maps: [https://www.ksdot.org/burtransplan/maps/MapsState.asp Current], [https://www.ksdot.org/burtransplan/maps/HistoricStateMaps.asp Historic], KDOT
Kansas Railroad Maps: [https://www.ksdot.org/BurTransPlan/maps/RRStateMap.asp Current], [https://www.kansasmemory.org/item/227379 1996], [http://www.kansasmemory.org/item/227380 1915], KDOT and Kansas Historical Society

{{Geographic Location

|Centre = Cherokee County, Kansas

|North = Crawford County

|Northeast =

|East = Jasper County, Missouri

|Southeast = Newton County, Missouri

|South = Ottawa County, Oklahoma

|Southwest = Craig County, Oklahoma

|West = Labette County

|Northwest =

}}

Category:1860 establishments in Kansas Territory