Ford County, Kansas

{{Infobox U.S. county

|county = Ford County

|state = Kansas

|type = County

|ex image = Ford_county_kansas_courthouse_2000.jpg

|ex image cap = Ford County Courthouse in Dodge City (2009)

|founded = February 26, 1867

|named for = James Ford

|seat wl = Dodge City

|largest city wl = Dodge City

|area_total_sq_mi = 1099

|area_land_sq_mi = 1098

|area_water_sq_mi = 0.8

|area percentage = 0.07%

|population_footnotes =

|population_as_of = 2020

|population_total = 34287

|pop_est_footnotes =

|pop_est_as_of =

|population_est =

|population_density_sq_mi = 31.2

|district = 1st

|time zone = Central

|website = {{URL|http://www.fordcounty.net/|fordcounty.net}}

}}

Ford County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat and most populous city is Dodge City.{{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 }} As of the 2020 census, its population was 34,287.{{cite web |title=QuickFacts; Ford County, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/fordcountykansas/POP010220 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=August 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210816064553/https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/fordcountykansas/POP010220 |archive-date=August 16, 2021 |url-status=live}} The county was named in honor of James Ford, a brevet brigadier general during the Civil War.{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ | title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States | publisher=Govt. Print. Off. | author=Gannett, Henry | year=1905 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n127 128]}}

History

{{See also|History of Kansas}}One of the earliest military posts in Kansas, Fort Atkinson, was located in Ford County. Fort Dodge, established in 1864, was on the north bank of the Arkansas River, about five miles southeast of what would become Dodge City. During the California Gold Rush in 1849, thousands of gold seekers passed through the area along the Santa Fe Trail, but few settled there.

Ford County was established in 1867 and named for Colonel James H. Ford of the Second Colorado Cavalry, who was in charge of the construction of Fort Dodge after the Civil War.{{Cite book |last=Cutler |first=William |url=https://www.kancoll.org/books/cutler/ford/ford-co-p1.html |title=History of the State of Kansas |year=1883 |isbn=9780722248751}} The region had been frequently traveled by pioneers along the Santa Fe Trail since the early 19th century.{{Cite web |title=Ford County, Kansas – Legends of Kansas |url=https://legendsofkansas.com/ford-county-kansas/ |access-date=April 4, 2024}}

The town of Dodge City was established in 1872 upon the completion of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad. Before the buffalo were wiped out, their hides were extensively shipped from Dodge City. Dodge City would later develop into a rough and tumble cowtown during the peak cattle drive years of 1875–1885.{{Cite web |last=Gribben |first=Brian |title=Research Guides: Kansas Heritage: Ford County |url=https://fhsuguides.fhsu.edu/kansasheritage/fordcounty |access-date=April 4, 2024 |website=fhsuguides.fhsu.edu |language=en}}

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of {{convert|1099|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|1098|sqmi|abbr=on}} are land and {{convert|0.8|sqmi}} (0.07%) is covered by 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=

Hodgeman County (north)
Edwards County (northeast)
Kiowa County (east)
Clark County (south)
Meade County (southwest)
Gray County (west)

=Transit=

=Major highways=

Demographics

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

{{US Census population

|1870= 427

|1880= 3122

|1890= 5308

|1900= 5497

|1910= 11393

|1920= 14273

|1930= 20647

|1940= 17254

|1950= 19670

|1960= 20938

|1970= 22587

|1980= 24315

|1990= 27463

|2000= 32458

|2010= 33848

|2020= 34287

|estyear=2023

|estimate=33980

|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 24, 2014}}
1790-1960{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=July 24, 2014}} 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 24, 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 24, 2014}} 2010-2020

}}

The Dodge City Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Ford County.

As of the 2000 census,{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=October 19, 2018 |title=U.S. Census website }} 33,848 people, 10,852 households, and 7,856 families were residing in the county. The population density was {{convert|30|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people|people|abbr=on}}. The 11,650 housing units averaged {{convert|11|/mi2|/km2|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 75.3% White, 2.1% African American, 1.0% Native American, 1.4% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 17.8% from other races, and 2.7% from two or more races. Hispanic and Latino Americans of any race were 51.2% of the population.

Of the 10,852 households, 40.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.90% were married couples living together, 9.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.60% were not families. About 22.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.92, and the average family size was 3.42.

In the county, the age distribution was 31.10% under 18, 11.20% from 18 to 24, 29.40% from 25 to 44, 17.30% from 45 to 64, and 11.00% who were 65 or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females, there were 107.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,860, and for a family was $42,734. Males had a median income of $27,189 versus $22,165 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,721. About 9.90% of families and 12.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.40% of those under age 18 and 8.40% of those age 65 or over.

Government

=Presidential elections=

Ford County has been strongly Republican for most of its history, especially in recent elections. Only eight Democratic presidential candidates from 1880 to 2024 have carried the county, the most recent being Jimmy Carter in 1976.

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

}}

=Laws=

Ford County was a prohibition, or "dry", county until the Kansas Constitution was amended in 1986 and voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with a 30% food sales requirement.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ksrevenue.org/abcwetdrymap.htm |title=Map of Wet and Dry Counties |publisher=Alcoholic Beverage Control, Kansas Department of Revenue |date=November 2006 |access-date=December 28, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071008013617/http://www.ksrevenue.org/abcwetdrymap.htm |archive-date=October 8, 2007 }}

Education

=Colleges=

Dodge City Community College

=Unified school districts=

[https://www.usd381.org/ Spearville USD 381]
Dodge City USD 443
[http://www.bucklinschools.com/ Bucklin USD 459]

Communities

File:Map of Ford Co, Ks, USA.png)]]

List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Ford County.{{cite web |title=General Highway Map of Ford County, Kansas |url=https://www.ksdot.gov/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/burTransPlan/maps/county-pdf/ford.PDF |publisher=Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231230002619/https://www.ksdot.gov/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/burTransPlan/maps/county-pdf/ford.PDF |archive-date=December 30, 2023 |date=June 2010 |url-status=live}}

=Cities=

=Unincorporated communities=

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

=Townships=

Ford County is divided into 14 townships. The city of Dodge City 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.

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

Bloom

07375

113

1 (2)

144 (55)

0 (0)

{{coord|37|30|23|N|99|55|4|W

}

| Bucklin|| 09025 || || 900 || 3 (8) || 285 (110) || 0 (0) || 0.02% || {{coord|37|34|44|N|99|37|9|W|}}

| Concord|| 15150 || || 117 || 1 (2) || 187 (72) || 0 (0) || 0.11% || {{coord|37|36|36|N|100|5|52|W|}}

| Dodge|| 18225 || || 899 || 13 (33) || 70 (27) || 0 (0) || 0.21% || {{coord|37|47|0|N|100|0|52|W|}}

| Enterprise|| 21450 || || 1,113 || 6 (17) || 175 (67) || 0 (0) || 0.19% || {{coord|37|40|47|N|99|57|8|W|}}

| Fairview|| 22500 || || 346 || 2 (5) || 188 (73) || 0 (0) || 0.06% || {{coord|37|45|11|N|100|8|57|W|}}

| Ford|| 23750 || || 456 || 2 (5) || 249 (96) || 0 (0) || 0.01% || {{coord|37|36|58|N|99|46|27|W|}}

| Grandview|| 27350 || || 784 || 3 (9) || 226 (87) || 0 (0) || 0.20% || {{coord|37|47|10|N|99|55|54|W|}}

| Richland|| 59300 || || 931 || 9 (24) || 99 (38) || 0 (0) || 0.17% || {{coord|37|42|10|N|100|2|19|W|}}

| Royal|| 61575 || || 105 || 1 (1) || 185 (72) || 0 (0) || 0.06% || {{coord|37|51|51|N|100|6|44|W|}}

| Sodville|| 66150 || || 110 || 1 (2) || 145 (56) || 0 (0) || 0.01% || {{coord|37|31|16|N|99|45|6|W|}}

| Spearville|| 67150 || || 1,150 || 2 (6) || 479 (185) || 0 (0) || 0.03% || {{coord|37|47|58|N|99|45|4|W|}}

| Wheatland|| 77675 || || 170 || 1 (2) || 193 (74) || 0 (0) || 0% || {{coord|37|48|58|N|99|37|22|W|}}

| Wilburn|| 79100 || || 88 || 0 (1) || 187 (72) || 0 (0) || 0% || {{coord|37|31|22|N|100|7|10|W|}}

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

Notable people

Numerous figures of the American Old West lived in Dodge City during its period as a frontier cowtown. These included, most notably, lawmen Wyatt Earp and Bat Masterson, and gunfighter Doc Holliday.{{cite web | title = More Dodge City History | publisher = Dodge City Convention and Visitors Bureau | url = http://www.visitdodgecity.org/index.aspx?NID=106 | access-date = September 23, 2011}}

References

External links

;County

{{Official website|http://www.fordcounty.net/|Ford County - Official}}
[https://www.lkm.org/members/?id=41260429 Ford County - Directory of Public Officials]

;Historical

[http://www.Kansashistory.us/fordco/ Ford County History] from FCHS, Dodge City, KS
[https://web.archive.org/web/20050723074447/http://skyways.lib.ks.us/genweb/ford/ Ford County GenWeb]
[http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ks/county/ford/ Ford County] from American History and Genealogy Project (AHGP)

;Maps

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

{{Geographic Location

|Centre = Ford County, Kansas

|North = Hodgeman County

|Northeast = Edwards County

|East = Kiowa County

|Southeast =

|South = Clark County

|Southwest = Meade County

|West = Gray County

|Northwest =

}}

Category:Kansas counties