Sumner County, Kansas

Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox U.S. county

Sumner County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat is Wellington.<ref name="GR6">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> As of the 2020 census, the population was 22,382.<ref name="QF">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The county is named after Charles Sumner, a U.S. Senator from Massachusetts who was a leader of Reconstruction politics.

HistoryEdit

Early historyEdit

Template:See also 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. 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 1848, after the Mexican–American War, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo with Spain brought into the United States all or part of land for ten future states, including southwest Kansas. In 1854, the Kansas Territory was organized, then in 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state.

19th centuryEdit

On February 26, 1867, Sumner County was created from parts of Marion and Butler counties. It was named in honor of Charles Sumner, a U.S. Senator from Massachusetts (1811–74), who was a strong advocate of Kansas becoming a free state.

In 1887, the Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway built a branch line north–south from Herington to Caldwell.<ref name="Rock Island Rail History">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> This branch line connected Herington, Lost Springs, Lincolnville, Antelope, Marion, Aulne, Peabody, Elbing, Whitewater, Furley, Kechi, Wichita, Peck, Corbin, Wellington and Caldwell. By 1893, this branch line was incrementally built to Fort Worth, Texas. This line is called the "OKT". The Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway was foreclosed in 1891 and was taken over by Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway, which shut down in 1980 and reorganized as Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas Railroad, merged in 1988 with Missouri Pacific Railroad, and finally merged in 1997 with Union Pacific Railroad. Most locals still refer to this railroad as the "Rock Island".

21st centuryEdit

In December 2011, the Kansas Star Casino opened approximately Template:Convert west of the center of Mulvane, adjacent to an exit on the Kansas Turnpike that was added in the mid-1980s. The casino is located just west of the turnpike exit.<ref>Kansas Star Casino Plans To Open; The Wichita Eagle; December 7, 2011.</ref>

GeographyEdit

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert (0.3%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Adjacent countiesEdit

Sedgwick County (north)
Butler County (northeast)
Cowley County (east)
Kay County, Oklahoma (southeast)
Grant County, Oklahoma (southwest)
Harper County (west)
Kingman County (northwest)

DemographicsEdit

File:USA Sumner County, Kansas age pyramid.svg

Population pyramid based on 2000 census age data

Template:US Census population Sumner County is part of the Wichita, KS Metropolitan Statistical Area.

As of the census<ref name="GR2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> of 2000, there were 25,946 people, 9,888 households, and 7,089 families residing in the county. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 10,877 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the county was 94.62% White, 0.71% Black or African American, 1.05% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 1.29% from other races, and 2.06% from two or more races. 3.58% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 9,888 households, out of which 34.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.90% were married couples living together, 8.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.30% were non-families. 25.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.10.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 28.50% under the age of 18, 7.50% from 18 to 24, 26.20% from 25 to 44, 22.40% from 45 to 64, and 15.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $39,415, and the median income for a family was $46,739. Males had a median income of $36,616 versus $23,020 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,305. About 7.20% of families and 9.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.20% of those under age 18 and 6.80% of those age 65 or over.

GovernmentEdit

Presidential electionsEdit

Sumner County, like many neighboring counties, often votes for the Republican Party in presidential elections. However, in 1992 independent candidate Ross Perot came within two percent of winning the county against George H. W. Bush. The last time the county voted for a Democratic candidate was Jimmy Carter in 1976. Template:Hidden

LawsEdit

Following amendment to the Kansas Constitution in 1986, Sumner County remained a prohibition, or "dry", county until 1992, when voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with a 30 percent food sales requirement.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

EducationEdit

Unified school districtsEdit

CommunitiesEdit

File:Map of Sumner Co, Ks, USA.png

2005 map of Sumner County<ref name="County-Map-Current"/> (map legend)

List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Sumner County.<ref name="County-Map-Current">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

CitiesEdit

‡ means a community has portions in an adjacent county. Template:Div col

Template:Div col end

1915 Railroad Map of Sumner County

Sumner County is divided into thirty townships. The cities of Caldwell and Wellington 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	Population density /km² (/sq mi)	Land area km² (sq mi)	Water area km² (sq mi)	Water %	Geographic coordinates
Avon	03575	319	3 (9)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.03%	Template:Coord
Belle Plaine	05525	3,504	33 (87)	105 (40)	1 (0)	0.69%	Template:Coord
Bluff	07750	74	1 (1)	136 (53)	0 (0)	0%	Template:Coord
Caldwell	09925	200	1 (4)	136 (52)	0 (0)	0.02%	Template:Coord
Chikaskia	13150	69	1 (2)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0.02%	Template:Coord
Conway	15300	1,286	14 (35)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0%	Template:Coord
Creek	16300	241	3 (7)	95 (37)	0 (0)	0.05%	Template:Coord
Dixon	18200	738	8 (20)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0%	Template:Coord
Downs	18525	159	2 (5)	91 (35)	0 (0)	0%	Template:Coord
Eden	19800	452	5 (12)	95 (37)	0 (0)	0%	Template:Coord
Falls	22875	187	1 (3)	139 (54)	0 (0)	0%	Template:Coord
Gore	26975	2,220	27 (70)	83 (32)	1 (1)	1.69%	Template:Coord
Greene	28525	80	1 (2)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.10%	Template:Coord
Guelph	29175	164	1 (3)	141 (55)	0 (0)	0%	Template:Coord
Harmon	30125	277	3 (9)	79 (31)	0 (0)	0%	Template:Coord
Illinois	33800	178	2 (5)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0.05%	Template:Coord
Jackson	34925	153	2 (4)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0.02%	Template:Coord
London	42400	774	7 (19)	107 (41)	1 (0)	0.93%	Template:Coord
Morris	48375	35	0 (1)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0%	Template:Coord
Osborne	53335	273	3 (8)	92 (35)	1 (0)	1.30%	Template:Coord
Oxford	53875	1,403	14 (37)	99 (38)	1 (0)	1.08%	Template:Coord
Palestine	54175	249	3 (9)	72 (28)	1 (0)	1.26%	Template:Coord
Ryan	61950	239	3 (7)	92 (36)	0 (0)	0%	Template:Coord
Seventy Six	64000	238	3 (7)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0%	Template:Coord
South Haven	66675	670	5 (12)	140 (54)	0 (0)	0%	Template:Coord
Springdale	67575	761	8 (21)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0%	Template:Coord
Sumner	69225	150	2 (4)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0%	Template:Coord
Valverde	73350	147	2 (4)	93 (36)	1 (0)	0.76%	Template:Coord
Walton	75300	431	3 (8)	139 (54)	0 (0)	0%	Template:Coord
Wellington	76500	344	4 (11)	81 (31)	0 (0)	0.06%	Template:Coord

ReferencesEdit

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Notes

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External linksEdit

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County

Historical

Maps

Sumner County Maps: Current, Historic, KDOT
Kansas Highway Maps: Current, Historic, KDOT
Kansas Railroad Maps: Current, 1996, 1915, KDOT and Kansas Historical Society

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Template:Sumner County, Kansas Template:US state navigation box Template:Authority control