Chase County, Kansas 

Chase County, Kansas
Map
Map of Kansas highlighting Chase County
Location in the state of Kansas
Map of the U.S. highlighting Kansas
Kansas's location in the U.S.
Statistics
Founded February 11, 1859
Seat Cottonwood Falls
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Water

778 sq mi (2,015 km²)
776 sq mi (2,010 km²)
2 sq mi (5 km²), 0.27%
PopulationEst.
 - (2006)
 - Density

3,070
4.0/sq mi (1.5/km²)
Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5
Website: www.chasecountyks.org
Named for: Salmon P. Chase

Chase County (county code CS) is a county located in Central Kansas, in the Central United States. The population was 3,030 at the 2000 census, and it was estimated to be 3,070 in the year 2006.1 Its county seat and most populous city is Cottonwood Falls.2 The county has been the subject of a book by William Least Heat-Moon. Notre Dame coach Knute Rockne died in a 1931 plane crash in the county. The Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve was established in the county in 1996. The center of population of Kansas is located in Chase County, about four miles north of Strong City.[1]

Chase County is part of the Emporia Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Contents

Law and government

Following amendment to the Kansas Constitution in 1986, the county remained a prohibition, or "dry", county until 1988, when voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with a 30% food sales requirement.3

Geography

Chase County is centrally located in the eastern half of the state in the Flint Hills geologic region. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 778 square miles (2,015 km²), of which 776 square miles (2,010 km²) is land and 2 square miles (5 km²), or 0.27%, is water.4

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Major highways

Sources: National Atlas5, U.S. Census Bureau6

Demographics

Historical populations
Census Pop.  %±
1860 1,046 7
1870 1,975 88.8%
1880 6,081 207.9%
1890 8,233 35.4%
1900 8,246 0.2%
1910 7,527 −8.7%
1920 7,144 −5.1%
1930 6,952 −2.7%
1940 6,345 −8.7%
1950 4,831 −23.9%
1960 3,921 −18.8%
1970 3,408 −13.1%
1980 3,309 −2.9%
1990 3,021 −8.7%
2000 3,030 0.3%


Chase County's population was estimated to be 3,070 in the year 2006, an increase of 37, or +1.2%, over the previous six years.1

As of the U.S. Census in 2000,4 there were 3,030 people, 1,246 households, and 817 families residing in the county. The population density was 4 people per square mile (2/km²). There were 1,529 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile (1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 96.90% White, 1.02% Black or African American, 0.56% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 0.56% from other races, and 0.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.75% of the population.

There were 1,246 households out of which 28.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.60% were married couples living together, 7.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.40% were non-families. 31.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the county the population was spread out with 24.10% under the age of 18, 6.50% from 18 to 24, 26.60% from 25 to 44, 24.10% from 45 to 64, and 18.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 103.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,656, and the median income for a family was $39,848. Males had a median income of $27,402 versus $21,528 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,422. About 4.10% of families and 8.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.00% of those under age 18 and 6.30% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

Map of Chase County (map legend)

Incorporated cities

Name and population (2006 estimate):8

Unincorporated places

Townships

Chase County is divided into nine townships. None of the cities within the county are considered governmentally independent, and all figures for the townships include those of the cities. 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.

Township FIPS Population
center
Population Population
density
/km² (/sq mi)
Land area
km² (sq mi)
Water area
km² (sq mi)
Water % Geographic coordinates
Bazaar 04700 81 0 (1) 293 (113) 0 (0) 0.17% 38°15′55″N 96°32′3″W / 38.26528, -96.53417
Cedar 11225 116 1 (2) 142 (55) 0 (0) 0.22% 38°8′54″N 96°46′30″W / 38.14833, -96.775
Cottonwood 15875 184 1 (2) 209 (81) 0 (0) 0.23% 38°17′23″N 96°45′44″W / 38.28972, -96.76222
Diamond Creek 17975 237 1 (2) 373 (144) 1 (0) 0.24% 38°25′31″N 96°40′35″W / 38.42528, -96.67639
Falls 22850 Cottonwood Falls 1,163 9 (23) 131 (51) 1 (0) 0.42% 38°21′55″N 96°32′27″W / 38.36528, -96.54083
Homestead 32950 52 0 (1) 141 (54) 0 (0) 0.27% 38°10′56″N 96°42′14″W / 38.18222, -96.70389
Matfield 45125 155 0 (1) 316 (122) 1 (0) 0.29% 38°8′59″N 96°30′56″W / 38.14972, -96.51556
Strong 68600 Strong City 740 4 (11) 172 (67) 0 (0) 0.24% 38°24′20″N 96°32′18″W / 38.40556, -96.53833
Toledo 70775 302 1 (3) 233 (90) 1 (0) 0.44% 38°24′49″N 96°23′50″W / 38.41361, -96.39722
Sources: "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files". U.S. Census Bureau, Geography Division.
Chase County Courthouse in Cottonwood Falls, the oldest courthouse in continual use West of the Missippi.

Education

Unified school districts

Literature

Made famous by William Least Heat-Moon's epic book PrairyErth: A Deep Map (1991).

NRHP sites

The following sites in Chase County are listed on the National Register of Historic Places:

State Historical Markers

See also

Information on this and other counties in Kansas

Other information for Kansas

References

  1. ^ a b "Population Estimates". U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division. Annual estimates of the population to 2006-07-01. Released 2007-03-22. Population change is from 2000-07-01 to 2006-07-01.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  3. ^ "Map of Wet and Dry Counties". Alcoholic Beverage Control, Kansas Department of Revenue (November 2006). Retrieved on 2007-12-26.
  4. ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  5. ^ National Atlas
  6. ^ U.S. Census Bureau TIGER shape files
  7. ^ The census population cited for 1860 includes Otoe county which was annexed before 1870. In 1860, the census population was 808 for Chase and 238 for Otoe.
  8. ^ "Population Estimates". U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division. Annual estimates of the population to 2006-07-01. Released 2007-06-28.

External links

Official sites

Additional information