Ford County, Kansas Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Ford County
County
Ford County Courthouse in Dodge City (2009)
Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
Kansas's location within the U.S.
Country	United States
State	Kansas
Founded	February 26, 1867
Named for	James Ford
Seat	Dodge City
Largest city	Dodge City
Area
• Total	1,099 sq mi (2,850 km²)
• Land	1,098 sq mi (2,840 km²)
• Water	0.8 sq mi (2 km²) 0.07%%
Population (2020)
• Total	34,287
• Density	31.2/sq mi (12.0/km²)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	1st

Ford County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat and most populous city is Dodge City. As of the 2020 census, its population was 34,287. The county was named in honor of James Ford, a brevet brigadier general during the American Civil War.

History
Geography
Demographics
Education
- Colleges
- Unified school districts
Communities
Notable people
See also

History

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. The region had been frequently traveled by pioneers along the Santa Fe Trail since the early 19th century.

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.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,099 square miles (2,850 km²), of which 1,098 sq mi (2,840 km²) are land and 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²) (0.07%) is covered by water.

Adjacent counties

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

Transit

D-TRAN
Dodge City station

Major highways

U.S. Route 50
U.S. Route 54
U.S. Route 56
U.S. Route 283
U.S. Route 400
K-34

Demographics

Population pyramid based on 2000 census age data

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1870	427	—
1880	3,122	631.1%
1890	5,308	70.0%
1900	5,497	3.6%
1910	11,393	107.3%
1920	14,273	25.3%
1930	20,647	44.7%
1940	17,254	−16.4%
1950	19,670	14.0%
1960	20,938	6.4%
1970	22,587	7.9%
1980	24,315	7.7%
1990	27,463	12.9%
2000	32,458	18.2%
2010	33,848	4.3%
2020	34,287	1.3%
2023 (est.)	33,980	0.4%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2020

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

As of the 2000 census, 33,848 people, 10,852 households, and 7,856 families were residing in the county. The population density was 30 people/sq mi (12 people/km²). The 11,650 housing units averaged 11 per square mile (4.2/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.

Education

Colleges

Dodge City Community College

Unified school districts

Spearville USD 381
Dodge City USD 443
Bucklin USD 459

Communities

2005 map of Ford County (map legend)

List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Ford County.

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.

Township	FIPS	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)	0%	37°30′23″N 99°55′4″W / 37.50639°N 99.91778°W / 37.50639; -99.91778
Bucklin	09025	900	3 (8)	285 (110)	0 (0)	0.02%	37°34′44″N 99°37′9″W / 37.57889°N 99.61917°W / 37.57889; -99.61917
Concord	15150	117	1 (2)	187 (72)	0 (0)	0.11%	37°36′36″N 100°5′52″W / 37.61000°N 100.09778°W / 37.61000; -100.09778
Dodge	18225	899	13 (33)	70 (27)	0 (0)	0.21%	37°47′0″N 100°0′52″W / 37.78333°N 100.01444°W / 37.78333; -100.01444
Enterprise	21450	1,113	6 (17)	175 (67)	0 (0)	0.19%	37°40′47″N 99°57′8″W / 37.67972°N 99.95222°W / 37.67972; -99.95222
Fairview	22500	346	2 (5)	188 (73)	0 (0)	0.06%	37°45′11″N 100°8′57″W / 37.75306°N 100.14917°W / 37.75306; -100.14917
Ford	23750	456	2 (5)	249 (96)	0 (0)	0.01%	37°36′58″N 99°46′27″W / 37.61611°N 99.77417°W / 37.61611; -99.77417
Grandview	27350	784	3 (9)	226 (87)	0 (0)	0.20%	37°47′10″N 99°55′54″W / 37.78611°N 99.93167°W / 37.78611; -99.93167
Richland	59300	931	9 (24)	99 (38)	0 (0)	0.17%	37°42′10″N 100°2′19″W / 37.70278°N 100.03861°W / 37.70278; -100.03861
Royal	61575	105	1 (1)	185 (72)	0 (0)	0.06%	37°51′51″N 100°6′44″W / 37.86417°N 100.11222°W / 37.86417; -100.11222
Sodville	66150	110	1 (2)	145 (56)	0 (0)	0.01%	37°31′16″N 99°45′6″W / 37.52111°N 99.75167°W / 37.52111; -99.75167
Spearville	67150	1,150	2 (6)	479 (185)	0 (0)	0.03%	37°47′58″N 99°45′4″W / 37.79944°N 99.75111°W / 37.79944; -99.75111
Wheatland	77675	170	1 (2)	193 (74)	0 (0)	0%	37°48′58″N 99°37′22″W / 37.81611°N 99.62278°W / 37.81611; -99.62278
Wilburn	79100	88	0 (1)	187 (72)	0 (0)	0%	37°31′22″N 100°7′10″W / 37.52278°N 100.11944°W / 37.52278; -100.11944
Sources:

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.

Ford County, Kansas facts for kids

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