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 in the state of Kansas. It is known for its rich history, especially its connection to the American Old West. The main city and county seat is Dodge City.

In 2020, about 34,287 people lived in Ford County. The county was named after James Ford, a general who served during the American Civil War.

History of Ford County
- Early Forts and Trails
- Founding the County and Dodge City
Geography and Location
- Neighboring Counties
- Major Roads and Highways
Population Over Time
Education in Ford County
- Colleges
- Local School Districts
Communities in Ford County
Notable People from Ford County
Images for kids
See also

History of Ford County

Ford County has a long and interesting past. It was once home to some of the earliest military forts in Kansas.

Early Forts and Trails

One of the first military posts was Fort Atkinson. Later, Fort Dodge was built in 1864 near the Arkansas River. This fort was very important for protecting travelers.

Thousands of gold seekers passed through this area in 1849. They were heading to California during the Gold Rush. They traveled along the famous Santa Fe Trail. However, not many people settled here at that time.

Founding the County and Dodge City

Ford County was officially created in 1867. It was named after Colonel James H. Ford. He was in charge of building Fort Dodge after the Civil War. Pioneers had used the Santa Fe Trail through this region since the early 1800s.

The town of Dodge City started in 1872. This happened when the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad was completed. At first, Dodge City was a big center for shipping buffalo hides.

Later, from 1875 to 1885, Dodge City became a famous "cowtown." It was a busy place where cowboys brought cattle on long drives.

Geography and Location

Ford County covers a total area of about 1,099 square miles. Most of this area, about 1,098 square miles, is land. Only a very small part, about 0.8 square miles, is water.

Neighboring Counties

Ford County shares its borders with several other counties:

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

Major Roads and Highways

Several important highways run through Ford County, connecting it to other parts of Kansas and beyond:

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

Population Over Time

This chart shows the age groups of people in Ford County based on the 2000 census.

The population of Ford County has grown a lot over the years. Here's a look at how many people have lived here during different census years:

1870: 427 people
1880: 3,122 people
1890: 5,308 people
1900: 5,497 people
1910: 11,393 people
1920: 14,273 people
1930: 20,647 people
1940: 17,254 people
1950: 19,670 people
1960: 20,938 people
1970: 22,587 people
1980: 24,315 people
1990: 27,463 people
2000: 32,458 people
2010: 33,848 people
2020: 34,287 people

The Dodge City Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Ford County. This means the county is part of a smaller urban area.

Education in Ford County

Ford County has educational opportunities for students of all ages.

Colleges

Dodge City Community College offers higher education programs.

Local School Districts

Students in Ford County attend schools within these unified school districts:

Spearville USD 381
Dodge City USD 443
Bucklin USD 459

Communities in Ford County

Ford County has several cities and smaller communities.

Cities in Ford County

Bucklin
Dodge City (This is the county seat)
Ford
Spearville

Unincorporated Communities

These are smaller communities that are not officially cities:

† means these are also called Census-Designated Places (CDP) by the United States Census Bureau.

Townships

Ford County is divided into 14 smaller areas called townships. Dodge City is separate from these townships for government purposes.

Notable People from Ford County

Many famous figures from the American Old West lived in Dodge City when it was a frontier cowtown. These included well-known lawmen like Wyatt Earp and Bat Masterson. The famous gunfighter Doc Holliday also spent time here.

Images for kids

A 2005 map showing the different areas of Ford County.

Ford County, Kansas facts for kids

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