Gove County, Kansas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gove County
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Historic Opera House in Grainfield
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Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
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 Kansas's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Kansas |
| Founded | March 11, 1868 |
| Named for | Grenville L. Gove |
| Seat | Gove City |
| Largest city | Quinter |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1,072 sq mi (2,780 km2) |
| • Land | 1,072 sq mi (2,780 km2) |
| • Water | 0.1 sq mi (0.3 km2) 0.01%% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,718 |
| • Density | 2.5/sq mi (1.0/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 1st |
Gove County is a place in the state of Kansas, USA. It's like a big district or area. The main town where the county government is located is Gove City. The biggest town in the county is Quinter. In 2020, about 2,718 people lived here. The county got its name from Granville Gove. He was a brave captain in the army during the American Civil War and sadly died from his injuries.
Contents
History of Gove County
Ancient Times and Early Land Claims
Imagine Gove County 80 million years ago! Back then, it was covered by a huge ancient sea. This sea was called the Western Interior Seaway. Today, you can still visit places like Castle Rock Badlands to find amazing fossils from that time. These fossils are like clues about the ancient sea life.
For thousands of years, the Great Plains of North America were home to nomadic Native American tribes. They moved around, following animals like bison.
Later, from the 1500s to the 1700s, the Kingdom of France said they owned large parts of North America. But in 1762, after a big war called the French and Indian War, France secretly gave this land to Spain. This was part of a deal called the Treaty of Fontainebleau.
How Kansas Became a State
In 1802, Spain gave most of the land back to France. Then, in 1803, the United States bought a huge amount of land from France. This was called the Louisiana Purchase. It included most of what is now Kansas. The U.S. paid a very small amount for each acre!
In 1854, the Kansas Territory was created. This was a step towards becoming a state. Finally, in 1861, Kansas officially became the 34th state in the USA.
Founding of Gove County
Gove County itself was officially started in 1868. It was named after Granville Llewellyn Gove. He was a member of the 11th Regiment Kansas Volunteer Cavalry. His father, Moses Gove, was once a mayor of Manhattan, Kansas.
Gove County in the 21st Century
In 2020, Gove County, like many places, faced challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. The county had an older population, which made its residents more vulnerable to the virus. News reports highlighted the difficulties the community experienced during this time.
Geography of Gove County
Gove County is quite large. It covers about 1,072 square miles (2,776 square kilometers). Almost all of this area is land. Only a tiny bit, about 0.01%, is water.
Neighboring Counties
Gove County shares its borders with several other counties. Here are its neighbors:
- Sheridan County (to the north)
- Graham County (to the northeast)
- Trego County (to the east)
- Ness County (to the southeast)
- Lane County (to the south)
- Scott County (to the southwest)
- Logan County (to the west)
- Thomas County (to the northwest)
People of Gove County
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 1,196 | — | |
| 1890 | 2,994 | 150.3% | |
| 1900 | 2,441 | −18.5% | |
| 1910 | 6,044 | 147.6% | |
| 1920 | 4,748 | −21.4% | |
| 1930 | 5,643 | 18.9% | |
| 1940 | 4,793 | −15.1% | |
| 1950 | 4,447 | −7.2% | |
| 1960 | 4,107 | −7.6% | |
| 1970 | 3,940 | −4.1% | |
| 1980 | 3,726 | −5.4% | |
| 1990 | 3,231 | −13.3% | |
| 2000 | 3,068 | −5.0% | |
| 2010 | 2,695 | −12.2% | |
| 2020 | 2,718 | 0.9% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 2,735 | 1.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2020 |
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In 2020, Gove County had about 2,718 residents. The average age of people living there was around 50 years old. This is about ten years older than the average age for the whole country.
Education in Gove County
Gove County has several school districts that help students learn and grow. These are called Unified School Districts (USD).
- Grinnell USD 291
- Wheatland USD 292
- Quinter USD 293
Fun Places to Visit
Gove County is home to some cool natural attractions:
- Castle Rock: A unique rock formation that looks like a castle. It's a great place to explore and see ancient fossils.
- Monument Rocks: Also known as Chalk Pyramids, these are large chalk formations that rise from the prairie. They are a National Natural Landmark.
Communities in Gove County
Gove County has several towns and communities. Some are cities, some are smaller unincorporated communities, and some are "ghost towns" that used to be busy but are now mostly empty.
Cities in Gove County
- Gove City (This is the county seat, where the main county offices are)
- Grainfield
- Grinnell
- Oakley‡ (Some parts of Oakley are in a nearby county)
- Park
- Quinter
Unincorporated Community
- Campus (This is a small community without its own city government)
Ghost Towns
These towns were once active but are now mostly deserted:
- Alanthus
- Hackberry
- Jerome
Images for kids
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A wide view of the landscape in Gove County.
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The unique rock formations of Castle Rock Badlands.
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Bluffs and hills near Castle Rock.
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Another scenic view from Gove County.
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More of the interesting badlands terrain near Castle Rock.
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A closer look at the badlands formations.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Gove para niños
