Graham County, Kansas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Graham County
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Antelope Lake Park near Morland (2014)
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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 | February 26, 1887 |
| Named for | John L. Graham |
| Seat | Hill City |
| Largest city | Hill City |
| Area | |
| • Total | 899 sq mi (2,330 km2) |
| • Land | 899 sq mi (2,330 km2) |
| • Water | 0.2 sq mi (0.5 km2) 0.03%% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,415 |
| • Density | 2.7/sq mi (1.0/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 1st |
Graham County is a county in the state of Kansas. A county is like a smaller region within a state. Its main town, called the county seat, is Hill City. Hill City is also the biggest city in the county.
In 2020, about 2,415 people lived in Graham County. The county is named after John Graham. He was a captain in the American Civil War and died in a battle. Graham County is also home to Nicodemus. This town was started in 1877 by African Americans. It is the only town like it still existing in the western United States. It was founded after the American Civil War.
Contents
History
Early Times
For many thousands of years, the Great Plains of North America were home to different groups of Native Americans. They moved around a lot. From the 1500s to the 1700s, France said it owned big parts of North America. Later, in 1762, France secretly gave this land to Spain. This happened after a war called the French and Indian War.
The 1800s
In 1802, Spain gave most of the land back to France. But Spain kept a small part. In 1803, the United States bought most of the land that is now Kansas from France. This was part of the huge Louisiana Purchase. It was a very big area of land.
In 1854, the Kansas Territory was set up. Then, in 1861, Kansas became the 34th state in the U.S. Graham County was officially created in 1880. In 1887, it was named after Captain John L. Graham. He was a soldier for the Union in the Civil War. He died in a battle in Tennessee in 1863.
Geography
Graham County covers about 899 square miles. Almost all of this area is land. Only a tiny bit, about 0.2 square miles, is water.
The county is located in a central part of the U.S. It is the fourth county east of the Colorado border. It is also the second county south of the Nebraska border. The middle of the county is crossed by the 100th meridian west. This is an imaginary line on maps. The land in Graham County is generally high up. It is about 2,700 feet (823 meters) above sea level. The Solomon River and the Saline River flow through the county.
Neighboring Counties
- Norton County (north)
- Phillips County (northeast)
- Rooks County (east)
- Ellis County (southeast)
- Trego County (south)
- Gove County (southwest)
- Sheridan County (west)
- Decatur County (northwest)
Special Protected Area
- Nicodemus National Historic Site is a special place in the county. It protects the history of the town of Nicodemus.
People of Graham County
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 4,258 | — | |
| 1890 | 5,029 | 18.1% | |
| 1900 | 5,173 | 2.9% | |
| 1910 | 8,700 | 68.2% | |
| 1920 | 7,624 | −12.4% | |
| 1930 | 7,772 | 1.9% | |
| 1940 | 6,071 | −21.9% | |
| 1950 | 5,020 | −17.3% | |
| 1960 | 5,586 | 11.3% | |
| 1970 | 4,751 | −14.9% | |
| 1980 | 3,995 | −15.9% | |
| 1990 | 3,543 | −11.3% | |
| 2000 | 2,946 | −16.9% | |
| 2010 | 2,597 | −11.8% | |
| 2020 | 2,415 | −7.0% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 2,376 | −8.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2020 |
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In 2000, there were 2,946 people living in Graham County. Most people were White. There were also Black or African American people, Native Americans, Asians, and people of other backgrounds. Some people were also of Hispanic or Latino origin.
The population included people of all ages. About 22.5% were under 18 years old. About 23.7% were 65 years or older. The average age in the county was 44 years old.
Education
School Districts
- The main school district in the county is Graham County USD 281.
Communities
Graham County has several towns and communities. Some are cities, and some are smaller, unincorporated places. There are also some "ghost towns" that used to be active but are now empty.
Cities
Unincorporated Communities
These are smaller communities that are not officially cities.
Ghost Towns
These towns used to exist but are now mostly abandoned.
- Fargo
- Happy
- Houston
- Kebar
- Millbrook
- Olean
- Roscoe
- Togo
- Turnerville
- Whitfield
- Wild Horse
In Art
A famous artist named Birger Sandzén often painted pictures of the landscapes in Graham County. His wife's parents moved there in 1906. One of his paintings, called Still Water, shows Wild Horse Creek in the county. You can see this painting at Kansas State University's Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art.
Images for kids
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Antelope Lake Park near Morland (2014)
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Graham (Kansas) para niños
