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Grant County, Kansas facts for kids

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Grant County
Grant County Courthouse in Ulysses (2015)
Grant County Courthouse in Ulysses (2015)
Map of Kansas highlighting Grant County
Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
Map of the United States highlighting Kansas
Kansas's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  Kansas
Founded March 20, 1873
Named for Ulysses S. Grant
Seat Ulysses
Largest city Ulysses
Area
 • Total 575 sq mi (1,490 km2)
 • Land 575 sq mi (1,490 km2)
 • Water 0.3 sq mi (0.8 km2)  0.06%%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 7,352
 • Density 12.8/sq mi (4.9/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district 1st

Grant County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat and only city is Ulysses. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 7,352. Both the county and its seat are named after Ulysses Grant, the 18th President of the United States.

History

In 1873, the part of Kansas west of Range 25 was divided into 25 new counties. The new counties were Decatur, Rawlins, Cheyenne, Sheridan, Thomas, Sherman, Lane, Buffalo, Foote, Meade, Scott, Sequoyah, Arapahoe, Seward, Wichita, Kearny, Greeley, Hamilton, Stanton, Kansas, Stevens, and Grant.

Grant County, Kansas was named after Ulysses S. Grant, the 18th President of the United States (1869–1877), and incumbent president at the time of the county's formation. The initial survey establishing county boundaries was in the summer of 1874.

In 1883, Kearny, Sequoyah, Arapahoe, Kansas, Stevens, Meade, Clark and Grant counties disappeared. Hamilton, Ford, Seward, and Hodgeman counties enlarged and Finney County was created. Grant County was split with the western portion becoming a part of Hamilton County and the eastern portion becoming a part of the newly created Finney County.

On June 9, 1888, Grant County was again established as a Kansas county, with original county boundaries, with the first officers of the new Grant County being sworn in on June 18, 1888.

Grant county kansas map 1905 MSTR
Legend: Green Lines = present highways, Purple circles = springs, at least in wet years, Blue = creeks, major ravines, & river basins, Gold dot triangles = Indian camps, burial sites, Red 1 = Military Redoubt, Red 2 = "Old" Ulysses. Red 3 = Surprise-Tilden, Red 4 = Cincinnati-Appomattox, Red 5 = Lawson, Red 6 = Waterford, Red 7 = Zionville, Red 8 = Golden, Red 9 = Spanish sword found, Red 10 = Shockeyville, Red 11 = "New" Ulysses

In October 1888, the county seat election for Grant County resulted in victory for Ulysses, Kansas, election results were:.

Town Name Vote count
Ulysses 578
Appomattox 268
Shockeyville 41
Golswn 31
Spurgeon 2

In the 1930s, the prosperity of the area was severely affected by its location within the Dust Bowl. This catastrophe intensified the economic impact of the Great Depression in the region.

Early Day Settlements

  • "Old" Ulysses, subsequently moved to New Ulysses in 1909
  • Surprise-Tilden
  • Cincinnati-Appomattox
  • Shockey (Shockeyville)
  • Golden
  • Zionville
  • Lawson
  • Waterford
  • Gognac
  • Spurgeon

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 575 square miles (1,490 km2), of which 575 square miles (1,490 km2) is land and 0.3 square miles (0.78 km2) (0.06%) is water.

Major highways

  • US 160.svg U.S. Highway 160
  • K-25.svg Kansas Highway 25

Adjacent counties

Demographics

USA Grant County, Kansas age pyramid
Population pyramid based on 2000 census age data
Historical population
Census Pop.
1890 1,308
1900 422 −67.7%
1910 1,087 157.6%
1920 1,087 0.0%
1930 3,092 184.5%
1940 1,946 −37.1%
1950 4,638 138.3%
1960 5,269 13.6%
1970 5,961 13.1%
1980 6,977 17.0%
1990 7,159 2.6%
2000 7,909 10.5%
2010 7,829 −1.0%
2020 7,352 −6.1%
2023 (est.) 7,147 −8.7%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790-1960 1900-1990
1990-2000 2010-2020

As of the 2000 census, there were 7,909 people, 2,742 households, and 2,097 families residing in the county. The population density was 14 people per square mile (5.4 people/km2). There were 3,027 housing units at an average density of 5 per square mile (1.9/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 77.00% White, 0.86% Native American, 0.37% Asian, 0.21% Black or African American, 19.46% from other races, and 2.10% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 34.67% of the population.

There were 2,742 households, out of which 43.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.40% were married couples living together, 7.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.50% were non-families. 21.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.86 and the average family size was 3.34.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 32.80% under the age of 18, 8.70% from 18 to 24, 28.70% from 25 to 44, 20.20% from 45 to 64, and 9.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 100.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $39,854, and the median income for a family was $44,914. Males had a median income of $34,464 versus $22,000 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,072. About 6.50% of families and 10.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.60% of those under age 18 and 7.50% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Unified school districts

  • Ulysses USD 214

Communities

Map of Grant Co, Ks, USA
2005 map of Grant County (map legend)

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

City

Unincorporated communities

Townships

Map of states and counties affected by the Dust Bowl, sourced from US federal government dept. (NRCS SSRA-RAD)
Area affected by 1930s Dust Bowl

Grant County is divided into three 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
Lincoln 40725 Ulysses 7,058 19 (49) 372 (144) 0 (0) 0.10% 37°34′26″N 101°20′30″W / 37.57389°N 101.34167°W / 37.57389; -101.34167
Sherman 64975 498 1 (2) 559 (216) 0 (0) 0.01% 37°39′23″N 101°17′59″W / 37.65639°N 101.29972°W / 37.65639; -101.29972
Sullivan 68875 353 1 (2) 558 (215) 0 (0) 0.01% 37°28′12″N 101°18′11″W / 37.47000°N 101.30306°W / 37.47000; -101.30306
Sources:

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Grant (Kansas) para niños

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