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Harvey County, Kansas facts for kids

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Harvey County
Former Carnegie Library in Kansas, currently is the Harvey County Historical Museum
Former Carnegie Library in Kansas, currently is the Harvey County Historical Museum
Map of Kansas highlighting Harvey 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 7, 1872
Named for James Harvey
Seat Newton
Largest city Newton
Area
 • Total 541 sq mi (1,400 km2)
 • Land 540 sq mi (1,400 km2)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 34,024
 • Density 63.0/sq mi (24.3/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district 4th

Harvey County (county code HV) is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 34,024. Its county seat and most populous city is Newton.

History

Early history

For many millennia, the Great Plains of North America was inhabited by nomadic Native Americans. From the 16th century to 18th century, the Kingdom of France claimed ownership of large parts of North America. In 1762, after the French and Indian War, France secretly ceded New France to Spain, per the Treaty of Fontainebleau. In 1802, Spain returned most of the land to France, but keeping title to about 7,500 square miles.

In 1803, most of the land for modern day Kansas was acquired by the United States from France as part of the 828,000 square mile Louisiana Purchase for 2.83 cents per acre. In 1848, after the Mexican-American War, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo with Spain brought into the United States all or part of land for ten future states, including southwest Kansas. In 1854, the Kansas Territory was organized, then in 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state.

Stouffer's Railroad Map of Kansas 1915-1918 Harvey County
1915 railroad map

19th century

In 1871, the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway extended a main line from Emporia to Newton.

In 1872, Harvey County was founded, and named in honor of the fifth Governor of Kansas James M. Harvey.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 541 square miles (1,400 km2), of which 540 square miles (1,400 km2) is land and 1.0 square mile (2.6 km2) (0.2%) is water. The Little Arkansas River flows through the county.

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1880 11,451
1890 17,601 53.7%
1900 17,591 −0.1%
1910 19,200 9.1%
1920 20,744 8.0%
1930 22,120 6.6%
1940 21,712 −1.8%
1950 21,698 −0.1%
1960 25,865 19.2%
1970 27,236 5.3%
1980 30,531 12.1%
1990 31,028 1.6%
2000 32,869 5.9%
2010 34,684 5.5%
2015 (est.) 35,073 1.1%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790-1960 1900-1990
1990-2000 2010-2013

Harvey County is part of the Wichita, KS Metropolitan Statistical Area.

As of the U.S. Census in 2000, there were 32,869 people, 12,581 households, and 8,932 families residing in the county. The population density was 61 people per square mile (24/km²). There were 13,378 housing units at an average density of 25 per square mile (10/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 91.04% White, 1.59% Black or African American, 0.52% Native American, 0.52% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 4.17% from other races, and 2.14% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.97% of the population.

There were 12,581 households out of which 32.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.20% were married couples living together, 7.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.00% were non-families. 25.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the county, the population was spread out with 26.00% under the age of 18, 9.10% from 18 to 24, 26.50% from 25 to 44, 21.60% from 45 to 64, and 16.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 94.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $40,907, and the median income for a family was $48,793. Males had a median income of $35,037 versus $22,492 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,715. About 4.20% of families and 6.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.50% of those under age 18 and 5.00% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

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

Cities

Unincorporated communities

Ghost town

Townships

Harvey County is divided into fifteen townships. The cities of Halstead and Newton are considered governmentally independent and are 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
center
Population Population
density
/km² (/sq mi)
Land area
km² (sq mi)
Water area
km² (sq mi)
Water % Geographic coordinates
Alta 01500 221 2 (6) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0.48% 38°7′27″N 97°38′44″W / 38.12417°N 97.64556°W / 38.12417; -97.64556
Burrton 09600 1,143 12 (32) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0.17% 38°1′32″N 97°39′55″W / 38.02556°N 97.66528°W / 38.02556; -97.66528
Darlington 17025 601 7 (17) 92 (35) 0 (0) 0.10% 37°57′5″N 97°19′32″W / 37.95139°N 97.32556°W / 37.95139; -97.32556
Emma 21025 4,181 45 (116) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0% 38°8′10″N 97°25′46″W / 38.13611°N 97.42944°W / 38.13611; -97.42944
Garden 25300 294 3 (8) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0% 38°7′44″N 97°32′14″W / 38.12889°N 97.53722°W / 38.12889; -97.53722
Halstead 29625 353 4 (10) 92 (35) 0 (0) 0.07% 38°2′9″N 97°31′51″W / 38.03583°N 97.53083°W / 38.03583; -97.53083
Highland 31875 415 5 (12) 92 (35) 0 (0) 0.19% 38°7′38″N 97°19′9″W / 38.12722°N 97.31917°W / 38.12722; -97.31917
Lake 37825 173 2 (5) 92 (36) 1 (0) 1.05% 37°57′46″N 97°39′7″W / 37.96278°N 97.65194°W / 37.96278; -97.65194
Lakin 38150 357 4 (10) 92 (35) 0 (0) 0.06% 37°57′18″N 97°32′20″W / 37.95500°N 97.53889°W / 37.95500; -97.53889
Macon 43925 1,056 11 (30) 92 (36) 0 (0) 0% 38°2′8″N 97°24′58″W / 38.03556°N 97.41611°W / 38.03556; -97.41611
Newton 50500 1,950 28 (73) 69 (27) 0 (0) 0.07% 38°3′27″N 97°19′31″W / 38.05750°N 97.32528°W / 38.05750; -97.32528
Pleasant 56250 439 5 (12) 93 (36) 1 (0) 0.81% 38°2′27″N 97°12′8″W / 38.04083°N 97.20222°W / 38.04083; -97.20222
Richland 59350 360 4 (10) 94 (36) 0 (0) 0.20% 37°57′39″N 97°12′1″W / 37.96083°N 97.20028°W / 37.96083; -97.20028
Sedgwick 63825 1,711 18 (48) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0% 37°56′24″N 97°25′22″W / 37.94000°N 97.42278°W / 37.94000; -97.42278
Walton 75225 552 6 (15) 95 (37) 0 (0) 0.06% 38°7′26″N 97°13′1″W / 38.12389°N 97.21694°W / 38.12389; -97.21694
Sources:

Education

Colleges

Unified school districts

  • Burrton USD 369
  • Newton USD 373
  • Sedgwick USD 439
  • Halstead–Bentley USD 440
  • Hesston USD 460
School district office in neighboring county
  • Remington USD 206
  • Peabody–Burns USD 398
  • Goessel USD 411
  • Moundridge USD 423

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Harvey para niños

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