Gray County, Kansas
Gray County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat and most populous city is Cimarron.[1] As of the 2020 census, the county population was 5,653.[2] The county was named after Alfred Gray, a 19th-century Kansas politician.
History
[edit | edit source]For millennia, the Great Plains of North America were inhabited by nomadic Native Americans.
In 1854, the Kansas Territory was organized, then in 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state.
Gray County was founded in 1881 and named for Alfred Gray.[3] Between 1887 and 1893, a county seat war took place in Gray County that involved several notable Old West figures, such as Bat Masterson, Bill Tilghman, and Ben Daniels. As a result of the dispute, Cimarron became the permanent county seat of Gray County.[4]
Geography
[edit | edit source]According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 869 square miles (2,250 km2), of which 869 square miles (2,250 km2) is land and 0.4 square miles (1.0 km2) (0.05%) is water.[5]
Since 2001, NextEra Energy Resources has operated the largest wind farm in Kansas—170 turbines with a generating capacity of 110 megawatts—on a 12,000-acre (49 km2) site near Montezuma.[6]
Adjacent counties
[edit | edit source]- Finney County (north)
- Hodgeman County (northeast)
- Ford County (east)
- Meade County (south)
- Haskell County (west)
Demographics
[edit | edit source]2020 census
[edit | edit source]As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 5,653. The median age was 37.7 years, 28.4% of residents were under the age of 18, and 17.8% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 102.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 99.9 males. 0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[7][8]
The racial makeup of the county was 86.3% White, 0.3% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 4.9% from some other race, and 7.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 14.8% of the population.[9]
There were 2,092 households in the county, of which 36.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 16.8% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 23.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[7]
There were 2,327 housing units, of which 10.1% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 74.7% were owner-occupied and 25.3% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 9.8%.[7]
2000 census
[edit | edit source]As of the 2000 census,[10] there were 5,904 people, 2,045 households, and 1,556 families residing in the county. The population density was 7 people per square mile (2.7 people/km2). There were 2,181 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile (0.77/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 92.31% White, 0.46% Native American, 0.19% Black or African American, 0.10% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 5.42% from other races, and 1.46% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.81% of the population.
There were 2,045 households, out of which 42.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.70% were married couples living together, 5.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.90% were non-families. 21.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.82 and the average family size was 3.31.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 31.60% under the age of 18, 8.30% from 18 to 24, 27.30% from 25 to 44, 20.20% from 45 to 64, and 12.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 100.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $40,000, and the median income for a family was $45,299. Males had a median income of $31,519 versus $21,563 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,632. About 6.50% of families and 9.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.80% of those under age 18 and 8.00% of those age 65 or over.
Religion
[edit | edit source]Gray County has by far the highest percentage of adherents of the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite in the US. There were 1,032 members of the Church in Gray County in 2010, which is 17.18% of the population. It is the largest Church in the county.[11]
Government
[edit | edit source]Presidential elections
[edit | edit source]Gray County votes predominantly for Republican candidates in presidential elections. The last time a Democratic candidate carried this county was Jimmy Carter in 1976.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1888 | 417 | 53.81% | 268 | 34.58% | 90 | 11.61% |
| 1892 | 274 | 54.37% | 0 | 0.00% | 230 | 45.63% |
| 1896 | 153 | 53.50% | 133 | 46.50% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1900 | 188 | 55.79% | 145 | 43.03% | 4 | 1.19% |
| 1904 | 285 | 64.48% | 113 | 25.57% | 44 | 9.95% |
| 1908 | 372 | 46.79% | 338 | 42.52% | 85 | 10.69% |
| 1912 | 112 | 15.95% | 243 | 34.62% | 347 | 49.43% |
| 1916 | 660 | 38.66% | 889 | 52.08% | 158 | 9.26% |
| 1920 | 962 | 62.18% | 507 | 32.77% | 78 | 5.04% |
| 1924 | 959 | 59.34% | 463 | 28.65% | 194 | 12.00% |
| 1928 | 1,294 | 67.47% | 606 | 31.60% | 18 | 0.94% |
| 1932 | 910 | 39.27% | 1,348 | 58.18% | 59 | 2.55% |
| 1936 | 764 | 34.34% | 1,459 | 65.57% | 2 | 0.09% |
| 1940 | 1,056 | 51.87% | 962 | 47.25% | 18 | 0.88% |
| 1944 | 1,057 | 57.01% | 775 | 41.80% | 22 | 1.19% |
| 1948 | 1,035 | 53.68% | 869 | 45.07% | 24 | 1.24% |
| 1952 | 1,515 | 73.51% | 537 | 26.06% | 9 | 0.44% |
| 1956 | 1,278 | 66.77% | 627 | 32.76% | 9 | 0.47% |
| 1960 | 1,150 | 60.56% | 744 | 39.18% | 5 | 0.26% |
| 1964 | 643 | 35.86% | 1,136 | 63.36% | 14 | 0.78% |
| 1968 | 952 | 55.25% | 612 | 35.52% | 159 | 9.23% |
| 1972 | 1,235 | 69.15% | 511 | 28.61% | 40 | 2.24% |
| 1976 | 837 | 42.08% | 1,111 | 55.86% | 41 | 2.06% |
| 1980 | 1,310 | 63.68% | 583 | 28.34% | 164 | 7.97% |
| 1984 | 1,580 | 74.32% | 514 | 24.18% | 32 | 1.51% |
| 1988 | 1,180 | 61.55% | 696 | 36.31% | 41 | 2.14% |
| 1992 | 1,039 | 47.81% | 443 | 20.39% | 691 | 31.80% |
| 1996 | 1,457 | 71.53% | 404 | 19.83% | 176 | 8.64% |
| 2000 | 1,631 | 75.51% | 482 | 22.31% | 47 | 2.18% |
| 2004 | 1,816 | 80.89% | 408 | 18.17% | 21 | 0.94% |
| 2008 | 1,643 | 77.54% | 436 | 20.58% | 40 | 1.89% |
| 2012 | 1,603 | 81.87% | 324 | 16.55% | 31 | 1.58% |
| 2016 | 1,698 | 82.19% | 263 | 12.73% | 105 | 5.08% |
| 2020 | 1,911 | 83.52% | 341 | 14.90% | 36 | 1.57% |
| 2024 | 1,837 | 83.77% | 324 | 14.77% | 32 | 1.46% |
| 2016 | 1 | 33.33% | 1 | 33.33% | 1 | 33.33% |
Laws
[edit | edit source]Although the Kansas Constitution was amended in 1986 to allow the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with the approval of voters, Gray County has remained a prohibition, or "dry", county.[13]
Education
[edit | edit source]Unified school districts
[edit | edit source]Communities
[edit | edit source]
List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Gray County.[14]
Cities and Towns
[edit | edit source]Unincorporated communities
[edit | edit source]Townships
[edit | edit source]Gray County is divided into seven 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cimarron | 13300 | Cimarron | 2,379 | 9 (24) | 254 (98) | 0 (0) | 0.03% | 37°48′22″N 100°20′52″W / 37.80611°N 100.34778°W |
| Copeland | 15500 | Copeland | 540 | 2 (6) | 233 (90) | 0 (0) | 0.15% | 37°33′57″N 100°37′14″W / 37.56583°N 100.62056°W |
| East Hess | 19525 | 372 | 1 (3) | 281 (108) | 0 (0) | 0.03% | 37°37′45″N 100°15′39″W / 37.62917°N 100.26083°W | |
| Foote | 23675 | 126 | 0 (1) | 310 (120) | 0 (0) | 0.02% | 37°55′44″N 100°20′46″W / 37.92889°N 100.34611°W | |
| Ingalls | 34250 | 646 | 2 (5) | 349 (135) | 0 (0) | 0.03% | 37°47′43″N 100°30′23″W / 37.79528°N 100.50639°W | |
| Logan | 41900 | 216 | 1 (2) | 309 (119) | 0 (0) | 0.04% | 37°55′20″N 100°33′52″W / 37.92222°N 100.56444°W | |
| Montezuma | 47900 | Montezuma | 1,625 | 3 (8) | 514 (198) | 0 (0) | 0.07% | 37°35′56″N 100°26′11″W / 37.59889°N 100.43639°W |
| Sources: "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files". U.S. Census Bureau, Geography Division. Archived from the original on August 2, 2002. | ||||||||
See also
[edit | edit source]Template:See also Kansas counties
References
[edit | edit source]- ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ↑ "QuickFacts; Gray County, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 16, 2021. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
- ↑ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 142.
- ↑ "Feudin' and Fightin' Friday: County Seat Wars – Diggin' History". Archived from the original on April 7, 2014. Retrieved April 6, 2014.
- ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
- ↑ "Gray County Wind Farm". Aquila, Inc. Archived from the original on June 13, 2007. Retrieved June 2, 2007.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 15, 2025.
- ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved December 15, 2025.
- ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 15, 2025.
- ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ↑ Association of Religious Data Archives: Church of God in Christ, Mennonite Counties (2010) Archived July 31, 2019, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved May 2, 2015
- ↑ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
- ↑ "Map of Wet and Dry Counties". Alcoholic Beverage Control, Kansas Department of Revenue. November 2004. Archived from the original on October 8, 2007. Retrieved January 21, 2007.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 "General Highway Map of Gray County, Kansas" (PDF). Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT). December 2008. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 3, 2023.
Further reading
[edit | edit source]External links
[edit | edit source] |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gray County, Kansas. |
- County
- Maps
- Gray County Township Map - Kansas Department of Transportation
- Gray County Road Maps - Kansas Department of Transportation
- Kansas State Highway Maps - Kansas Department of Transportation
Template:Gray County, Kansas Template:Kansas Coordinates: 37°44′N 100°26′W / 37.733°N 100.433°W