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Geary County, Kansas

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Geary County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat and most populous city is Junction City.[4] As of the 2020 census, the county population was 36,739.[2] The county is named in honor of John Geary, the first mayor of San Francisco, a governor of the Kansas Territory, and the 16th governor of Pennsylvania.

Geary County
County
Geary County Courthouse in Junction City (1979)
Geary County Courthouse in Junction City (1979)
Map of Kansas highlighting Geary County
Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
Map of the United States highlighting Kansas
Kansas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 38°54′31″N 96°45′08″W / 38.9086°N 96.7522°W / 38.9086; -96.7522
Country United States
State Kansas
Founded1855 [1]
Named forJohn W. Geary
SeatJunction City
Largest cityJunction City
Area
 • Total
404 sq mi (1,050 km2)
 • Land385 sq mi (1,000 km2)
 • Water20 sq mi (50 km2)  4.9%
Population
 (2020)[2]
 • Total
36,739
 • Estimate 
(2023)[3]
35,047 Decrease
 • Density95.4/sq mi (36.8/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district2nd
Websitegearycounty.org

History

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Early history

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See also: History of Kansas

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.

19th century

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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 1854, the Kansas Territory was organized, then in 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state. Geary County was formed on August 30, 1855, as an original county from open, free territory. It was among the first 33 counties established by the territory government.[5]

Geary County was originally named Davis County in 1855 after Jefferson Davis (then the United States Secretary of War). During the American Civil War, when Davis became president of the Confederacy, attempts were made to change the county's name, but both failed. Federal and state census records show it as Davis County from 1860 through 1885. In 1888 the county was renamed in honor of John W. Geary, an early Governor of the Kansas Territory.[6][7]

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 404 square miles (1,050 km2), of which 385 square miles (1,000 km2) is land and 20 square miles (52 km2) (4.9%) is water.[8] It is the second-smallest county in Kansas by land area and third-smallest by total area.

Adjacent counties

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Demographics

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Population pyramid based on 2000 census age data
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18601,163—
18705,526375.2%
18806,99426.6%
189010,42849.1%
190010,7443.0%
191012,68118.0%
192013,4526.1%
193014,3666.8%
194015,2226.0%
195021,67142.4%
196028,77932.8%
197028,111−2.3%
198029,8526.2%
199030,4532.0%
200027,947−8.2%
201034,36223.0%
202036,7396.9%
2023 (est.)35,047[9]−4.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]
1790–1960[11] 1900–1990[12]
1990–2000[13] 2010–2020[2]

Geary County is part of the Manhattan, KS Metropolitan Statistical Area.[14]

As of the 2000 census,[15] there were 27,947 people, 10,458 households, and 7,582 families residing in the county. The population density was 73 inhabitants per square mile (28/km2). There were 11,959 housing units at an average density of 31 per square mile (12/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 64.13% White, 22.03% Black or African American, 0.75% Native American, 3.16% Asian, 0.41% Pacific Islander, 4.10% from other races, and 5.41% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.45% of the population.

There were 10,458 households, out of which 39.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.90% were married couples living together, 12.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.50% were non-families. 22.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.07.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 29.60% under the age of 18, 13.60% from 18 to 24, 30.00% from 25 to 44, 17.40% from 45 to 64, and 9.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,917, and the median income for a family was $36,372. Males had a median income of $25,942 versus $21,389 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,199. About 9.70% of families and 12.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.80% of those under age 18 and 9.90% of those age 65 or over.

Government

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Presidential elections

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For most of its history, Geary County has been dominated by the Republican Party. The party's presidential candidates have failed to win the county only seven times from 1880 to the present day, the last of these occurring in 1964.

Presidential election results
United States presidential election results for Geary County, Kansas[16]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 5,099 57.81% 3,529 40.01% 193 2.19%
2020 5,323 55.43% 3,983 41.48% 297 3.09%
2016 4,274 56.33% 2,722 35.87% 592 7.80%
2012 4,372 55.73% 3,332 42.47% 141 1.80%
2008 4,492 55.50% 3,491 43.13% 111 1.37%
2004 4,703 64.18% 2,531 34.54% 94 1.28%
2000 3,977 57.92% 2,660 38.74% 229 3.34%
1996 3,686 54.29% 2,444 35.99% 660 9.72%
1992 2,928 38.75% 2,559 33.87% 2,069 27.38%
1988 3,782 57.54% 2,721 41.40% 70 1.06%
1984 4,464 65.44% 2,296 33.66% 61 0.89%
1980 3,534 56.06% 2,357 37.39% 413 6.55%
1976 3,230 52.13% 2,843 45.88% 123 1.99%
1972 4,299 70.02% 1,708 27.82% 133 2.17%
1968 2,954 50.70% 2,228 38.24% 645 11.07%
1964 2,259 39.32% 3,419 59.51% 67 1.17%
1960 3,789 61.28% 2,365 38.25% 29 0.47%
1956 4,013 65.54% 2,078 33.94% 32 0.52%
1952 4,314 70.54% 1,750 28.61% 52 0.85%
1948 2,864 49.72% 2,810 48.78% 86 1.49%
1944 2,833 56.97% 2,107 42.37% 33 0.66%
1940 2,840 52.65% 2,504 46.42% 50 0.93%
1936 2,382 44.38% 2,973 55.39% 12 0.22%
1932 1,957 40.92% 2,705 56.55% 121 2.53%
1928 2,746 69.15% 1,203 30.29% 22 0.55%
1924 2,678 66.34% 723 17.91% 636 15.75%
1920 2,404 69.56% 962 27.84% 90 2.60%
1916 1,731 48.20% 1,740 48.45% 120 3.34%
1912 387 17.39% 800 35.94% 1,039 46.68%
1908 1,257 53.38% 1,033 43.86% 65 2.76%
1904 1,431 67.88% 591 28.04% 86 4.08%
1900 1,240 54.55% 1,009 44.39% 24 1.06%
1896 1,051 46.75% 1,171 52.09% 26 1.16%
1892 863 42.72% 0 0.00% 1,157 57.28%
1888 1,027 54.34% 756 40.00% 107 5.66%

Laws

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Geary County was a prohibition, or "dry", county until the Kansas Constitution was amended in 1986 and voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with a 30% food sales requirement. The food sales requirement was removed with voter approval in 1990.[17]

The county voted "No" on the 2022 Kansas abortion referendum, an anti-abortion ballot measure, by 61% to 39% despite backing Donald Trump with 55% of the vote to Joe Biden's 41% in the 2020 presidential election.[18]

Education

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Unified school districts

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Communities

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2005 map of Geary County[19] (map legend)

List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Geary County.[19]

Cities

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Unincorporated community

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‡ means a community has portions in an adjacent county. † means a community is designated a Census-Designated Place (CDP) by the United States Census Bureau.

Ghost towns

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Fort Riley

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Located north of the junction of the Smoky Hill and Republican rivers, the Fort Riley Military Reservation covers 100,656 acres (407 km2) in Geary and Riley counties. The fort has a daytime population of nearly 25,000 and includes one census-designated place.

Townships

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Geary County is divided into eight townships. The city of Junction City is considered governmentally independent and is 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
Blakely 07275 113 1 (3) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0.01% 38°54′32″N 96°45′9″W / 38.90889°N 96.75250°W / 38.90889; -96.75250
Jackson 34775 78 1 (2) 104 (40) 0 (0) 0% 39°1′25″N 96°33′42″W / 39.02361°N 96.56167°W / 39.02361; -96.56167
Jefferson 35200 Grandview Plaza 1,651 13 (35) 124 (48) 2 (1) 1.55% 39°1′53″N 96°46′53″W / 39.03139°N 96.78139°W / 39.03139; -96.78139
Liberty 40050 225 1 (3) 171 (66) 0 (0) 0.03% 38°54′53″N 96°36′8″W / 38.91472°N 96.60222°W / 38.91472; -96.60222
Lyon 43500 298 3 (7) 113 (43) 1 (1) 1.20% 38°55′17″N 96°52′3″W / 38.92139°N 96.86750°W / 38.92139; -96.86750
Milford 46550 1,583 16 (41) 101 (39) 28 (11) 21.49% 39°8′59″N 96°54′22″W / 39.14972°N 96.90611°W / 39.14972; -96.90611
Smoky Hill 66000 4,974 33 (86) 149 (58) 20 (8) 11.84% 39°2′14″N 96°53′58″W / 39.03722°N 96.89944°W / 39.03722; -96.89944
Wingfield 80025 139 1 (3) 123 (48) 0 (0) 0% 38°59′38″N 96°38′37″W / 38.99389°N 96.64361°W / 38.99389; -96.64361
Sources: "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files". U.S. Census Bureau, Geography Division. Archived from the original on August 2, 2002.

See also

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Community information for Kansas

References

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  1. ^ "Geary County, Kansas Genealogy". FamilySearch. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved March 25, 2015.
  2. ^ a b c "QuickFacts; Geary County, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 16, 2021. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
  3. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  4. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  5. ^ "Kansas Historical Markers - Kansas Historical Society". www.kshs.org. Retrieved May 9, 2019.
  6. ^ Cutler, William G. (1883). History of the State of Kansas. Chicago: A.T. Andreas. ISBN 9780722248751.
  7. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 135.
  8. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  9. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  10. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  11. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  12. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  13. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  14. ^ "0MB BULLETIN NO. 20-01" (PDF). March 6, 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 11, 2020.
  15. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  16. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org.
  17. ^ "Map of Wet and Dry Counties". Alcoholic Beverage Control, Kansas Department of Revenue. November 2006. Archived from the original on October 8, 2007. Retrieved December 28, 2007.
  18. ^ Panetta, Grace (August 3, 2022). "14 of the 19 Kansas counties that rejected an anti-abortion amendment voted for Trump in 2020". Business Insider. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  19. ^ a b "General Highway Map of Geary County, Kansas" (PDF). Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT). February 2008. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 12, 2023.

Further reading

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See also: List of books about Kansas, including historical information about its counties and cities
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Geary County, Kansas.
County
Other
Historical
Maps

39°00′N 96°40′W / 39.000°N 96.667°W / 39.000; -96.667

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