Trego County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat and largest city is WaKeeney.[3] As of the 2020 census, the county population was 2,808.[2] The county was named for Edgar Trego.

Trego County
Trego County Courthouse in WaKeeney (2017)
Trego County Courthouse in WaKeeney (2017)
Map of Kansas highlighting Trego County
Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
Map of the United States highlighting Kansas
Kansas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 39°00′30″N 100°03′54″W / 39.0083°N 100.065°W / 39.0083; -100.065
Country United States
State Kansas
FoundedJune 21, 1879
Named forEdgar Poe Trego[1]
SeatWaKeeney
Largest cityWaKeeney
Area
 • Total
900 sq mi (2,000 km2)
 • Land889 sq mi (2,300 km2)
 • Water10 sq mi (30 km2)  1.1%
Population
 • Total
2,808
 • Density3.2/sq mi (1.2/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district1st
WebsiteTregoCountyKS.com

History

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Early history

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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. In 1879, Trego County was established.

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 900 square miles (2,300 km2), of which 889 square miles (2,300 km2) is land and 10 square miles (26 km2) (1.1%) is water.[4]

Adjacent counties

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Major highways

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Demographics

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Population pyramid based on 2000 census age data
Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1870166
18802,5351,427.1%
18902,5350.0%
19002,7227.4%
19105,39898.3%
19205,8808.9%
19306,47010.0%
19405,822−10.0%
19505,8680.8%
19605,473−6.7%
19704,436−18.9%
19804,165−6.1%
19903,694−11.3%
20003,319−10.2%
20103,001−9.6%
20202,808−6.4%
2023 (est.)2,731[5]−2.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2020[2]

As of the census[10] of 2000, there were 3,319 people, 1,412 households, and 936 families residing in the county. The population density was 4 people per square mile (1.5 people/km2). There were 1,723 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile (0.77/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.77% White, 0.18% Black or African American, 0.39% Native American, 0.48% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.15% from other races, and 0.96% from two or more races. 0.78% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,412 households, out of which 27.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.10% were married couples living together, 6.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.70% were non-families. 31.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.86.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.90% under the age of 18, 5.50% from 18 to 24, 23.50% from 25 to 44, 23.20% from 45 to 64, and 24.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 91.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,677, and the median income for a family was $40,524. Males had a median income of $26,545 versus $16,927 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,239. About 11.20% of families and 12.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.10% of those under age 18 and 12.00% of those age 65 or over.

Government

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Presidential elections

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Trego County is often carried by Republican candidates. The last time a Democratic candidate has carried this county was in 1964. The county has generally voted for Republican candidates by a larger margin by each passing election.

Presidential election results
United States presidential election results for Trego County, Kansas[11]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 1,326 84.67% 213 13.60% 27 1.72%
2020 1,363 83.62% 242 14.85% 25 1.53%
2016 1,227 82.79% 198 13.36% 57 3.85%
2012 1,261 79.86% 291 18.43% 27 1.71%
2008 1,225 73.31% 420 25.13% 26 1.56%
2004 1,225 72.66% 434 25.74% 27 1.60%
2000 1,220 66.41% 516 28.09% 101 5.50%
1996 1,205 61.11% 548 27.79% 219 11.11%
1992 727 38.02% 608 31.80% 577 30.18%
1988 979 53.47% 795 43.42% 57 3.11%
1984 1,491 70.40% 598 28.23% 29 1.37%
1980 1,340 65.43% 523 25.54% 185 9.03%
1976 1,025 49.56% 1,003 48.50% 40 1.93%
1972 1,369 66.91% 621 30.35% 56 2.74%
1968 1,211 58.67% 623 30.18% 230 11.14%
1964 974 45.05% 1,177 54.44% 11 0.51%
1960 1,426 61.76% 875 37.90% 8 0.35%
1956 1,668 69.41% 726 30.21% 9 0.37%
1952 1,915 75.60% 608 24.00% 10 0.39%
1948 1,237 51.82% 1,117 46.80% 33 1.38%
1944 1,459 61.98% 883 37.51% 12 0.51%
1940 1,571 57.59% 1,140 41.79% 17 0.62%
1936 1,012 36.00% 1,783 63.43% 16 0.57%
1932 918 33.76% 1,751 64.40% 50 1.84%
1928 1,359 57.73% 982 41.72% 13 0.55%
1924 1,121 58.14% 399 20.70% 408 21.16%
1920 1,299 75.04% 395 22.82% 37 2.14%
1916 867 42.07% 1,094 53.08% 100 4.85%
1912 160 14.34% 449 40.23% 507 45.43%
1908 617 54.75% 458 40.64% 52 4.61%
1904 526 60.81% 264 30.52% 75 8.67%
1900 360 48.39% 361 48.52% 23 3.09%
1896 256 42.74% 340 56.76% 3 0.50%
1892 309 50.49% 0 0.00% 303 49.51%
1888 477 63.86% 220 29.45% 50 6.69%

Laws

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Trego 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 percent food sales requirement.[12]

Education

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Unified school districts

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Communities

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2005 map of Trego County[13] (map legend)

List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Trego County.[13]
† means a community is designated a Census-Designated Place (CDP) by the United States Census Bureau.

Cities

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Unincorporated communities

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Ghost towns

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Townships

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Trego 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.

Sources: 2000 U.S. Gazetteer from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Township FIPS Population
center
Population Population
density
/km2 (/sq mi)
Land area
km2 (sq mi)
Water area
km2 (sq mi)
Water % Geographic coordinates
Collyer 14925 368 1 (2) 517 (200) 0 (0) 0.02% 39°0′31″N 100°3′55″W / 39.00861°N 100.06528°W / 39.00861; -100.06528
Franklin 24500 60 0 (1) 259 (100) 0 (0) 0% 38°45′42″N 100°4′10″W / 38.76167°N 100.06944°W / 38.76167; -100.06944
Glencoe 26425 70 1 (2) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0% 38°55′40″N 99°38′30″W / 38.92778°N 99.64167°W / 38.92778; -99.64167
Ogallah 52250 214 1 (1) 373 (144) 0 (0) 0.05% 39°0′31″N 99°41′49″W / 39.00861°N 99.69694°W / 39.00861; -99.69694
Riverside 60150 117 0 (1) 296 (114) 15 (6) 4.95% 38°47′32″N 99°42′41″W / 38.79222°N 99.71139°W / 38.79222; -99.71139
WaKeeney 74475 2,398 5 (13) 465 (179) 0 (0) 0.03% 39°0′41″N 99°52′36″W / 39.01139°N 99.87667°W / 39.01139; -99.87667
Wilcox 79137 92 0 (1) 298 (115) 12 (5) 3.85% 38°47′25″N 99°52′37″W / 38.79028°N 99.87694°W / 38.79028; -99.87694

Former towns and settlements in the county include Wilcox.

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See also

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Community information for Kansas

References

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  1. ^ "Welcome to Trego County Economic Development". Trego County, Kansas. Retrieved November 4, 2012.
  2. ^ a b c "QuickFacts; Trego County, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 21, 2021. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  5. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  6. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  7. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  8. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  9. ^ "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 29, 2014.
  10. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  11. ^ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
  12. ^ "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.
  13. ^ a b "General Highway Map of Trego County, Kansas" (PDF). Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT). January 2013. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 31, 2024.
Notes

Further reading

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County
Maps

38°55′N 99°53′W / 38.917°N 99.883°W / 38.917; -99.883