Big Creek Township, Russell County, Kansas
Encyclopedia
Big Creek Township is a township
in Russell County
, Kansas
, United States
. As of the 2010 United States Census, it had a population of 479.
region of the Great Plains
. Big Creek, a tributary of the Smoky Hill River
and the township's namesake, flows windingly east through the southern part of the township. Walker Creek, a tributary of Big Creek, runs southeast through the southern half of the township to its confluence with Big Creek. Another tributary of the Smoky Hill, Fossil Creek, has its source in east-central Big Creek Township. Salt Creek, a tributary of the Saline River
, flows east through the northern part of the township.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, Big Creek Township occupies an area of 71.85 square miles (186.1 km²) of which 71.83 square miles (186 km²) is land and 0.02 square miles (0.1 km²) is water. Located in west-central Russell County, it includes the city of Gorham
, which is located in the west-central part of the township, and it borders Paradise Township
to the north, Russell
and Grant Township
s to the east, Lincoln Township
to the southeast, Winterset Township
to the south, and Ellis County
's Victoria
and Herzog Township
s to the west.
was 6.7 people per square mile (2.6/km²). There were 242 housing units at an average density of 3.4 per square mile (1.3/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 99.2% White, 0.2% Native American, and 0.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.2% of the population.
There were 211 households out of which 26.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.8% were married couples
living together, 3.3% had a male householder with no wife present, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.4% were non-families. 27.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.4% 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 2.70.
In the township, the population was spread out with 22.1% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 25.3% from 25 to 44, 30.3% from 45 to 64, and 16.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.5 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.4 males age 18 and over.
407, Russell County Schools.
and U.S. Route 40
run concurrently east-west through Big Creek Township, interchanging with 176th Street, a paved north-south county road, one mile south of Gorham. The former alignment of U.S. 40 runs broadly east-west through Gorham and the township, connecting to a network of mostly unpaved county roads laid out in a rough grid pattern. Another paved north-south road, Gorham-Fairport Road, runs north from old U.S. 40 one mile east of Gorham.
The Kansas Pacific line of the Union Pacific Railroad
runs through the township parallel to the old alignment of U.S. 40.
Civil township
A civil township is a widely used unit of local government in the United States, subordinate to, and geographic divisions of, a county. Specific responsibilities and the degree of autonomy vary based on each state. Civil townships are distinct from survey townships, but in states that have both,...
in Russell County
Russell County, Kansas
Russell County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. The county's population was 6,970 for the 2010 census...
, Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. As of the 2010 United States Census, it had a population of 479.
Geography
The center of Big Creek Township is located at 38°52′16"N 98°59′02"W (38.8711228, -98.9839787) at an elevation of 1,890 feet (576 m). The township lies in the Smoky HillsSmoky Hills
The Smoky Hills are an upland region of hills in the central Great Plains of North America. They are located in the central United States, encompassing north-central Kansas and a small portion of south-central Nebraska. The hills are a dissected plain covered by tallgrass and mixed-grass prairie...
region of the Great Plains
Great Plains
The Great Plains are a broad expanse of flat land, much of it covered in prairie, steppe and grassland, which lies west of the Mississippi River and east of the Rocky Mountains in the United States and Canada. This area covers parts of the U.S...
. Big Creek, a tributary of the Smoky Hill River
Smoky Hill River
The Smoky Hill River is a river in the central Great Plains of North America, running through the U.S. states of Colorado and Kansas.-Names:The Smoky Hill gets its name from the Smoky Hills region of north-central Kansas through which it flows...
and the township's namesake, flows windingly east through the southern part of the township. Walker Creek, a tributary of Big Creek, runs southeast through the southern half of the township to its confluence with Big Creek. Another tributary of the Smoky Hill, Fossil Creek, has its source in east-central Big Creek Township. Salt Creek, a tributary of the Saline River
Saline River (Kansas)
The Saline River is a tributary of the Smoky Hill River in the central Great Plains of North America. The entire length of the river lies in the U.S. state of Kansas. The river takes its name from the French translation of its Native name Ne Miskua, referring to its salty content.-Geography:The...
, flows east through the northern part of the township.
According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, Big Creek Township occupies an area of 71.85 square miles (186.1 km²) of which 71.83 square miles (186 km²) is land and 0.02 square miles (0.1 km²) is water. Located in west-central Russell County, it includes the city of Gorham
Gorham, Kansas
Gorham is a city in Russell County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 334.-History:Beaten to the settlement of Wilson, Kansas by Bohemian colonists, German settlers from Philadelphia and Lancaster, Pennsylvania established a community on the Kansas Pacific...
, which is located in the west-central part of the township, and it borders Paradise Township
Paradise Township, Russell County, Kansas
Paradise Township is a township in Russell County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, it had a population of 166.-Geography:...
to the north, Russell
Russell Township, Russell County, Kansas
Russell Township is a township in Russell County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, it had a population of 82.-History:...
and Grant Township
Grant Township, Russell County, Kansas
Grant Township is a township in Russell County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, it had a population of 186.-History:Grant Township was organized from part of Lincoln Township in 1907...
s to the east, Lincoln Township
Lincoln Township, Russell County, Kansas
Lincoln Township is a township in Russell County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, it had a population of 150.-History:Lincoln Township was organized from part of Russell Township in the 1880s...
to the southeast, Winterset Township
Winterset Township, Russell County, Kansas
Winterset Township is a township in Russell County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, it had a population of 67.-Geography:...
to the south, and Ellis County
Ellis County, Kansas
Ellis County is a county located in Northwest Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 28,452. Its county seat and most populous city is Hays...
's Victoria
Victoria Township, Ellis County, Kansas
Victoria Township is a township in Ellis County, Kansas, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 845.-Geography:Victoria Township covers an area of and contains one incorporated settlement, Victoria...
and Herzog Township
Herzog Township, Ellis County, Kansas
Herzog Township is a township in Ellis County, Kansas, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 894.-Geography:Herzog Township covers an area of and contains no incorporated settlements...
s to the west.
Demographics
As of the 2010 census, there were 479 people, 211 households, and 149 families residing in the township. The population densityPopulation density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 6.7 people per square mile (2.6/km²). There were 242 housing units at an average density of 3.4 per square mile (1.3/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 99.2% White, 0.2% Native American, and 0.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.2% of the population.
There were 211 households out of which 26.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.8% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 3.3% had a male householder with no wife present, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.4% were non-families. 27.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.4% 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 2.70.
In the township, the population was spread out with 22.1% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 25.3% from 25 to 44, 30.3% from 45 to 64, and 16.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.5 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.4 males age 18 and over.
Education
Big Creek Township lies within Unified School DistrictUnified school district
A unified school district or unit school district is a school district which includes both primary school and high school under the same district control....
407, Russell County Schools.
Transportation
Interstate 70Interstate 70
Interstate 70 is an Interstate Highway in the United States that runs from Interstate 15 near Cove Fort, Utah, to a Park and Ride near Baltimore, Maryland. It was the first Interstate Highway project in the United States. I-70 approximately traces the path of U.S. Route 40 east of the Rocky...
and U.S. Route 40
U.S. Route 40
U.S. Route 40 is an east–west United States highway. As with most routes whose numbers end in a zero, U.S. 40 once traversed the entire United States. It is one of the original 1920s U.S. Highways, and its first termini were San Francisco, California, and Atlantic City, New Jersey...
run concurrently east-west through Big Creek Township, interchanging with 176th Street, a paved north-south county road, one mile south of Gorham. The former alignment of U.S. 40 runs broadly east-west through Gorham and the township, connecting to a network of mostly unpaved county roads laid out in a rough grid pattern. Another paved north-south road, Gorham-Fairport Road, runs north from old U.S. 40 one mile east of Gorham.
The Kansas Pacific line of the Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Railroad
The Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
runs through the township parallel to the old alignment of U.S. 40.