Cherokee County, Kansas
Encyclopedia
Cherokee County is a county located in Southeast
Kansas
, in the Central
United States
. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 21,603. Its county seat
is Columbus
, and its most populous city is Baxter Springs
. The communities of Baxter Springs, Columbus
, Galena
, and Riverton
are located in the Ozarks of Kansas.
, county.
, there were 22,605 people, 8,875 households, and 6,239 families residing in the county. The population density
was 38 people per square mile (15/km²). There were 10,031 housing units at an average density of 17 per square mile (7/km²). The racial makeup
of the county was 92.27% White
, 0.61% Black or African American
, 3.45% Native American
, 0.23% Asian
, 0.04% Pacific Islander
, 0.50% from other races, and 2.90% from two or more races
. Hispanic
or Latino
of any race were 1.29% of the population.
There were 8,875 household
s out of which 32.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.60% were married couples
living together, 9.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.70% were non-families. 26.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the county the population was spread out with 26.50% under the age of 18, 8.40% from 18 to 24, 26.90% from 25 to 44, 23.10% from 45 to 64, and 15.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 94.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.70 males.
The median income for a household
in the county was $30,505, and the median income for a family was $37,284. Males had a median income of $29,045 versus $19,675 for females. The per capita income
for the county was $14,710. About 11.40% of families and 14.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.40% of those under age 18 and 10.60% of those age 65 or over.
. The cities of Baxter Springs
, Columbus
, Galena
, Scammon
, and Weir
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.
Maps
Southeast Kansas
Southeast Kansas is a region of the U.S. state of Kansas. It can be roughly defined by Woodson County in the northwest, Bourbon County in the northeast, Cherokee County in the southeast, and Montgomery County in the southwest. Geographically it is dominated by a broad rolling landscape located...
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...
, in the Central
Central United States
The Central United States is sometimes conceived as between the Eastern United States and Western United States as part of a three-region model, roughly coincident with the Midwestern United States plus the western and central portions of the Southern United States; the term is also sometimes used...
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 census, the county population was 21,603. Its county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
is Columbus
Columbus, Kansas
Columbus is the second largest city and county seat of Cherokee County, Kansas, United States, 15 miles south-southwest of Pittsburg, Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 3,312.-History:...
, and its most populous city is Baxter Springs
Baxter Springs, Kansas
Baxter Springs is a town situated along the Spring River in the extreme southeastern part of Cherokee County, located in southeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 4,238...
. The communities of Baxter Springs, Columbus
Columbus, Kansas
Columbus is the second largest city and county seat of Cherokee County, Kansas, United States, 15 miles south-southwest of Pittsburg, Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 3,312.-History:...
, Galena
Galena, Kansas
Galena is a city in Cherokee County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 3,085.-History:The city was named after the lead ore galena found here in 1877. The city was originally platted by the Galena Mining and Smelting Company and was to be known as Cornwall...
, and Riverton
Riverton, Kansas
Riverton is a small unincorporated community at the junction of K-66 and U.S. Route 69 Alternate and U.S. Route 400 in Cherokee County, Kansas, United States. It is located near the Spring River and has a population of 600. It is one of only three towns in Kansas on U.S...
are located in the Ozarks of Kansas.
Law and government
Although the Kansas Constitution was amended in 1986 to allow the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with the approval of voters, Cherokee County has remained a prohibition, or "dry"Dry county
A dry county is a county in the United States whose government forbids the sale of alcoholic beverages. Some prohibit off-premises sale, some prohibit on-premises sale, and some prohibit both. Hundreds of dry counties exist across the United States, almost all of them in the South...
, county.
Geography
According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 590.96 square miles (1,530.6 km²), of which 587.12 square miles (1,520.6 km²) (or 99.35%) is land and 3.85 square miles (10 km²) (or 0.65%) is water.Adjacent counties
- Crawford CountyCrawford County, KansasCrawford County is a county located in southeastern Kansas in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 39,134. Its county seat is Girard, and its most populous city is Pittsburg. The county was named in honor of Samuel J. Crawford, Governor of Kansas...
(north) - Jasper CountyJasper County, MissouriJasper County is a county located in the US state of Missouri. It is included in the Joplin, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area. The 2010 total population of Jasper County was 117,404. It is the ninth most populous county in Missouri. Its county seat is Carthage, making it one of the few...
, MissouriMissouriMissouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
(east) - Newton County, MissouriMissouriMissouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
(southeast) - Ottawa CountyOttawa County, OklahomaOttawa County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population was 33,194. Its county seat is Miami. It was named for the Ottawa Tribe of Oklahoma.Ottawa County was established in 1907.-Geography:...
, OklahomaOklahomaOklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
(south) - Craig CountyCraig County, OklahomaCraig County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2010, the population was 15,029, a gain of 0.5 percent from 14,950 in 2000. Its county seat is Vinita.Craig County was organized in 1907.-History:...
, OklahomaOklahomaOklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
(southwest) - Labette CountyLabette County, KansasLabette County is a county located in southeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 21,607. Its county seat is Oswego, and its most populous city is Parsons...
(west)
Major highways
Sources: National Atlas, U.S. Census Bureau- Interstate 44Interstate 44Interstate 44 is a major highway in the central United States. Its western terminus is in Wichita Falls, Texas at a concurrency with US 277, US 281 and US 287; its eastern terminus is at the Illinois state line on the Poplar Street Bridge over the Mississippi River in St...
- U.S. Route 66U.S. Route 66U.S. Route 66 was a highway within the U.S. Highway System. One of the original U.S. highways, Route 66 was established on November 11, 1926 -- with road signs erected the following year...
- U.S. Route 69U.S. Route 69U.S. Route 69 is a north–south United States highway. When it was first created, it was only long, but it has since been expanded into a Minnesota to Texas cross-country route. The highway's southern terminus is in Port Arthur, Texas at an intersection with State Highway 87...
- U.S. Route 160U.S. Route 160U.S. Route 160 is a 1,465 mile long east–west United States highway in the Midwestern United States. The western terminus of the route is at U.S. Route 89 five miles west of Tuba City, Arizona. The eastern terminus is at U.S...
- U.S. Route 166U.S. Route 166U.S. Route 166 is an east–west United States highway. This route and US-266 are the only two remaining spurs of historic U.S. Highway 66, since US-666 was renumbered in 2003....
- Kansas Highway 7K-7 (Kansas highway)K-7 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Kansas. It is mostly a small country highway winding its way through the Osage Questas and Glaciated Regions of eastern Kansas, although a portion of the highway passes through the Kansas City metropolitan area. Significant portions of the highway overlap...
- Kansas Highway 26K-26 (Kansas highway)K-26 is a short state highway located entirely within Cherokee County, Kansas. Its northern terminus is at K-66 in Galena and its southern terminus is at U.S. Route 166/U.S. Route 400 about two miles from the Missouri/Kansas/Oklahoma corner. Its total length is .- Route description :The route...
- Kansas Highway 57
- Kansas Highway 66K-66 (Kansas highway)K-66 is a 5-mile long state highway in the southeastern corner of the state. Its eastern terminus is on the Missouri state line near Galena , while its western terminus is at Alternate U.S. Highway 69 and U.S. Route 400 at Riverton. This road is noteworthy in the fact that it used to be part of...
- Kansas Highway 96K-96 (Kansas highway)K-96 is a state highway in central and southern Kansas. Its western terminus is at the Colorado state line east of Towner, Colorado, where it continues as Colorado State Highway 96; its eastern terminus since 1999 is at U.S. Route 54/U.S. Route 400 east of Wichita.The eastern terminus was once at...
- Kansas Highway 102
Demographics
As of the U.S. Census in 2000United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
, there were 22,605 people, 8,875 households, and 6,239 families residing in the county. The population density
Population 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 38 people per square mile (15/km²). There were 10,031 housing units at an average density of 17 per square mile (7/km²). The racial makeup
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of the county was 92.27% White
White American
White Americans are people of the United States who are considered or consider themselves White. The United States Census Bureau defines White people as those "having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa...
, 0.61% Black or African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
, 3.45% Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
, 0.23% Asian
Asian American
Asian Americans are Americans of Asian descent. The U.S. Census Bureau definition of Asians as "Asian” refers to a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent, including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan,...
, 0.04% Pacific Islander
Pacific Islander American
Pacific Islander Americans, also known as Oceanian Americans, are residents of the United States with original ancestry from Oceania. They represent the smallest racial group counted in the United States census of 2000. They numbered 874,000 people or 0.3 percent of the United States population...
, 0.50% from other races, and 2.90% from two or more races
Multiracial
The terms multiracial and mixed-race describe people whose ancestries come from multiple races. Unlike the term biracial, which often is only used to refer to having parents or grandparents of two different races, the term multiracial may encompass biracial people but can also include people with...
. Hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
or Latino
Latino
The demonyms Latino and Latina , are defined in English language dictionaries as:* "a person of Latin-American descent."* "A Latin American."* "A person of Hispanic, especially Latin-American, descent, often one living in the United States."...
of any race were 1.29% of the population.
There were 8,875 household
Household
The household is "the basic residential unit in which economic production, consumption, inheritance, child rearing, and shelter are organized and carried out"; [the household] "may or may not be synonymous with family"....
s out of which 32.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.60% 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, 9.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.70% were non-families. 26.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the county the population was spread out with 26.50% under the age of 18, 8.40% from 18 to 24, 26.90% from 25 to 44, 23.10% from 45 to 64, and 15.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 94.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.70 males.
The median income for a household
Median household income
The median household income is commonly used to generate data about geographic areas and divides households into two equal segments with the first half of households earning less than the median household income and the other half earning more...
in the county was $30,505, and the median income for a family was $37,284. Males had a median income of $29,045 versus $19,675 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the county was $14,710. About 11.40% of families and 14.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.40% of those under age 18 and 10.60% of those age 65 or over.
Incorporated cities and Census Designated places
Name and population (2010 Census):- Baxter SpringsBaxter Springs, KansasBaxter Springs is a town situated along the Spring River in the extreme southeastern part of Cherokee County, located in southeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 4,238...
, 4,238 - ColumbusColumbus, KansasColumbus is the second largest city and county seat of Cherokee County, Kansas, United States, 15 miles south-southwest of Pittsburg, Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 3,312.-History:...
, 3,312 (county seat) - GalenaGalena, KansasGalena is a city in Cherokee County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 3,085.-History:The city was named after the lead ore galena found here in 1877. The city was originally platted by the Galena Mining and Smelting Company and was to be known as Cornwall...
, 3,085 - WeirWeir, KansasWeir is a city in Cherokee County, Kansas, United States. The population was 780 at the 2000 census. The community is named after landowner T. M. Weir, who donated forty acres as a townsite.-Geography:...
, 686 - ScammonScammon, KansasScammon is a city in Cherokee County, Kansas, United States. The population was 496 at the 2000 census.-History:The city of Scammon was named for the four Scammon brothers, who were coal miners from Illinois. The community was known as Stilson when it was first settled...
, 482 - West MineralWest Mineral, KansasWest Mineral is a city in Cherokee County, Kansas, United States. The population was 243 at the 2000 census. It is the home of Big Brutus, the second largest electric shovel in the world.-Geography:West Mineral is located at...
, 185 - TreeceTreece, KansasTreece is a city in Cherokee County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 138.-History:Treece and neighboring Picher were formed as a result of mining operations in the early 20th century. Treece was a heavy supplier of lead, zinc, and iron ore...
, 138 - RoselandRoseland, KansasRoseland is a city in Cherokee County, Kansas, United States. The population was 101 at the 2000 census. The community was named after Louis Rose.-Geography:Roseland is located at...
, 77 - Lowell, 283
- RivertonRiverton, KansasRiverton is a small unincorporated community at the junction of K-66 and U.S. Route 69 Alternate and U.S. Route 400 in Cherokee County, Kansas, United States. It is located near the Spring River and has a population of 600. It is one of only three towns in Kansas on U.S...
, 929
Unincorporated places
- Carona
- Cravensville
- Crestline
- Faulkner
- Hallowell
- Lawton
- Leawalk
- Melrose
- Military
- Neutral
- Quaker
- Sherman City
- Sherwin
- Skidmore
- Stippville
- Turck
Townships
Cherokee County is divided into fourteen townshipsCivil 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,...
. The cities of Baxter Springs
Baxter Springs, Kansas
Baxter Springs is a town situated along the Spring River in the extreme southeastern part of Cherokee County, located in southeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 4,238...
, Columbus
Columbus, Kansas
Columbus is the second largest city and county seat of Cherokee County, Kansas, United States, 15 miles south-southwest of Pittsburg, Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 3,312.-History:...
, Galena
Galena, Kansas
Galena is a city in Cherokee County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 3,085.-History:The city was named after the lead ore galena found here in 1877. The city was originally platted by the Galena Mining and Smelting Company and was to be known as Cornwall...
, Scammon
Scammon, Kansas
Scammon is a city in Cherokee County, Kansas, United States. The population was 496 at the 2000 census.-History:The city of Scammon was named for the four Scammon brothers, who were coal miners from Illinois. The community was known as Stilson when it was first settled...
, and Weir
Weir, Kansas
Weir is a city in Cherokee County, Kansas, United States. The population was 780 at the 2000 census. The community is named after landowner T. M. Weir, who donated forty acres as a townsite.-Geography:...
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cherokee | 12800 | 336 | 6 (15) | 57 (22) | 0 (0) | 0.08% | 37°18′33"N 94°45′36"W | |
| Crawford | 16225 | 646 | 7 (18) | 94 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.24% | 37°9′21"N 94°47′11"W | |
| Garden | 25250 | 3,039 | 41 (105) | 75 (29) | 2 (1) | 2.80% | 37°2′55"N 94°41′18"W | |
| Lola | 42350 | 382 | 3 (9) | 115 (44) | 1 (0) | 0.50% | 37°10′25"N 95°0′15"W | |
| Lowell | 43075 | 672 | 20 (52) | 33 (13) | 1 (0) | 3.04% | 37°6′11"N 94°40′23"W | |
| Lyon | 43400 | 528 | 4 (11) | 130 (50) | 0 (0) | 0.08% | 37°2′19"N 94°52′37"W | |
| Mineral | 47000 | 254 | 3 (8) | 79 (31) | 0 (0) | 0.15% | 37°15′32"N 94°47′29"W | |
| Neosho | 49725 | 306 | 2 (5) | 157 (61) | 2 (1) | 1.08% | 37°3′15"N 95°1′37"W | |
| Pleasant View | 56675 | 658 | 5 (13) | 136 (52) | 0 (0) | 0.14% | 37°17′4"N 94°40′1"W | |
| Ross | 61350 | 893 | 6 (17) | 140 (54) | 1 (0) | 0.71% | 37°16′29"N 94°53′55"W | |
| Salamanca | 62575 | 569 | 6 (17) | 89 (34) | 0 (0) | 0.07% | 37°10′3"N 94°52′37"W | |
| Shawnee | 64475 | 505 | 6 (15) | 90 (35) | 1 (0) | 0.61% | 37°9′30"N 94°40′18"W | |
| Sheridan | 64625 | 249 | 1 (4) | 172 (67) | 1 (1) | 0.79% | 37°15′41"N 95°0′15"W | |
| Spring Valley | 67725 | 1,007 | 8 (21) | 122 (47) | 0 (0) | 0.36% | 37°3′11"N 94°46′5"W | |
| Sources: | ||||||||
Unified school districts
- Cherokee USD 247 (Web site) is a 300 square miles (777 km²) school districtSchool districtSchool districts are a form of special-purpose district which serves to operate the local public primary and secondary schools.-United States:...
primarily covering portions of CrawfordCrawford County, KansasCrawford County is a county located in southeastern Kansas in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 39,134. Its county seat is Girard, and its most populous city is Pittsburg. The county was named in honor of Samuel J. Crawford, Governor of Kansas...
and Cherokee counties, but also includes small portions of LabetteLabette County, KansasLabette County is a county located in southeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 21,607. Its county seat is Oswego, and its most populous city is Parsons...
and NeoshoNeosho County, KansasNeosho County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 16,512...
counties. It serves over 800 students in grades Pre-KPre-KindergartenPre-kindergarten refers to the first formal academic classroom-based learning environment that a child customarily attends in the United States. It begins between the ages of 3-5 depending on the length of the program...
through 12. Southeast High School (the "Lancers") is located just west of the city of CherokeeCherokee, KansasCherokee is a city in Crawford County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 714.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, Cherokee has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:...
(where the district office is located). In Cherokee County the district serves the cities of WeirWeir, KansasWeir is a city in Cherokee County, Kansas, United States. The population was 780 at the 2000 census. The community is named after landowner T. M. Weir, who donated forty acres as a townsite.-Geography:...
and West MineralWest Mineral, KansasWest Mineral is a city in Cherokee County, Kansas, United States. The population was 243 at the 2000 census. It is the home of Big Brutus, the second largest electric shovel in the world.-Geography:West Mineral is located at...
. - Riverton USD 404 (Web site)
- Columbus USD 493 (Web site)
- Galena USD 499 (Web site)
- Baxter Springs USD 508 (Web site)
See also
- Dry counties
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Cherokee County, KansasNational Register of Historic Places listings in Cherokee County, KansasThis is a list of the National Register of Historic Places listings in Cherokee County, Kansas.This is intended to be a complete list of the properties and districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Cherokee County, Kansas, United States...
Further reading
- History of the State of Kansas; William G. Cutler; A.T. Andreas Publisher; 1883. (Online HTML eBook)
- Kansas : A Cyclopedia of State History, Embracing Events, Institutions, Industries, Counties, Cities, Towns, Prominent Persons, Etc; 3 Volumes; Frank W. Blackmar; Standard Publishing Co; 944 / 955 / 824 pages; 1912. (Volume1 - Download 54MB PDF eBook),(Volume2 - Download 53MB PDF eBook), (Volume3 - Download 33MB PDF eBook)
External links
Maps
- 2011 Cherokee County Map, KDOT
- 2011 Kansas Highway Map, KDOT
- 2011 Kansas Railroad Map, KDOT
- 2005 Kansas School District Boundary Map, KSDE