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Russell County, Kansas

Coordinates: 38°55′N 98°46′W / 38.917°N 98.767°W / 38.917; -98.767
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Russell County
County
Russell County Courthouse in Russell (2013)
Russell County Courthouse in Russell (2013)
Map of Kansas highlighting Russell 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°55′00″N 98°46′00″W / 38.9167°N 98.7667°W / 38.9167; -98.7667
Country United States
State Kansas
FoundedFebruary 26, 1867
Named forAvra P. Russell
SeatRussell
Largest cityRussell
Area
 • Total
899 sq mi (2,330 km2)
 • Land886 sq mi (2,290 km2)
 • Water13 sq mi (30 km2)  1.5%
Population
 (2020)[1]
 • Total
6,691
 • Density7.4/sq mi (2.9/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district1st
WebsiteCounty Website

Russell County is a county in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat and largest city is Russell.[2] As of the 2020 census, the population was 6,691.[1] The county was named for Avra Russell. The city of Russell was the home of former U.S. Senate Majority leader and 1996 GOP presidential nominee Bob Dole for many years.

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 Louisiana Purchase.

In 1854, the Kansas Territory was organized, then in 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state. In 1867, Russell County was established.

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 899 square miles (2,330 km2), of which 886 square miles (2,290 km2) is land and 13 square miles (34 km2) (1.5%) is water.[3]

Adjacent counties

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Major highways

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The city of Russell is the junction of Interstate 70, a major east–west highway through the Midwestern United States, and U.S. Route 281, which begins at the Canada–US border in North Dakota and ends at the Mexico–US border in Texas. I-70 also runs through Gorham on the western end of the county and Dorrance on the eastern end. Hays is 27 miles (43 km) west of Russell and Salina is 67 miles (108 km) east of Russell.

Further along I-70, Russell is approximately 250 miles (400 km) west of Kansas City, Missouri and 360 miles (580 km) east of Denver, Colorado.

K-18, a major east–west state highway in northern Kansas, enters from Osborne County to the west and runs through Paradise before joining up with US 281 through Waldo. US 281 and K-18 split again at the city limits of Luray, and K-18 continues east through Lucas and into Lincoln County. US 281 heads north into Osborne County.

South of I-70, US 281 heads into Barton County and towards the city of Great Bend.

Demographics

[edit]
Population pyramid based on 2000 census age data
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1870156—
18807,3514,612.2%
18907,333−0.2%
19008,48915.8%
191010,80027.2%
192010,748−0.5%
193011,0452.8%
194013,46421.9%
195013,406−0.4%
196011,348−15.4%
19709,428−16.9%
19808,868−5.9%
19907,835−11.6%
20007,370−5.9%
20106,970−5.4%
20206,691−4.0%
2023 (est.)6,723[4]0.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
1790-1960[6] 1900-1990[7]
1990-2000[8] 2010-2020[1]

As of the census[9] of 2000, there were 7,370 people, 3,207 households, and 2,020 families residing in the county. The population density was 8 people per square mile (3.1 people/km2). There were 3,871 housing units at an average density of 4 per square mile (1.5/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.58% White, 0.50% Black or African American, 0.56% Native American, 0.33% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.27% from other races, and 0.75% from two or more races. 0.91% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,207 households, out of which 25.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.40% were married couples living together, 7.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.00% were non-families. 32.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.83.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.40% under the age of 18, 5.80% from 18 to 24, 23.30% from 25 to 44, 24.30% from 45 to 64, and 24.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 92.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,284, and the median income for a family was $40,355. Males had a median income of $25,916 versus $17,957 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,073. About 9.10% of families and 12.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.80% of those under age 18 and 8.50% of those age 65 or over.

Government

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Presidential elections

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Presidential election results
United States presidential election results for Russell County, Kansas[10]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 2,587 79.65% 600 18.47% 61 1.88%
2020 2,790 80.47% 600 17.31% 77 2.22%
2016 2,574 80.61% 461 14.44% 158 4.95%
2012 2,553 79.78% 593 18.53% 54 1.69%
2008 2,509 76.19% 736 22.35% 48 1.46%
2004 2,671 75.77% 810 22.98% 44 1.25%
2000 2,434 69.90% 886 25.45% 162 4.65%
1996 3,347 78.98% 705 16.64% 186 4.39%
1992 1,434 35.72% 1,178 29.34% 1,403 34.94%
1988 2,403 61.21% 1,448 36.88% 75 1.91%
1984 3,673 76.99% 1,055 22.11% 43 0.90%
1980 3,241 73.04% 910 20.51% 286 6.45%
1976 3,165 67.79% 1,453 31.12% 51 1.09%
1972 3,168 73.81% 1,011 23.56% 113 2.63%
1968 3,177 67.04% 1,261 26.61% 301 6.35%
1964 2,435 48.93% 2,505 50.33% 37 0.74%
1960 3,607 65.57% 1,870 33.99% 24 0.44%
1956 3,920 71.78% 1,528 27.98% 13 0.24%
1952 4,813 76.00% 1,499 23.67% 21 0.33%
1948 3,113 56.48% 2,343 42.51% 56 1.02%
1944 3,344 67.56% 1,583 31.98% 23 0.46%
1940 3,714 58.56% 2,579 40.67% 49 0.77%
1936 2,241 37.45% 3,736 62.43% 7 0.12%
1932 1,805 38.98% 2,723 58.80% 103 2.22%
1928 2,782 66.56% 1,366 32.68% 32 0.77%
1924 2,637 64.30% 687 16.75% 777 18.95%
1920 2,407 75.27% 724 22.64% 67 2.10%
1916 2,011 48.88% 1,934 47.01% 169 4.11%
1912 416 16.91% 983 39.96% 1,061 43.13%
1908 1,360 57.12% 976 40.99% 45 1.89%
1904 1,451 71.41% 515 25.34% 66 3.25%
1900 1,233 59.71% 810 39.23% 22 1.07%
1896 902 51.60% 823 47.08% 23 1.32%
1892 1,007 57.44% 0 0.00% 746 42.56%
1888 953 60.82% 571 36.44% 43 2.74%

Russell County is overwhelmingly Republican. The last Democrat to carry the county was Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964, and Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1932 and 1936 is the only other to ever achieve this feat. In 1996, aided by a strong “favorite son” vote, Russell was Bob Dole's second strongest county nationwide behind the famous Republican bastion of Ochiltree County, Texas.[11]

Laws

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Russell 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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Schools in Russell County have experienced major change in the 2010–11 school year. USD 407, which previously served all of Russell County except the northwest and southeast corners, retracted its footprint and will only serve the cities of Russell, Gorham and Bunker Hill and areas to the south of Interstate 70 along and adjacent to US 281.

Lucas-Luray High School, previously operated by USD 407, was acquired by the school district in Sylvan Grove in western Lincoln County and will be converted into a K-6 school. Meanwhile, the elementary school in Luray has closed. Students in Lucas and Luray in grades 7-12 will attend school in Sylvan Grove.

Unified school districts

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  • Central Plains USD 112 (serves Dorrance and southeastern part of county south of I-70; extends into Barton, Ellsworth and Rice Counties)
  • Sylvan–Lucas USD 299 (serves Lucas, Luray and northeast part of county along K-18; extends into Lincoln County)
  • Paradise-Natoma-Waldo USD 399 (serves Paradise, Waldo and northwest part of county along K-18; extends into Osborne and Rooks Counties)
  • Russell County USD 407 (serves cities of Russell, Gorham, Bunker Hill and rural south central and southwest parts of county; does not extend into any other counties)

Communities

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

List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Russell County.[13]

Cities

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Unincorporated communities

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‡ means a community has portions in an adjacent county.

Ghost towns

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Townships

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1915-1918 Railroad Map of Russell County

Russell County is divided into twelve townships. The city of Russell 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.

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
Big Creek 06700 Gorham 515 3 (7) 186 (72) 0 (0) 0.03% 38°51′40″N 98°59′8″W / 38.86111°N 98.98556°W / 38.86111; -98.98556
Center 12150 Bunker Hill 255 1 (2) 359 (139) 9 (3) 2.41% 38°51′7″N 98°40′29″W / 38.85194°N 98.67472°W / 38.85194; -98.67472
Fairfield 22200 42 0 (1) 104 (40) 0 (0) 0.03% 38°44′37″N 98°46′0″W / 38.74361°N 98.76667°W / 38.74361; -98.76667
Fairview 22650 Lucas 526 3 (7) 185 (71) 1 (1) 0.77% 39°2′16″N 98°31′54″W / 39.03778°N 98.53167°W / 39.03778; -98.53167
Grant 28100 159 1 (3) 135 (52) 0 (0) 0.18% 38°49′41″N 98°50′31″W / 38.82806°N 98.84194°W / 38.82806; -98.84194
Lincoln 41125 Milberger 147 2 (4) 94 (36) 0 (0) 0% 38°44′40″N 98°51′54″W / 38.74444°N 98.86500°W / 38.74444; -98.86500
Luray 43275 Luray 270 1 (4) 183 (71) 2 (1) 0.94% 39°5′6″N 98°40′3″W / 39.08500°N 98.66750°W / 39.08500; -98.66750
Paradise 54350 Paradise 169 0 (1) 372 (144) 1 (0) 0.16% 39°3′9″N 98°55′31″W / 39.05250°N 98.92528°W / 39.05250; -98.92528
Plymouth 56925 Dorrance 319 1 (3) 255 (98) 24 (9) 8.50% 38°50′46″N 98°33′4″W / 38.84611°N 98.55111°W / 38.84611; -98.55111
Russell 61850 89 1 (2) 127 (49) 0 (0) 0.03% 38°54′40″N 98°51′27″W / 38.91111°N 98.85750°W / 38.91111; -98.85750
Waldo 74600 Waldo 108 1 (2) 186 (72) 0 (0) 0.19% 39°3′10″N 98°46′14″W / 39.05278°N 98.77056°W / 39.05278; -98.77056
Winterset 80125 75 1 (2) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0.05% 38°44′15″N 98°59′30″W / 38.73750°N 98.99167°W / 38.73750; -98.99167

See also

[edit]
Community information for Kansas

References

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  1. ^ a b c "QuickFacts; Russell County, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 19, 2021. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  4. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  5. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 28, 2014.
  6. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 28, 2014.
  7. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 28, 2014.
  8. ^ "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 28, 2014.
  9. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  10. ^ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
  11. ^ Dave Leip’s U.S. Election Atlas; 1996 Presidential Election Statistics
  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 Russell County, Kansas" (PDF). Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT). October 2010. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 21, 2023.
Notes

Further reading

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See also: List of books about Kansas, including historical information about its counties and cities
County
Trails
  • Guide Map of the Best and Shortest Cattle Trail to the Kansas Pacific Railway; Kansas Pacific Railway Company; 1875. (Read Online)(Map)
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Russell County, Kansas.
County
Other
Maps

38°55′N 98°46′W / 38.917°N 98.767°W / 38.917; -98.767

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