Geary County, Kansas

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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
 • Total404 sq mi (1,050 km2)
 • Land385 sq mi (1,000 km2)
 • Water20 sq mi (50 km2)  4.9%%
Population
 (2020)[2]
 • Total36,739
 • Density95.4/sq mi (36.8/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district1st
Websitegearycounty.org

Geary County (county code GE) is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 36,739.[2] Its county seat and most populous city is Junction City.[3] The county is named in honor of Governor John W. Geary.

History[edit]

Early history[edit]

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[edit]

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.[4]

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.[5][6]

Geography[edit]

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.[7] It is the second-smallest county in Kansas by land area and third-smallest by total area.

Adjacent counties[edit]

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
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%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010-2020[2]
Population pyramid

Geary County comprises the Junction City, KS Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Manhattan-Junction City, KS Combined Statistical Area.

As of the 2000 census,[12] there were 27,947 people, 10,458 households, and 7,582 families residing in the county. The population density was 73 people 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[edit]

Presidential elections[edit]

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
Presidential election results[13]
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2020 55.4% 5,323 41.5% 3,983 3.1% 297
2016 57.0% 4,274 36.3% 2,722 6.8% 508
2012 55.7% 4,372 42.5% 3,332 1.8% 141
2008 55.5% 4,492 43.1% 3,491 1.4% 111
2004 64.2% 4,703 34.5% 2,531 1.3% 94
2000 57.9% 3,977 38.7% 2,660 3.3% 229
1996 54.3% 3,686 36.0% 2,444 9.7% 660
1992 38.8% 2,928 33.9% 2,559 27.4% 2,069
1988 57.5% 3,782 41.4% 2,721 1.1% 70
1984 65.4% 4,464 33.7% 2,296 0.9% 61
1980 56.1% 3,534 37.4% 2,357 6.6% 413
1976 52.1% 3,230 45.9% 2,843 2.0% 123
1972 70.0% 4,299 27.8% 1,708 2.2% 133
1968 50.7% 2,954 38.2% 2,228 11.1% 645
1964 39.3% 2,259 59.5% 3,419 1.2% 67
1960 61.3% 3,789 38.3% 2,365 0.5% 29
1956 65.5% 4,013 33.9% 2,078 0.5% 32
1952 70.5% 4,314 28.6% 1,750 0.9% 52
1948 49.7% 2,864 48.8% 2,810 1.5% 86
1944 57.0% 2,833 42.4% 2,107 0.7% 33
1940 52.7% 2,840 46.4% 2,504 0.9% 50
1936 44.4% 2,382 55.4% 2,973 0.2% 12
1932 40.9% 1,957 56.6% 2,705 2.5% 121
1928 69.2% 2,746 30.3% 1,203 0.6% 22
1924 66.3% 2,678 17.9% 723 15.8% 636
1920 69.6% 2,404 27.8% 962 2.6% 90
1916 48.2% 1,731 48.5% 1,740 3.3% 120
1912 17.4% 387 35.9% 800 46.7% 1,039
1908 53.4% 1,257 43.9% 1,033 2.8% 65
1904 67.9% 1,431 28.0% 591 4.1% 86
1900 54.6% 1,240 44.4% 1,009 1.1% 24
1896 46.8% 1,051 52.1% 1,171 1.2% 26
1892 42.7% 863 57.3% 1,157
1888 54.3% 1,027 40.0% 756 5.7% 107

Laws[edit]

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.[14]

Education[edit]

Unified school districts[edit]

Communities[edit]

2005 KDOT Map of Geary County (map legend)

Cities[edit]

Unincorporated community[edit]

Ghost towns[edit]

Fort Riley[edit]

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:

  • Fort Riley (formerly Fort Riley North), primarily in Riley County

Townships[edit]

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[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Geary County, Kansas Genealogy". 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. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ^ "Kansas Historical Markers - Kansas Historical Society". www.kshs.org. Retrieved May 9, 2019.
  5. ^ Cutler, William G. (1883). History of the State of Kansas. A.T. Andreas.
  6. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 135.
  7. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  8. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  9. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  10. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  11. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  12. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  13. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org.
  14. ^ "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.

Further reading[edit]

See also: List of books about Kansas, including historical information about its counties and cities

External links[edit]

County
Other
Historical
Maps

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

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