Ottawa County, Kansas Explained

County:Ottawa County
State:Kansas
Type:County
Ex Image:Downtown minneapolis kansas 2009.jpg
Ex Image Cap:Downtown Minneapolis (2009)
Founded:February 27, 1860
Named For:Odawa tribe
Seat Wl:Minneapolis
Largest City Wl:Minneapolis
Area Total Sq Mi:721
Area Land Sq Mi:721
Area Water Sq Mi:0.6
Area Percentage:0.08%
Population As Of:2020
Population Total:5735
Pop Est Footnotes:[1]
Pop Est As Of:2023
Population Est:5818
Population Density Sq Mi:8.0
District:1st
Time Zone:Central

Ottawa County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat and largest city is Minneapolis.[2] As of the 2020 census, the county population was 5,735.[3] The county was named after the Odawa tribe.

History

Early history

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

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 1860, Ottawa County was established.

20th century

Following amendment to the Kansas Constitution in 1986, Ottawa County remained a prohibition, or dry county until 2006, when voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with a 30% food sales requirement.[4]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which is land and (0.08%) is water.[5]

Features

The Solomon River is the longest river in the county, entering from Cloud County to the northwest and exiting to Saline County to the southeast. The Saline River traverses the southwestern portion of the county, going from Lincoln County to Saline County.

The largest lake is Ottawa State Fishing Lake, a 111acres reservoir to the east of Minneapolis.[6] It is managed by the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks.

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Ottawa County is part of the Salina, KS Micropolitan Statistical Area.

As of the census[7] of 2000, there were 6,163 people, 2,430 households, and 1,718 families residing in the county. The population density was 8/mi2. There were 2,755 housing units at an average density of 4/mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 97.53% White, 0.54% Black or African American, 0.37% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.32% from other races, and 1.09% from two or more races. 1.30% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,430 households, out of which 31.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.40% were married couples living together, 6.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.30% were non-families. 25.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.70% under the age of 18, 5.80% from 18 to 24, 26.70% from 25 to 44, 24.20% from 45 to 64, and 17.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $38,009, and the median income for a family was $46,033. Males had a median income of $30,761 versus $21,380 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,663. About 5.10% of families and 8.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.80% of those under age 18 and 11.70% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Presidential elections

Like all of Kansas outside the eastern cities, Ottawa County is overwhelmingly Republican. No Democratic presidential candidate has won Ottawa County since Lyndon Johnson in 1964, and the last to reach thirty percent of the county's vote was Michael Dukakis in 1988 during a major Great Plains drought.

Education

Unified school districts

Communities

List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Ottawa County.[8]

Cities

Unincorporated communities

† means a community is designated a Census-Designated Place (CDP) by the United States Census Bureau.

Ghost town

Townships

Ottawa County is divided into twenty townships. The city of Minneapolis 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 Population
center
Population Population
density
/km2 (/sq mi)
Land area
km2 (sq mi)
Water area
km2 (sq mi)
Water %Geographic coordinates
Bennington 06100 1,116 10 (27) 109 (42) 0 (0) 0.11% 39.0086°N -97.6056°W
Blaine 07150 111 1 (3) 94 (36) 0 (0) 0.07% 39.1686°N -97.6639°W
Buckeye 08975 101 1 (3) 78 (30) 0 (0) 0.13% 39.0011°N -97.5222°W
Center 11975 72 1 (2) 92 (36) 0 (0) 0.17% 39.1147°N -97.7442°W
Chapman 12575 67 1 (2) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0% 39.2797°N -97.4147°W
Concord 15175 209 2 (6) 90 (35) 0 (0) 0.08% 39.0858°N -97.6603°W
Culver 16725 318 3 (9) 94 (36) 0 (0) 0.08% 38.9944°N -97.7706°W
Durham 19075 25 0 (1) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0.02% 39.1658°N -97.415°W
Fountain 24075 190 2 (5) 94 (36) 0 (0) 0.02% 39.1683°N -97.8836°W
Garfield 25725 95 1 (3) 94 (36) 0 (0) 0.11% 39.1769°N -97.7514°W
Grant 27900 93 1 (3) 94 (36) 0 (0) 0.03% 39.1647°N -97.5539°W
Henry 31325 22 0 (1) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0.14% 39.105°N -97.885°W
Lincoln 40950 143 2 (4) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0.10% 38.9919°N -97.4369°W
Logan 42050 82 1 (2) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0.10% 39.2511°N -97.6414°W
Morton 48500 498 5 (14) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0.14% 39.0089°N -97.8731°W
Ottawa 53600 49 1 (1) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0.03% 39.0669°N -97.4364°W
Richland 59500 218 2 (6) 92 (36) 0 (0) 0.51% 39.0958°N -97.5481°W
Sheridan 64725 589 6 (16) 94 (36) 0 (0) 0.06% 39.2675°N -97.7672°W
Sherman 65025 67 1 (2) 94 (36) 0 (0) 0% 39.2669°N -97.5408°W
Stanton 67950 52 1 (1) 95 (37) 0 (0) 0.27% 39.2558°N -97.8792°W

Further reading

External links

County
Maps

39.1333°N -137°W

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023 . March 24, 2024 . United States Census Bureau.
  2. Web site: Find a County. June 7, 2011. National Association of Counties.
  3. Web site: QuickFacts; Ottawa County, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010 . United States Census Bureau . August 18, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210819024142/https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/ottawacountykansas/POP010220 . August 19, 2021 . live.
  4. Web site: Map of Wet and Dry Counties. Alcoholic Beverage Control, Kansas Department of Revenue. November 2006. December 26, 2007. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20071008013617/http://www.ksrevenue.org/abcwetdrymap.htm. October 8, 2007.
  5. Web site: US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990. United States Census Bureau. April 23, 2011. February 12, 2011.
  6. Web site: Ottawa State Fishing Lake. June 11, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080601161706/http://www.kdwp.state.ks.us/news/fishing/where_to_fish_in_kansas/fishing_locations_public_waters/region_1/ottawa_state_fishing_lake. June 1, 2008. dead.
  7. Web site: U.S. Census website. United States Census Bureau. January 31, 2008.
  8. Web site: General Highway Map of Ottawa County, Kansas . Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) . https://web.archive.org/web/20240514142155/https://www.ksdot.gov/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/burTransPlan/maps/county-pdf/ottawa.PDF . May 14, 2024 . October 2009 . live.