Cowley County, Kansas
Cowley County | |
---|---|
![]() Location within the U.S. state ofKansas | |
![]() Kansas's location within theU.S. | |
Coordinates:37°14′N96°50′W/ 37.233°N 96.833°W | |
Country | ![]() |
State | ![]() |
Founded | February 26, 1867 |
Named for | Matthew Cowley |
Seat | Winfield |
Largest city | Arkansas City |
Area | |
• Total | 1,132 sq mi (2,930 km2) |
• Land | 1,126 sq mi (2,920 km2) |
• Water | 6.7 sq mi (17 km2) 0.6% |
Population | |
• Total | 34,549 |
• Density | 30.7/sq mi (11.9/km2) |
Time zone | UTC−6(Central) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−5(CDT) |
Area code | 620 |
Congressional district | 4th |
Website | cowleycounty.org |
Cowley Countyis acountylocated in theU.S. stateofKansas.Itscounty seatisWinfield,[2]and its most populous city isArkansas City.As of the2020 census,the county population was 34,549.[1]The county was named after Matthew Cowley, first lieutenant in Company I, 9th Kansas Cavalry, who died during the American Civil War.
History
[edit]For millennia, the land now known as Kansas was inhabited byNative Americans.The first European visitor to Kansas was the Spanish explorerFrancisco Vasquez de Coronadoin 1541. In 1601, the Governor of New Mexico,Juan de Oñate,visitedEtzanoa,a settlement of several thousandWichita peoplenear Arkansas City along theWalnut River.The ruins of Etzanoa have been found by archaeologists.
19th century
[edit]In 1803, most ofmodern Kansaswas secured by theUnited Statesas part of theLouisiana Purchase.In 1854, theKansas Territorywas organized, then in 1861Kansasbecame the 34thU.S. state.Cowley County was officially organized as a county, but reserved for the Osage Indians, by the Kansas Legislature in March 1867, originally named Hunter County for Robert Mercer Taliaferro Hunter (1809–1887), a Virginia Representative and Senator to Congress and Speaker of the House in the twenty-sixth Congress. In 1870, the county was renamed for Matthew Cowley, First Lieutenant in Company I,9th Kansas Cavalry,who died atLittle Rock, Arkansas,on October 7, 1864. Officially opened for settlement July 15, 1870, there was a lengthy and bitter disagreement between the towns ofWinfieldand Cresswell (the town now namedArkansas City) over the possession of the county seat of government. Finally settled after two special elections and numerous petitions to the Governor and Legislature, Winfield was determined to be the county seat and a courthouse was constructed in 1873 at a cost of $11,500.[3]
21st century
[edit]In 2010, theKeystone-Cushing Pipeline(Phase II) was constructed north to south through Cowley County. Controversy arose from the Kansas legislature's decision to grant the pipeline a ten-year exemption from property taxes; it was estimated that this would mean $15 million per year in lost revenue to the six counties through which the pipeline passed. The counties were unsuccessful in an attempt to eliminate the exemption.[4][5][6][7]
Geography
[edit]According to theU.S. Census Bureau,the county has a total area of 1,132 square miles (2,930 km2), of which 1,126 square miles (2,920 km2) is land and 6.7 square miles (17 km2) (0.6%) is water.[8]
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4e/Waterfall_in_Cowley_County_in_2016.jpg/220px-Waterfall_in_Cowley_County_in_2016.jpg)
West ofDexter,KS, Cowley County Fishing Lake is positioned just off of Highway 166. This fishing lake is the home of the Cowley County Waterfall, which can be visited following the road to the northwest side of the property.[9]However, in recent years (as of 2021) the severedroughthas caused the waterfall to stop flowing. It will likely continue if the area receives enough precipitation and ends the drought.
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/40/Waterfall_in_Cowley_County_in_2023.jpg/220px-Waterfall_in_Cowley_County_in_2023.jpg)
Adjacent counties
[edit]- Butler County(north)
- Elk County(northeast)
- Chautauqua County(east)
- Osage County,Oklahoma(south)
- Kay County,Oklahoma(southwest)
- Sumner County(west)
- Sedgwick County(northwest)
Demographics
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/71/USA_Cowley_County%2C_Kansas_age_pyramid.svg/175px-USA_Cowley_County%2C_Kansas_age_pyramid.svg.png)
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1860 | 158 | — | |
1870 | 1,175 | 643.7% | |
1880 | 21,538 | 1,733.0% | |
1890 | 34,478 | 60.1% | |
1900 | 30,156 | −12.5% | |
1910 | 31,790 | 5.4% | |
1920 | 35,155 | 10.6% | |
1930 | 40,903 | 16.4% | |
1940 | 38,139 | −6.8% | |
1950 | 36,905 | −3.2% | |
1960 | 37,861 | 2.6% | |
1970 | 35,012 | −7.5% | |
1980 | 36,824 | 5.2% | |
1990 | 36,915 | 0.2% | |
2000 | 36,291 | −1.7% | |
2010 | 36,311 | 0.1% | |
2020 | 34,549 | −4.9% | |
2023 (est.) | 34,157 | [10] | −1.1% |
U.S. Decennial Census[11] 1790-1960[12]1900-1990[13] 1990-2000[14]2010-2020[1] |
Cowley County comprises the Arkansas City-Winfield, KSMicropolitan Statistical Area,which is included in theWichita-Arkansas City-Winfield, KSCombined Statistical Area.
As of theU.S. Census in 2000,[15]there were 36,291 people, 14,039 households, and 9,616 families residing in the county. The population density was 32 inhabitants per square mile (12/km2). There were 15,673 housing units at an average density of 14 per square mile (5.4/km2). Theracial makeupof the county was 90.13%White,2.70%BlackorAfrican American,1.96%Native American,1.53%Asian,0.01%Pacific Islander,1.36% from other races, and 2.30% fromtwo or more races.HispanicorLatinoof any race were 3.59% of the population.
There were 14,039households,out of which 32.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.20% weremarried couplesliving together, 9.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.50% were non-families. 27.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.20% 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 3.00.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.00% under the age of 18, 9.90% from 18 to 24, 26.00% from 25 to 44, 22.20% from 45 to 64, and 15.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.20 males.
Themedian income for a householdin the county was $34,406, and the median income for a family was $43,636. Males had a median income of $31,703 versus $21,341 for females. Theper capita incomefor the county was $17,509. About 9.20% of families and 12.90% of the population were below thepoverty line,including 17.00% of those under age 18 and 11.20% of those age 65 or over.
Government
[edit]Presidential elections
[edit]Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
2020 | 9,656 | 67.85% | 4,273 | 30.03% | 302 | 2.12% |
2016 | 8,270 | 65.53% | 3,551 | 28.14% | 800 | 6.34% |
2012 | 8,081 | 63.58% | 4,319 | 33.98% | 310 | 2.44% |
2008 | 8,492 | 61.59% | 5,012 | 36.35% | 283 | 2.05% |
2004 | 9,407 | 65.11% | 4,818 | 33.35% | 222 | 1.54% |
2000 | 8,080 | 56.86% | 5,535 | 38.95% | 595 | 4.19% |
1996 | 7,872 | 50.79% | 5,588 | 36.05% | 2,039 | 13.16% |
1992 | 5,422 | 34.35% | 5,405 | 34.24% | 4,957 | 31.41% |
1988 | 7,778 | 54.44% | 6,186 | 43.30% | 322 | 2.25% |
1984 | 10,008 | 64.99% | 5,193 | 33.72% | 198 | 1.29% |
1980 | 8,749 | 57.14% | 5,474 | 35.75% | 1,089 | 7.11% |
1976 | 7,513 | 50.32% | 7,095 | 47.52% | 323 | 2.16% |
1972 | 10,332 | 70.51% | 3,592 | 24.51% | 729 | 4.98% |
1968 | 8,070 | 54.30% | 5,014 | 33.74% | 1,777 | 11.96% |
1964 | 7,092 | 47.93% | 7,591 | 51.30% | 114 | 0.77% |
1960 | 10,276 | 61.98% | 6,205 | 37.42% | 99 | 0.60% |
1956 | 6,734 | 63.93% | 3,753 | 35.63% | 46 | 0.44% |
1952 | 11,454 | 68.13% | 5,242 | 31.18% | 116 | 0.69% |
1948 | 8,102 | 52.13% | 7,042 | 45.31% | 397 | 2.55% |
1944 | 8,453 | 55.91% | 6,577 | 43.50% | 90 | 0.60% |
1940 | 9,684 | 53.99% | 8,115 | 45.25% | 136 | 0.76% |
1936 | 8,378 | 43.51% | 10,805 | 56.12% | 72 | 0.37% |
1932 | 7,657 | 44.71% | 8,681 | 50.69% | 788 | 4.60% |
1928 | 12,701 | 80.79% | 2,818 | 17.93% | 202 | 1.28% |
1924 | 8,529 | 58.51% | 3,161 | 21.68% | 2,887 | 19.81% |
1920 | 7,352 | 59.22% | 4,733 | 38.13% | 329 | 2.65% |
1916 | 5,297 | 43.87% | 5,962 | 49.37% | 816 | 6.76% |
1912 | 1,113 | 15.75% | 2,539 | 35.93% | 3,414 | 48.32% |
1908 | 2,578 | 42.42% | 2,995 | 49.28% | 505 | 8.31% |
1904 | 3,961 | 61.33% | 1,456 | 22.54% | 1,042 | 16.13% |
1900 | 3,679 | 50.47% | 3,436 | 47.14% | 174 | 2.39% |
1896 | 2,871 | 45.14% | 3,410 | 53.62% | 79 | 1.24% |
1892 | 3,886 | 49.13% | 0 | 0.00% | 4,023 | 50.87% |
1888 | 4,112 | 53.41% | 1,933 | 25.11% | 1,654 | 21.48% |
Laws
[edit]Following amendment to theKansas Constitutionin 1986, the county remained a prohibition, or"dry",county until 1996, when voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink without a food sales requirement.[17]
The county voted "No" on the2022 Kansas Value Them Both Amendment,an anti-abortion ballot measure, by 52% to 48% despite backingDonald Trumpwith 68% of the vote toJoe Biden's 30% in the2020 presidential election.[18]
Education
[edit]Colleges
[edit]- Cowley College
- Southwestern College
- St. John's College(closed in 1986)
Unified school districts
[edit]Communities
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c0/Map_of_Cowley_Co%2C_Ks%2C_USA.png/300px-Map_of_Cowley_Co%2C_Ks%2C_USA.png)
List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Cowley County.[19]
Cities
[edit]‡ means a community has portions in an adjacent county.
- Atlanta
- Arkansas City
- Burden
- Cambridge
- Dexter
- Geuda Springs‡
- Parkerfield
- Udall
- Winfield(county seat)
Unincorporated communities
[edit]† means a community is designated aCensus-Designated Place(CDP) by theUnited States Census Bureau.
Ghost towns
[edit]Townships
[edit]Cowley County is divided into twenty-fivetownships.The cities ofArkansas CityandWinfieldare consideredgovernmentally independentand 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.
Notable people
[edit]GeneralDean Coldwell Strotherwas a United States Air Force four-star general who served as U.S. Military Representative, NATO Military Committee (USMILREP), from 1962 to 1965; and as Commander in Chief, North American Air Defense Command/Commander in Chief, Continental Air Defense Command (CINCNORAD/CINCONAD), from 1965 to 1966.
Robert Dockingwas a successful banker and mayor of Arkansas City before he became the 38thGovernor of Kansas.
Severalcollege footballhead coaches have passed through Winfield that have gone on to become widely recognized.Jerry Killis the current head coach for theMinnesota Golden Gophers—he played for theSouthwestern MoundbuildersunderDennis Franchionewhen he was head coach.Jack Mitchellwent on to coach several schools including theKansas Jayhawks.Former head coach and for theOklahoma SoonersandCollege Football Hall of FamememberBennie Owenwas born in Arkansas City.
Perhaps the most famous resident of Cowley County is the fictional characterMary Ann Summersfrom the television showGilligan's Island.It is said on the show that she is "employed at the Winfield General Store."
See also
[edit]- Community information for Kansas
- Kansas locations by per capita income
- List of counties in Kansas
- List of townships in Kansas
- List of cities in Kansas
- List of unincorporated communities in Kansas
- List of ghost towns in Kansas
References
[edit]- ^abc"QuickFacts; Cowley County, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010".United States Census Bureau.Archivedfrom the original on August 16, 2021.RetrievedAugust 15,2021.
- ^"Find a County".National Association of Counties. Archived fromthe originalon May 31, 2011.RetrievedJune 7,2011.
- ^"William G. Cutler's, History of the State of Kansas".A. T. Andreas Press, 1883.[permanent dead link]
- ^Davis, Dakotah."Commissioners green light pipeline, sort of".ArchivedJune 3, 2016, at theWayback MachineNewsCow.net.ArchivedMay 3, 2016, at theWayback MachineMay 19, 2010. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
- ^"Counties to seek denial of pipeline tax exemption".Clay Center Dispatch.November 5, 2009. Archived December 16, 2009.
- ^"Court upholds pipeline tax exemption".Topeka Capital-Journal.May 18, 2012. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
- ^Milburn, John."Kansas appeals court upholds Keystone pipeline tax ruling".Kansas City Star.April 26, 2013. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
- ^"US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990".United States Census Bureau.February 12, 2011.RetrievedApril 23,2011.
- ^"Cowley County, Kansas - Cowley County Waterfall".cowleycountyks.gov.RetrievedSeptember 3,2023.
- ^"Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023".United States Census Bureau.RetrievedApril 3,2024.
- ^"U.S. Decennial Census".United States Census Bureau.RetrievedJuly 22,2014.
- ^"Historical Census Browser".University of Virginia Library. Archived fromthe originalon August 11, 2012.RetrievedJuly 22,2014.
- ^"Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990".United States Census Bureau.RetrievedJuly 22,2014.
- ^"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.RetrievedJuly 22,2014.
- ^"U.S. Census website".United States Census Bureau.RetrievedJanuary 31,2008.
- ^"Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
- ^"Map of Wet and Dry Counties".Alcoholic Beverage Control, Kansas Department of Revenue. November 2006. Archived fromthe originalon February 19, 2008.RetrievedDecember 28,2007.
- ^Panetta, Grace (August 3, 2022)."14 of the 19 Kansas counties that rejected an anti-abortion amendment voted for Trump in 2020".Business Insider.RetrievedAugust 3,2022.
- ^ab"General Highway Map of Cowley County, Kansas"(PDF).Kansas Department of Transportation(KDOT). March 2011.Archived(PDF)from the original on August 7, 2023.
- Notes
Further reading
[edit]- History of Cowley County Kansas;D.A. Millington / E.P. Greer; Winfield Courier; 162 pages; 1901.
- Hand-book of Arkansas City and surroundings;C. S. Burch Publishing Co; 38 pages; 1887.
- Standard Atlas of Cowley County, Kansas;Geo. A. Ogle & Co; 54 pages; 1905.
- Historical Atlas of Cowley County, Kansas;John P. Edwards; 52 pages; 1882.
External links
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- County
- Historical
- Maps