Chase County, Kansas

Chase County
Chase County
County
	Chase County Courthouse in Cottonwood Falls
	Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
	Kansas's location within the U.S.
	Coordinates: 38°18′N 96°35′W / 38.300°N 96.583°W
Country	United States
State	Kansas
Founded	February 11, 1859
Named for	Salmon P. Chase
Seat	Cottonwood Falls
Largest city	Cottonwood Falls
Area
• Total	778 sq mi (2,020 km2)
• Land	773 sq mi (2,000 km2)
• Water	4.7 sq mi (12 km2) 0.6%
Population (2020)
• Total	2,572
• Density	3.3/sq mi (1.3/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Area code	620
Congressional district	2nd
Website	chasecountyks.com

Chase County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat and most populous city is Cottonwood Falls.^[2] As of the 2020 census, the county population was 2,572.^[1] The county was named for Salmon Chase, a U.S. Senator from Ohio that was a Kansas statehood advocate.

History

Early history

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. 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 1848, after the Mexican–American War, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo with Mexico brought into the United States all or part of land for ten future states, including southwest Kansas. In 1854, the Kansas Territory was organized, then in 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state.

19th century

In 1806, Zebulon Pike led the Pike Expedition westward from St Louis, Missouri, of which part of their journey followed the Cottonwood River through modern Chase County.^[3]

In 1859, Chase County was established within the Kansas Territory.

In 1871, the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway extended a main line from Emporia to Newton.^[4] In 1887, Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway built a branch line from Neva (3 miles west of Strong City) to Superior, Nebraska. This branch line connected Strong City, Neva, Rockland, Diamond Springs, Burdick, Lost Springs, Jacobs, Hope, Navarre, Enterprise, Abilene, Talmage, Manchester, Longford, Oak Hill, Miltonvale, Aurora, Huscher, Concordia, Kackley, Courtland, Webber, Superior. At some time, the line from Neva to Lost Springs was pulled but the right of way has not been abandoned. This branch line was originally called "Strong City and Superior line" but later the name was shortened to the "Strong City line". In 1996, the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway merged with Burlington Northern Railroad and renamed to the current BNSF Railway.

The south-western border one mile "notch" into Marion County was established under unusual circumstances. A murder had occurred and Marion County didn't want to have the trial, so a section one mile wide and eighteen miles long was permanently ceded to Chase County to ensure the murder had occurred there.^[5]

20th century

In 1931, Notre Dame coach Knute Rockne died in a plane crash a few miles southwest of Bazaar, in Chase County, Kansas.

In 1991, the county was the subject of the book: PrairyErth: (A Deep Map).

In 1996, the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve was established in the county.

The center of population of Kansas is located in Chase County, about four miles north of Strong City.

Historical markers

Landmark of Distinction - The Chase County Courthouse.^[6]
Chase County and The Bluestem Pasture Region of Kansas.^[7]
The Bluestem Pasture Region of Kansas.^[8]
W. B. Strong Memorial Railroad Park.^[9]

Historical maps

1891 Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway route map from Grain Dealers and Shippers Gazetteer.
1893 Railroad Map.
1900-1905 Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway route map of regular stops
1914 railroad map.
2000 Kansas population map.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 778 square miles (2,020 km²), of which 773 square miles (2,000 km²) is land and 4.7 square miles (12 km²) (0.6%) is water.^[10]

Chase County is centrally located in the eastern half of the state in the Flint Hills geologic region. It's located in the Neosho River drainage basin.^[11]

Adjacent counties

Morris County (north)
Lyon County (east)
Greenwood County (southeast)
Butler County (southwest)
Marion County (west)

National protected area

Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve

Major highways

Sources: National Atlas,^[12] U.S. Census Bureau^[13]

Interstate 35 All of I-35 in Chase County is part of the Kansas Turnpike and inaccessible to the general public from within the county. The closest access points are via U.S. Route 50 in Emporia or Kansas Highway 177 in Cassoday. There is a private interchange located southeast of Bazaar for loading cattle. The overpass names the interchange the "Bazaar Cattle Crossing".^{[citation needed]}
U.S. Route 50
K-150
K-177

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1860	1,046		—
1870	1,975		88.8%
1880	6,081		207.9%
1890	8,233		35.4%
1900	8,246		0.2%
1910	7,527		−8.7%
1920	7,144		−5.1%
1930	6,952		−2.7%
1940	6,345		−8.7%
1950	4,831		−23.9%
1960	3,921		−18.8%
1970	3,408		−13.1%
1980	3,309		−2.9%
1990	3,021		−8.7%
2000	3,030		0.3%
2010	2,790		−7.9%
2020	2,572		−7.8%
2023 (est.)	2,579	^[14]	0.3%
U.S. Decennial Census^[15] 1790-1960^[16] 1900-1990^[17] 1990-2000^[18] 2010-2020^[1]

2000 census

As of the 2000 census,^[19] there were 3,030 people, 1,246 households, and 817 families residing in the county. The population density was 4 people per square mile (1.5 people/km²). There were 1,529 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile (0.77/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 96.90% White, 1.02% Black or African American, 0.56% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 0.56% from other races, and 0.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.75% of the population.

There were 1,246 households, out of which 28.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.60% were married couples living together, 7.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.40% were non-families. 31.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.10% under the age of 18, 6.50% from 18 to 24, 26.60% from 25 to 44, 24.10% from 45 to 64, and 18.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,656, and the median income for a family was $39,848. Males had a median income of $27,402 versus $21,528 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,422. About 4.10% of families and 8.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.00% of those under age 18 and 6.30% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Presidential elections

Chase County is a Republican stronghold. The last Democrat to carry this county was Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1936.

Presidential election results

United States presidential election results for Chase County, Kansas^[20]
Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party
Year	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	1,123	75.32%	345	23.14%	23	1.54%
2016	969	70.78%	316	23.08%	84	6.14%
2012	875	68.84%	358	28.17%	38	2.99%
2008	976	70.52%	383	27.67%	25	1.81%
2004	1,055	70.29%	418	27.85%	28	1.87%
2000	848	64.39%	391	29.69%	78	5.92%
1996	778	50.19%	496	32.00%	276	17.81%
1992	610	36.20%	470	27.89%	605	35.91%
1988	884	60.63%	538	36.90%	36	2.47%
1984	1,162	74.01%	393	25.03%	15	0.96%
1980	1,073	66.94%	413	25.76%	117	7.30%
1976	922	57.59%	643	40.16%	36	2.25%
1972	1,184	76.04%	315	20.23%	58	3.73%
1968	1,038	62.61%	462	27.86%	158	9.53%
1964	902	50.31%	886	49.41%	5	0.28%
1960	1,276	64.06%	708	35.54%	8	0.40%
1956	1,553	74.45%	529	25.36%	4	0.19%
1952	1,815	77.76%	513	21.98%	6	0.26%
1948	1,432	58.93%	961	39.55%	37	1.52%
1944	1,510	59.99%	998	39.65%	9	0.36%
1940	1,871	57.78%	1,344	41.51%	23	0.71%
1936	1,610	48.42%	1,706	51.31%	9	0.27%
1932	1,485	45.96%	1,703	52.71%	43	1.33%
1928	2,079	72.79%	739	25.88%	38	1.33%
1924	1,822	62.61%	758	26.05%	330	11.34%
1920	1,659	63.15%	904	34.41%	64	2.44%
1916	1,356	44.14%	1,584	51.56%	132	4.30%
1912	476	25.41%	812	43.35%	585	31.23%
1908	1,021	53.04%	834	43.32%	70	3.64%
1904	1,217	64.39%	562	29.74%	111	5.87%
1900	1,084	52.49%	956	46.30%	25	1.21%
1896	812	44.74%	981	54.05%	22	1.21%
1892	891	47.37%	0	0.00%	990	52.63%
1888	1,126	54.11%	593	28.50%	362	17.40%

Laws

Following amendment to the Kansas Constitution in 1986, the county remained a prohibition, or "dry", county until 1988, when voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with a 30% food sales requirement.^[21]

Education

Unified school districts

Chase County USD 284 (most of the county)

School district office in neighboring county

Communities

List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Chase County.^[22]

Cities

Unincorporated places

Ghost towns

‡ means a community has portions in an adjacent county.

Birley
Clover Cliff
Elk‡
Ellinor
Gladstone
Homestead
Hymer
Morgan
Neva
Rockland
Rural
Thurman

Townships

Chase County is divided into nine townships. None of the cities within the county are considered governmentally independent, and all figures for the townships include those of the cities. 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
Bazaar	04700		81	0 (1)	293 (113)	0 (0)	0.17%	38°15′55″N 96°32′3″W / 38.26528°N 96.53417°W / 38.26528; -96.53417
Cedar	11225		116	1 (2)	142 (55)	0 (0)	0.22%	38°8′54″N 96°46′30″W / 38.14833°N 96.77500°W / 38.14833; -96.77500
Cottonwood	15875		184	1 (2)	209 (81)	0 (0)	0.23%	38°17′23″N 96°45′44″W / 38.28972°N 96.76222°W / 38.28972; -96.76222
Diamond Creek	17975		237	1 (2)	373 (144)	1 (0)	0.24%	38°25′31″N 96°40′35″W / 38.42528°N 96.67639°W / 38.42528; -96.67639
Falls	22850	Cottonwood Falls	1,163	9 (23)	131 (51)	1 (0)	0.42%	38°21′55″N 96°32′27″W / 38.36528°N 96.54083°W / 38.36528; -96.54083
Homestead	32950		52	0 (1)	141 (54)	0 (0)	0.27%	38°10′56″N 96°42′14″W / 38.18222°N 96.70389°W / 38.18222; -96.70389
Matfield	45125		155	0 (1)	316 (122)	1 (0)	0.29%	38°8′59″N 96°30′56″W / 38.14972°N 96.51556°W / 38.14972; -96.51556
Strong	68600	Strong City	740	4 (11)	172 (67)	0 (0)	0.24%	38°24′20″N 96°32′18″W / 38.40556°N 96.53833°W / 38.40556; -96.53833
Toledo	70775		302	1 (3)	233 (90)	1 (0)	0.44%	38°24′49″N 96°23′50″W / 38.41361°N 96.39722°W / 38.41361; -96.39722
Sources: "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files". U.S. Census Bureau, Geography Division. Archived from the original on August 2, 2002.