Sumner County, Kansas

Sumner County
Sumner County
County
	Old Oxford Mill in Oxford (2012)
	Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
	Kansas's location within the U.S.
	Coordinates: 37°14′N 97°29′W / 37.233°N 97.483°W
Country	United States
State	Kansas
Founded	December 20, 1870
Named for	Charles Sumner
Seat	Wellington
Largest city	Wellington
Area
• Total	1,185 sq mi (3,070 km2)
• Land	1,182 sq mi (3,060 km2)
• Water	3.0 sq mi (8 km2) 0.3%
Population (2020)
• Total	22,382
• Estimate (2023)	22,334
• Density	18.9/sq mi (7.3/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Area code	620
Congressional district	4th
Website	County website

Sumner County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat is Wellington.^[3] As of the 2020 census, the population was 22,382.^[1] The county is named after Charles Sumner, a U.S. Senator from Massachusetts who was a leader of Reconstruction politics.

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 Spain 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

On February 26, 1867, Sumner County was created from parts of Marion County and Butler County. It was named in honor of Charles Sumner, a U.S. Senator from Massachusetts (1811–74), who was a strong advocate of Kansas becoming a free state.

In 1887, the Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway built a branch line north–south from Herington to Caldwell.^[4] This branch line connected Herington, Lost Springs, Lincolnville, Antelope, Marion, Aulne, Peabody, Elbing, Whitewater, Furley, Kechi, Wichita, Peck, Corbin, Wellington, Caldwell. By 1893, this branch line was incrementally built to Fort Worth, Texas. This line is called the "OKT". The Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway was foreclosed in 1891 and was taken over by Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway, which shut down in 1980 and reorganized as Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas Railroad, merged in 1988 with Missouri Pacific Railroad, and finally merged in 1997 with Union Pacific Railroad. Most locals still refer to this railroad as the "Rock Island".

21st century

In December 2011, the Kansas Star Casino opened approximately 4.5 miles (7.2 km) west of the center of Mulvane, adjacent to an exit on the Kansas Turnpike that was added in the mid-1980s. The casino is located a couple blocks west of the turnpike exit.^[5]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,185 square miles (3,070 km²), of which 1,182 square miles (3,060 km²) is land and 3.0 square miles (7.8 km²) (0.3%) is water.^[6]

Adjacent counties

Sedgwick County (north)
Butler County (northeast)
Cowley County (east)
Kay County, Oklahoma (southeast)
Grant County, Oklahoma (southwest)
Harper County (west)
Kingman County (northwest)

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1870	22		—
1880	20,812		94,500.0%
1890	30,271		45.4%
1900	25,631		−15.3%
1910	30,654		19.6%
1920	29,213		−4.7%
1930	28,960		−0.9%
1940	26,163		−9.7%
1950	23,646		−9.6%
1960	25,316		7.1%
1970	23,553		−7.0%
1980	24,928		5.8%
1990	25,841		3.7%
2000	25,946		0.4%
2010	24,132		−7.0%
2020	22,382		−7.3%
2023 (est.)	22,334	^[7]	−0.2%
U.S. Decennial Census^[8] 1790-1960^[9] 1900-1990^[10] 1990-2000^[11] 2010-2020^[1]

Sumner County is part of the Wichita, KS Metropolitan Statistical Area.

As of the census^[12] of 2000, there were 25,946 people, 9,888 households, and 7,089 families residing in the county. The population density was 22 people per square mile (8.5 people/km²). There were 10,877 housing units at an average density of 9 per square mile (3.5/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 94.62% White, 0.71% Black or African American, 1.05% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 1.29% from other races, and 2.06% from two or more races. 3.58% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 9,888 households, out of which 34.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.90% were married couples living together, 8.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.30% were non-families. 25.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.10.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 28.50% under the age of 18, 7.50% from 18 to 24, 26.20% from 25 to 44, 22.40% from 45 to 64, and 15.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $39,415, and the median income for a family was $46,739. Males had a median income of $36,616 versus $23,020 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,305. About 7.20% of families and 9.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.20% of those under age 18 and 6.80% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Presidential elections

Sumner County, like many neighboring counties, often votes for the Republican Party in presidential elections. However, in 1992 independent candidate Ross Perot came within two percent of winning the county against George H. W. Bush. The last time the county voted for a Democratic candidate was Jimmy Carter in 1976.

Presidential election results

United States presidential election results for Sumner County, Kansas^[13]
Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
Year	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	7,810	73.81%	2,527	23.88%	244	2.31%
2020	8,105	74.17%	2,591	23.71%	232	2.12%
2016	6,984	71.84%	2,076	21.35%	662	6.81%
2012	6,260	68.48%	2,658	29.08%	223	2.44%
2008	6,737	65.17%	3,353	32.44%	247	2.39%
2004	7,092	67.62%	3,217	30.67%	179	1.71%
2000	6,176	60.36%	3,549	34.69%	507	4.96%
1996	5,952	54.22%	3,638	33.14%	1,387	12.64%
1992	4,087	35.27%	3,564	30.76%	3,937	33.97%
1988	5,394	53.71%	4,417	43.99%	231	2.30%
1984	6,942	64.32%	3,708	34.36%	143	1.32%
1980	6,038	57.53%	3,761	35.83%	697	6.64%
1976	4,645	44.92%	5,385	52.08%	310	3.00%
1972	6,941	68.08%	2,685	26.34%	569	5.58%
1968	5,622	54.48%	3,562	34.52%	1,136	11.01%
1964	4,760	45.55%	5,574	53.34%	116	1.11%
1960	7,219	61.51%	4,462	38.02%	55	0.47%
1956	7,024	62.95%	4,088	36.64%	46	0.41%
1952	8,134	68.95%	3,567	30.24%	96	0.81%
1948	5,922	55.42%	4,571	42.78%	192	1.80%
1944	6,343	59.87%	4,187	39.52%	64	0.60%
1940	6,585	51.86%	5,988	47.16%	125	0.98%
1936	4,946	38.23%	7,966	61.57%	27	0.21%
1932	4,926	42.40%	6,353	54.68%	340	2.93%
1928	8,951	79.64%	2,108	18.75%	181	1.61%
1924	5,552	54.93%	2,556	25.29%	2,000	19.79%
1920	5,830	60.49%	3,454	35.84%	354	3.67%
1916	4,079	39.37%	5,519	53.27%	763	7.36%
1912	781	12.21%	2,557	39.97%	3,060	47.83%
1908	3,235	51.30%	2,772	43.96%	299	4.74%
1904	3,264	61.61%	1,489	28.10%	545	10.29%
1900	3,184	50.61%	2,982	47.40%	125	1.99%
1896	2,515	44.76%	3,048	54.24%	56	1.00%
1892	3,503	45.52%	0	0.00%	4,192	54.48%
1888	3,499	49.72%	2,139	30.39%	1,400	19.89%

Laws

Following amendment to the Kansas Constitution in 1986, Sumner County remained a prohibition, or "dry", county until 1992, when voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with a 30 percent food sales requirement.^[14]

Education

Unified school districts

Communities

List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Sumner County.^[15]

Cities

‡ means a community has portions in an adjacent county.

Unincorporated communities

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

Ghost towns

Ewell

Townships

Sumner County is divided into thirty townships. The cities of Caldwell and Wellington are considered governmentally independent and 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.

Sources: 2000 U.S. Gazetteer from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Township	FIPS	Population	Population density /km² (/sq mi)	Land area km² (sq mi)	Water area km² (sq mi)	Water %	Geographic coordinates
Avon	03575	319	3 (9)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.03%	37°15′58″N 97°18′56″W / 37.26611°N 97.31556°W / 37.26611; -97.31556
Belle Plaine	05525	3,504	33 (87)	105 (40)	1 (0)	0.69%	37°24′33″N 97°17′19″W / 37.40917°N 97.28861°W / 37.40917; -97.28861
Bluff	07750	74	1 (1)	136 (53)	0 (0)	0%	37°3′19″N 97°44′18″W / 37.05528°N 97.73833°W / 37.05528; -97.73833
Caldwell	09925	200	1 (4)	136 (52)	0 (0)	0.02%	37°3′42″N 97°37′52″W / 37.06167°N 97.63111°W / 37.06167; -97.63111
Chikaskia	13150	69	1 (2)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0.02%	37°10′4″N 97°38′4″W / 37.16778°N 97.63444°W / 37.16778; -97.63444
Conway	15300	1,286	14 (35)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0%	37°24′33″N 97°39′4″W / 37.40917°N 97.65111°W / 37.40917; -97.65111
Creek	16300	241	3 (7)	95 (37)	0 (0)	0.05%	37°20′10″N 97°44′18″W / 37.33611°N 97.73833°W / 37.33611; -97.73833
Dixon	18200	738	8 (20)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0%	37°15′55″N 97°45′44″W / 37.26528°N 97.76222°W / 37.26528; -97.76222
Downs	18525	159	2 (5)	91 (35)	0 (0)	0%	37°10′43″N 97°31′12″W / 37.17861°N 97.52000°W / 37.17861; -97.52000
Eden	19800	452	5 (12)	95 (37)	0 (0)	0%	37°25′45″N 97°45′36″W / 37.42917°N 97.76000°W / 37.42917; -97.76000
Falls	22875	187	1 (3)	139 (54)	0 (0)	0%	37°4′48″N 97°31′52″W / 37.08000°N 97.53111°W / 37.08000; -97.53111
Gore	26975	2,220	27 (70)	83 (32)	1 (1)	1.69%	37°26′56″N 97°12′28″W / 37.44889°N 97.20778°W / 37.44889; -97.20778
Greene	28525	80	1 (2)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.10%	37°10′28″N 97°18′26″W / 37.17444°N 97.30722°W / 37.17444; -97.30722
Guelph	29175	164	1 (3)	141 (55)	0 (0)	0%	37°4′10″N 97°19′21″W / 37.06944°N 97.32250°W / 37.06944; -97.32250
Harmon	30125	277	3 (9)	79 (31)	0 (0)	0%	37°21′31″N 97°19′6″W / 37.35861°N 97.31833°W / 37.35861; -97.31833
Illinois	33800	178	2 (5)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0.05%	37°25′20″N 97°31′6″W / 37.42222°N 97.51833°W / 37.42222; -97.51833
Jackson	34925	153	2 (4)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0.02%	37°10′36″N 97°24′38″W / 37.17667°N 97.41056°W / 37.17667; -97.41056
London	42400	774	7 (19)	107 (41)	1 (0)	0.93%	37°26′4″N 97°24′32″W / 37.43444°N 97.40889°W / 37.43444; -97.40889
Morris	48375	35	0 (1)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0%	37°10′35″N 97°44′17″W / 37.17639°N 97.73806°W / 37.17639; -97.73806
Osborne	53335	273	3 (8)	92 (35)	1 (0)	1.30%	37°15′11″N 97°32′9″W / 37.25306°N 97.53583°W / 37.25306; -97.53583
Oxford	53875	1,403	14 (37)	99 (38)	1 (0)	1.08%	37°16′29″N 97°10′31″W / 37.27472°N 97.17528°W / 37.27472; -97.17528
Palestine	54175	249	3 (9)	72 (28)	1 (0)	1.26%	37°21′7″N 97°13′5″W / 37.35194°N 97.21806°W / 37.35194; -97.21806
Ryan	61950	239	3 (7)	92 (36)	0 (0)	0%	37°15′37″N 97°38′51″W / 37.26028°N 97.64750°W / 37.26028; -97.64750
Seventy Six	64000	238	3 (7)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0%	37°21′15″N 97°24′40″W / 37.35417°N 97.41111°W / 37.35417; -97.41111
South Haven	66675	670	5 (12)	140 (54)	0 (0)	0%	37°2′44″N 97°24′51″W / 37.04556°N 97.41417°W / 37.04556; -97.41417
Springdale	67575	761	8 (21)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0%	37°21′57″N 97°38′54″W / 37.36583°N 97.64833°W / 37.36583; -97.64833
Sumner	69225	150	2 (4)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0%	37°21′8″N 97°31′12″W / 37.35222°N 97.52000°W / 37.35222; -97.52000
Valverde	73350	147	2 (4)	93 (36)	1 (0)	0.76%	37°11′5″N 97°12′13″W / 37.18472°N 97.20361°W / 37.18472; -97.20361
Walton	75300	431	3 (8)	139 (54)	0 (0)	0%	37°4′43″N 97°11′36″W / 37.07861°N 97.19333°W / 37.07861; -97.19333
Wellington	76500	344	4 (11)	81 (31)	0 (0)	0.06%	37°16′17″N 97°25′16″W / 37.27139°N 97.42111°W / 37.27139; -97.42111