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Thomas County, Kansas

Coordinates: 39°21′N 101°03′W / 39.350°N 101.050°W / 39.350; -101.050
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Thomas County
County
Thomas County Courthouse in Colby (2014)
Thomas County Courthouse in Colby (2014)
Map of Kansas highlighting Thomas County
Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
Map of the United States highlighting Kansas
Kansas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 39°21′N 101°03′W / 39.35°N 101.05°W / 39.35; -101.05
Country United States
State Kansas
FoundedOctober 8, 1885
Named forGeorge Henry Thomas[1]
SeatColby
Largest cityColby
Area
 • Total1,075 sq mi (2,780 km2)
 • Land1,075 sq mi (2,780 km2)
 • Water0.1 sq mi (0.3 km2)  0.01%
Population
 (2020)[2]
 • Total7,930
 • Density7.4/sq mi (2.9/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district1st
WebsiteThomasCountyKS.com

Thomas County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat is Colby.[3] As of the 2020 census, the county population was 7,930.[2] The county was named after George Thomas, a general during the American Civil War.

History

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Early history

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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

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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. Thomas County was founded on October 8, 1885. It was named for George Henry Thomas, a Union general during the American Civil War, hero of the Battle of Chickamauga. The townships of the county were named after the soldiers that died at the Battle of Chickamauga.[4]

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,075 square miles (2,780 km2), of which 1,075 square miles (2,780 km2) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2) (0.01%) is water.[5]

Major highways

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Adjacent counties

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Demographics

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Population pyramid based on 2000 census age data
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1880161—
18905,5383,339.8%
19004,112−25.7%
19105,45532.7%
19205,5171.1%
19307,33432.9%
19406,425−12.4%
19507,57217.9%
19607,358−2.8%
19707,5011.9%
19808,45112.7%
19908,258−2.3%
20008,180−0.9%
20107,900−3.4%
20207,9300.4%
2023 (est.)7,865[6]−0.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010-2020[2]

As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 8,180 people, 3,226 households, and 2,125 families residing in the county. The population density was 8 people per square mile (3.1 people/km2). There were 3,562 housing units at an average density of 3 per square mile (1.2/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.14% White, 0.43% Black or African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.95% from other races, and 0.86% from two or more races. 1.85% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,226 households, out of which 32.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.10% were married couples living together, 6.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.10% were non-families. 28.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.30% under the age of 18, 13.50% from 18 to 24, 24.40% from 25 to 44, 21.20% from 45 to 64, and 14.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 94.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,034, and the median income for a family was $45,931. Males had a median income of $33,833 versus $21,310 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,028. About 6.60% of families and 9.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.90% of those under age 18 and 7.50% of those age 65 or over.

Government

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Presidential elections

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Thomas County is strongly Republican, and has increasingly been this way over the past few election cycles. The last time a Democratic candidate has carried Thomas County was in 1964 by Lyndon B. Johnson.

Presidential election results
United States presidential election results for Thomas County, Kansas[12]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 2,933 81.97% 589 16.46% 56 1.57%
2020 3,130 82.15% 625 16.40% 55 1.44%
2016 2,908 81.32% 473 13.23% 195 5.45%
2012 2,788 80.25% 598 17.21% 88 2.53%
2008 2,837 77.24% 787 21.43% 49 1.33%
2004 3,007 77.70% 816 21.09% 47 1.21%
2000 2,822 74.66% 807 21.35% 151 3.99%
1996 2,725 69.75% 866 22.17% 316 8.09%
1992 1,849 47.14% 932 23.76% 1,141 29.09%
1988 2,342 60.52% 1,408 36.38% 120 3.10%
1984 3,107 76.70% 887 21.90% 57 1.41%
1980 2,789 66.37% 1,045 24.87% 368 8.76%
1976 2,246 53.94% 1,802 43.28% 116 2.79%
1972 2,300 67.73% 943 27.77% 153 4.51%
1968 1,971 59.82% 1,074 32.59% 250 7.59%
1964 1,528 45.64% 1,793 53.55% 27 0.81%
1960 2,081 61.50% 1,285 37.97% 18 0.53%
1956 1,888 62.06% 1,138 37.41% 16 0.53%
1952 2,490 69.46% 1,069 29.82% 26 0.73%
1948 1,497 49.41% 1,476 48.71% 57 1.88%
1944 1,631 59.14% 1,097 39.78% 30 1.09%
1940 1,721 54.20% 1,423 44.82% 31 0.98%
1936 1,200 35.42% 2,168 63.99% 20 0.59%
1932 1,158 33.68% 2,103 61.17% 177 5.15%
1928 1,828 65.97% 899 32.44% 44 1.59%
1924 1,436 52.50% 822 30.05% 477 17.44%
1920 1,046 54.56% 747 38.97% 124 6.47%
1916 642 31.15% 1,299 63.03% 120 5.82%
1912 127 14.16% 432 48.16% 338 37.68%
1908 569 44.98% 630 49.80% 66 5.22%
1904 548 56.96% 205 21.31% 209 21.73%
1900 404 41.95% 551 57.22% 8 0.83%
1896 304 38.00% 490 61.25% 6 0.75%
1892 490 41.28% 0 0.00% 697 58.72%
1888 751 55.02% 486 35.60% 128 9.38%

Laws

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Thomas 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 percent food sales requirement.[13]

Education

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Colleges

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Unified school districts

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Communities

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2005 map of Thomas County from KDOT[14] (map legend)

List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Thomas County.[14]
‡ means a community has portions in an adjacent county. † means a community is designated a Census-Designated Place (CDP) by the United States Census Bureau.

Cities

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Unincorporated communities

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Ghost towns

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Townships

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Thomas County is divided into thirteen townships. The townships were named in honor of men who were killed at the Battle of Chickamauga.[15] The city of Colby is considered governmentally independent and is excluded from the census figures for the townships. Geographically, Colby is surrounded by Morgan Township. 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
center 		Population Population
density
/km2 (/sq mi) 		Land area
km2 (sq mi)		 Water area
km2 (sq mi)		 Water % Geographic coordinates
Barrett 04325 124 0 (1) 276 (107) 0 (0) 0.01% 39°30′21″N 101°16′7″W / 39.50583°N 101.26861°W / 39.50583; -101.26861
East Hale 19475 137 1 (3) 140 (54) 0 (0) 0% 39°22′27″N 101°12′49″W / 39.37417°N 101.21361°W / 39.37417; -101.21361
Kingery 36925 93 0 (1) 373 (144) 0 (0) 0% 39°13′55″N 101°16′52″W / 39.23194°N 101.28111°W / 39.23194; -101.28111
Lacey 37425 Gem 132 1 (4) 92 (36) 0 (0) 0% 39°25′48″N 100°53′27″W / 39.43000°N 100.89083°W / 39.43000; -100.89083
Menlo 45775 Menlo 112 1 (2) 140 (54) 0 (0) 0% 39°20′36″N 100°46′4″W / 39.34333°N 100.76778°W / 39.34333; -100.76778
Morgan 48200 Colby outskirts 755 3 (7) 271 (105) 0 (0) 0% 39°22′31″N 101°3′0″W / 39.37528°N 101.05000°W / 39.37528; -101.05000
North Randall 51300 107 1 (2) 138 (53) 0 (0) 0.03% 39°19′44″N 100°53′55″W / 39.32889°N 100.89861°W / 39.32889; -100.89861
Rovohl 61525 143 1 (1) 277 (107) 0 (0) 0% 39°30′11″N 101°4′3″W / 39.50306°N 101.06750°W / 39.50306; -101.06750
Smith 65900 Rexford 213 2 (6) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0.03% 39°27′11″N 100°45′31″W / 39.45306°N 100.75861°W / 39.45306; -100.75861
South Randall 66875 Oakley outskirts 267 1 (2) 279 (108) 0 (0) 0.04% 39°10′59″N 100°50′29″W / 39.18306°N 100.84139°W / 39.18306; -100.84139
Summers 68975 197 1 (1) 373 (144) 0 (0) 0% 39°14′30″N 101°2′47″W / 39.24167°N 101.04639°W / 39.24167; -101.04639
Wendell 76650 84 0 (1) 183 (71) 0 (0) 0.02% 39°31′4″N 100°49′21″W / 39.51778°N 100.82250°W / 39.51778; -100.82250
West Hale 76975 Brewster 366 3 (7) 140 (54) 0 (0) 0% 39°21′50″N 101°21′48″W / 39.36389°N 101.36333°W / 39.36389; -101.36333

See also

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Community information for Kansas

References

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  1. ^ "A Brief History of Thomas County, Kansas and the Thomas County Courthouse". Thomas County, Kansas. Retrieved November 4, 2012.
  2. ^ a b c "QuickFacts; Thomas County, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 21, 2021. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ^ A Brief History of Thomas County, Kansas
  5. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  6. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  7. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  8. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  9. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  10. ^ "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. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  11. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  12. ^ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
  13. ^ "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.
  14. ^ a b "General Highway Map of Thomas County, Kansas" (PDF). Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT). October 2007. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 6, 2023.
  15. ^ "A Brief History of Thomas County, Kansas and the Thomas County Courthouse". County of Thomas, Kansas. Archived from the original on April 7, 2014. Retrieved June 27, 2014.

Further reading

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See also: List of books about Kansas, including historical information about its counties and cities
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Thomas County, Kansas.
County
Maps

39°21′N 101°03′W / 39.350°N 101.050°W / 39.350; -101.050

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