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Rooks County, Kansas

Coordinates: 39°21′N 99°19′W / 39.350°N 99.317°W / 39.350; -99.317
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Rooks County
County
Rooks County Courthouse in Stockton (2014)
Rooks County Courthouse in Stockton (2014)
Map of Kansas highlighting Rooks 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°27′05″N 99°06′07″W / 39.4514°N 99.1019°W / 39.4514; -99.1019
Country United States
State Kansas
FoundedFebruary 26, 1867
Named forJohn C. Rooks
SeatStockton
Largest cityPlainville
Area
 • Total
895 sq mi (2,320 km2)
 • Land891 sq mi (2,310 km2)
 • Water4.6 sq mi (12 km2)  0.5%
Population
 (2020)[1]
 • Total
4,919
 • Density5.5/sq mi (2.1/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district1st
Websiterookscounty.net

Rooks County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat is Stockton,[2] and its largest city is Plainville. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 4,919.[1] The county was named for John Rooks, a private in Company I of the 11th Kansas Cavalry Regiment, who died at the Battle of Prairie Grove during the American Civil War.[3]

History

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Early history

[edit]
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.[4] In 1762, after the French and Indian War, France secretly ceded New France to Spain, per the Treaty of Fontainebleau.[5]

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.[citation needed]

In 1854, the Kansas Territory was organized, then in 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state. In 1867, Rooks County was established.[citation needed]

In 1881, the first county courthouse was built in Stockton. The county jail was built nearby from cottonwood logs strengthened by tons of iron.[6]

20th century

[edit]

In 1923, a new courthouse opened in Stockton. The Rooks County Courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2002.[7]

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 895 square miles (2,320 km2), of which 891 square miles (2,310 km2) is land and 4.6 square miles (12 km2) (0.5%) is water.[8]

Adjacent counties

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Demographics

[edit]
Population pyramid based on 2000 census age data
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18808,112—
18908,018−1.2%
19007,960−0.7%
191011,28241.7%
19209,966−11.7%
19309,534−4.3%
19408,497−10.9%
19509,0436.4%
19609,7347.6%
19707,628−21.6%
19807,006−8.2%
19906,039−13.8%
20005,685−5.9%
20105,181−8.9%
20204,919−5.1%
2023 (est.)4,778[9]−2.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]
1790-1960[11] 1900-1990[12]
1990-2000[13] 2010-2020[1]

As of the census[14] of 2000, there were 5,685 people, 2,362 households, and 1,556 families residing in the county. The population density was 6 people per square mile (2.3 people/km2). There were 2,758 housing units at an average density of 3 per square mile (1.2/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.13% White, 1.13% Black or African American, 0.42% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.37% from other races, and 0.74% from two or more races. 1.06% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,362 households, out of which 29.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.40% were married couples living together, 7.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.10% were non-families. 31.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.20% under the age of 18, 6.40% from 18 to 24, 25.50% from 25 to 44, 21.50% from 45 to 64, and 21.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 98.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,457, and the median income for a family was $36,931. Males had a median income of $26,794 versus $18,389 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,588. About 7.30% of families and 9.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.70% of those under age 18 and 7.40% of those age 65 or over.

Government

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Presidential elections

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Presidential election results
United States presidential election results for Rooks County, Kansas[15]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 2,126 84.90% 346 13.82% 32 1.28%
2020 2,325 86.14% 339 12.56% 35 1.30%
2016 2,031 83.96% 275 11.37% 113 4.67%
2012 2,038 82.85% 361 14.67% 61 2.48%
2008 2,068 79.91% 468 18.08% 52 2.01%
2004 2,121 78.27% 534 19.70% 55 2.03%
2000 2,016 72.65% 597 21.51% 162 5.84%
1996 1,864 66.88% 650 23.32% 273 9.80%
1992 1,249 40.42% 771 24.95% 1,070 34.63%
1988 1,938 64.45% 1,012 33.65% 57 1.90%
1984 2,604 77.75% 699 20.87% 46 1.37%
1980 2,275 71.38% 725 22.75% 187 5.87%
1976 1,664 53.04% 1,412 45.01% 61 1.94%
1972 2,457 71.74% 904 26.39% 64 1.87%
1968 2,252 63.01% 1,012 28.32% 310 8.67%
1964 1,985 50.59% 1,923 49.01% 16 0.41%
1960 2,840 63.25% 1,639 36.50% 11 0.24%
1956 3,059 70.88% 1,238 28.68% 19 0.44%
1952 3,331 74.32% 1,105 24.65% 46 1.03%
1948 2,197 56.59% 1,636 42.14% 49 1.26%
1944 2,361 66.53% 1,166 32.85% 22 0.62%
1940 2,590 60.61% 1,650 38.61% 33 0.77%
1936 2,150 49.03% 2,235 50.97% 0 0.00%
1932 2,005 46.39% 2,229 51.57% 88 2.04%
1928 2,583 70.73% 1,044 28.59% 25 0.68%
1924 2,442 66.02% 930 25.14% 327 8.84%
1920 2,143 69.94% 843 27.51% 78 2.55%
1916 1,621 38.29% 2,394 56.54% 219 5.17%
1912 545 24.14% 865 38.31% 848 37.56%
1908 1,280 53.13% 1,003 41.64% 126 5.23%
1904 1,266 64.46% 495 25.20% 203 10.34%
1900 927 49.28% 925 49.18% 29 1.54%
1896 817 45.09% 971 53.59% 24 1.32%
1892 811 47.93% 0 0.00% 881 52.07%
1888 1,112 58.31% 412 21.60% 383 20.08%

Rooks County is overwhelmingly Republican. No Democratic presidential candidate has won Rooks County since Franklin D. Roosevelt – ironically against Kansan Alf Landon – carried the county by eighty-five votes in 1936. The last Democrat to exceed a quarter of the county's vote was Michael Dukakis in 1988 during a major drought on the Great Plains.

Laws

[edit]

Following amendment to the Kansas Constitution in 1986, the county remained a prohibition, or "dry", county until 2000, when voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with a 30 percent food sales requirement.[16]

Education

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Unified school districts

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Communities

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2005 map of Rooks County[17] (map legend)

List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Rooks County.[17]

Cities

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Unincorporated communities

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

Ghost towns

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Townships

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Rooks County is divided into twelve 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.

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
Township 1 71203 280 1 (3) 276 (107) 1 (0) 0.23% 39°27′6″N 99°6′8″W / 39.45167°N 99.10222°W / 39.45167; -99.10222
Township 2 71207 382 1 (4) 278 (107) 1 (0) 0.25% 39°26′33″N 99°13′22″W / 39.44250°N 99.22278°W / 39.44250; -99.22278
Township 3 71211 Stockton 1,489 8 (21) 184 (71) 0 (0) 0.14% 39°27′13″N 99°17′35″W / 39.45361°N 99.29306°W / 39.45361; -99.29306
Township 4 71215 27 0 (1) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0.12% 39°21′11″N 99°18′36″W / 39.35306°N 99.31000°W / 39.35306; -99.31000
Township 5 71219 74 0 (1) 276 (107) 0 (0) 0.05% 39°30′10″N 99°30′0″W / 39.50278°N 99.50000°W / 39.50278; -99.50000
Township 6 71224 60 0 (1) 173 (67) 13 (5) 7.13% 39°24′44″N 99°26′24″W / 39.41222°N 99.44000°W / 39.41222; -99.44000
Township 7 71229 218 2 (6) 91 (35) 1 (0) 0.93% 39°20′37″N 99°33′24″W / 39.34361°N 99.55667°W / 39.34361; -99.55667
Township 8 71234 344 4 (10) 94 (36) 0 (0) 0.09% 39°15′20″N 99°33′33″W / 39.25556°N 99.55917°W / 39.25556; -99.55917
Township 9 71239 51 1 (1) 94 (36) 0 (0) 0.05% 39°10′31″N 99°32′20″W / 39.17528°N 99.53889°W / 39.17528; -99.53889
Township 10 71243 197 1 (3) 187 (72) 0 (0) 0.08% 39°14′5″N 99°26′0″W / 39.23472°N 99.43333°W / 39.23472; -99.43333
Township 11 71246 Plainville 2,380 9 (22) 279 (108) 1 (0) 0.44% 39°14′13″N 99°17′39″W / 39.23694°N 99.29417°W / 39.23694; -99.29417
Township 12 71249 183 1 (2) 277 (107) 1 (0) 0.24% 39°12′56″N 99°9′10″W / 39.21556°N 99.15278°W / 39.21556; -99.15278

See also

[edit]
Community information for Kansas

References

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  1. ^ a b c "QuickFacts; Rooks County, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 19, 2021. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Kansas Place-Names,John Rydjord, University of Oklahoma Press, 1972, ISBN 0-8061-0994-7
  4. ^ Burpee, Lawrence J. (1914). "Chapter VI LA VÉRENDRYES' LATTER DAYS". Pathfinders of the Great Plains: A Chronicle of La Vérendrye and his Sons. Toronto: GLASGOW, BROOK & COMPANY. p. 112. LCCN 15013575.
  5. ^ "Louisiana as a Spanish Colony". Library of Congress. Archived from the original on January 20, 2024. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  6. ^ Blackmar, Frank Wilson (1912). Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, Volume 2. Chicago: Standard Publishing Company. p. 605.
  7. ^ Dana Cloud; Sally F. Schwenk (April 30, 2000). "National Register of Historic Places Registration: Rooks County Courthouse". National Park Service. Retrieved December 29, 2017. With 11 photos.
  8. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  9. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  10. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 28, 2014.
  11. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 28, 2014.
  12. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 28, 2014.
  13. ^ "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 28, 2014.
  14. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  15. ^ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
  16. ^ "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 26, 2007.
  17. ^ a b "General Highway Map of Rooks County, Kansas" (PDF). Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT). January 2010. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 5, 2023.

Further reading

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

39°21′N 99°19′W / 39.350°N 99.317°W / 39.350; -99.317

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