Wilson County, Kansas

Wilson County is a county located in Southeast Kansas. Its county seat is Fredonia. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 8,624. The county was named after Hiero Wilson, a colonel in the American Civil War.

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.

19th century 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. In 1855, Wilson County was established and included what is now Wilson County and Montgomery County. It was named for Colonel Hiero T. Wilson. He was a successful Indian trader who had been the first white settler of Fort Scott, Kansas and had served as postmaster and sutler at the fort. He could speak Cherokee, Creek, and Osage and the Osage called him "Big White Chief". He was a delegate to the Lecompton Constitutional Convention.Rydjord, p 317

Geography According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (0.8%) is water.

Adjacent counties Woodson County (north) Allen County (northeast) Neosho County (east) Montgomery County (south) Elk County (west) Greenwood County (northwest)

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 8,624. The median age was 43.6 years. 23.4% of residents were under the age of 18 and 22.1% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 97.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.7 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 90.0% White, 0.3% Black or African American, 1.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.0% from some other race, and 7.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 3.0% of the population.

0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 3,636 households in the county, of which 28.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 26.3% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 31.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 4,485 housing units, of which 18.9% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 72.8% were owner-occupied and 27.2% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 11.0%.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 10,332 people, 4,203 households, and 2,849 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 4,937 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 96.78% White, 0.37% Black or African American, 0.88% Native American, 0.26% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.48% from other races, and 1.19% from two or more races. 1.67% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,203 households, out of which 29.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.10% were married couples living together, 7.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.20% were non-families. 29.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.40% under the age of 18, 7.40% from 18 to 24, 23.80% from 25 to 44, 23.40% from 45 to 64, and 19.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 94.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,747, and the median income for a family was $36,990. Males had a median income of $27,255 versus $18,670 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,910. About 7.50% of families and 11.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.40% of those under age 18 and 11.80% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Presidential elections

Wilson County has long voted predominantly Republican. No Democratic presidential candidate has carried Wilson County since Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1932, and none has exceeded 36 percent since Jimmy Carter in 1976.

Laws Following amendment to the Kansas Constitution in 1986, the county remained a prohibition, or "dry", county until 1998, when voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with a 30 percent food sales requirement.

Education

Unified school districts Altoona-Midway USD 387Altoona-Midway USD 387 Neodesha USD 461Neodesha USD 461 Fredonia USD 484Fredonia USD 484

Communities

List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Wilson County.

Cities

Altoona Benedict Buffalo Coyville Fredonia (county seat) Neodesha New Albany

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

Buxton Lafontaine† Rest Roper Vilas

Townships Wilson County is divided into fifteen townships. The cities of Fredonia and Neodesha 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 Populationcenter Population Populationdensity/km2 (/sq mi) Land areakm2 (sq mi) Water areakm2 (sq mi) Water % Geographic coordinates Cedar 11375 701 8 (19) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0.11% Center 12225 618 6 (16) 103 (40) 0 (0) 0.14% Chetopa 13000 188 2 (5) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0.11% Clifton 14250 414 4 (12) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0.53% Colfax 14825 452 4 (10) 123 (47) 0 (0) 0.17% Duck Creek 18800 103 1 (3) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0.23% Fall River 22825 398 3 (8) 131 (51) 0 (0) 0.16% Guilford 29200 205 2 (6) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0.06% Neodesha 49675 583 6 (17) 90 (35) 0 (0) 0.52% Newark 50200 226 2 (6) 92 (36) 0 (0) 0.18% Pleasant Valley 56650 201 2 (4) 123 (47) 0 (0) 0.09% Prairie 57425 118 2 (4) 78 (30) 0 (0) 0.28% Talleyrand 69900 232 3 (7) 92 (36) 0 (0) 0.06% Verdigris 73500 394 4 (10) 103 (40) 0 (0) 0.27% Webster 76300 51 1 (2) 77 (30) 0 (0) 0.15%

Wilson County, Kansas

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