Atchison County, Kansas

Atchison County (standard abbreviation: AT) is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of 2000, the population is 16,774. The largest city and county seat is Atchison.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,127 km² (435 mi²). 1,120 km² (432 mi²) of it is land and 7 km² (3 mi²) of it (0.62%) is water. On July 4 1804 — Marking Independence Day, the Lewis and Clark Expedition named Independence Creek (River) located near Atchison. (See Timeline of the Lewis and Clark Expedition)

Adjacent counties

Demographics

As of the census ² of 2000, there were 16,774 people, 6,275 households, and 4,279 families residing in the county. The population density was 15/km² (39/mi²). There were 6,818 housing units at an average density of 6/km² (16/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 91.62% White, 5.32% Black or African American, 0.55% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.51% from other races, and 1.59% from two or more races. 1.95% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 6,275 households out of which 32.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.30% were married couples living together, 10.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.80% were non-families. 27.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the county the population was spread out with 26.70% under the age of 18, 11.30% from 18 to 24, 24.50% from 25 to 44, 21.40% from 45 to 64, and 16.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 93.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,355, and the median income for a family was $40,614. Males had a median income of $29,481 versus $20,485 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,207. About 7.90% of families and 13.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.80% of those under age 18 and 17.90% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

Incorporated cities

Name and population (2004 estimate):

Atchison, 10,185 (county seat)
Effingham, 586
Lancaster, 297
Muscotah, 204
Huron, 89

Unincorporated places

Arlington
Cummings
Farmington
Kennekuk
Larkinburg
Monrovia
Oak Mills
Parnell
Potter
St. Pats
Shannon

Townships

Atchison County is divided into eight townships. The city of Atchison is considered governmentally independent and is 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.

align="bottom"|Sources: 2000 U.S. Gazetteer from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Township	FIPS	Population center	Population	Population density /km² (/mi²)	Land area km² (mi²)	Water area km² (mi²)	Water %
Benton	06150	Effingham	1,076	7 (18)	156 (60)	0 (0)	0.25%
Center	11550		676	5 (13)	139 (54)	0 (0)	0.15%
Grasshopper	28225	Muscotah	588	3 (9)	170 (66)	1 (0)	0.52%
Kapioma	36100		271	2 (6)	123 (48)	0 (0)	0.05%
Lancaster	38350	Lancaster	922	6 (15)	156 (60)	0 (0)	0.28%
Mount Pleasant	48925		829	7 (17)	124 (48)	0 (0)	0.09%
Shannon	64275		1,753	12 (32)	140 (54)	2 (1)	1.16%
Walnut	74800		427	5 (12)	94 (36)	2 (1)	2.34%