Smith County, Kansas

Smith County (standard abbreviation: SM) is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of 2000, the population is 4,536. Its county seat is Smith Center.⁶ It is named in memory of Maj. J. Nelson Smith, who was part of the 2nd Colorado Cavalry, killed in action at the Battle of the Little Blue, on October 21, 1864.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,322 km² (897 mi²). 2,319 km² (895 mi²) of it is land and 3 km² (1 mi²) of it (0.12%) is water. The county is divided into 25 townships, each of which is listed below in the subdivisions section of this article.

Geographic features

The geographic center of the 48 contiguous states is located within the county.^* The geographic center of North America is located in neighboring Osborne County.

The Solomon River runs through the southern part of the county and provides a flat basin and water for irrigated crops.

Major Highways

The are two major highways serving the county. The main east-west route is U.S. Highway 36, which travels through Athol, Kensington, and Smith Center. The main north-south route is U.S. Highway 281, which intersects U.S. 36 in Smith Center. Kansas state highways K-8, K-9 and K-180 serve other areas of the county.

Adjacent counties

Demographics

As of the census ² of 2000, there were 4,536 people, 1,953 households, and 1,322 families residing in the county. The population density was 2/km² (5/mi²). There were 2,326 housing units at an average density of 1/km² (3/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.79% White, 0.11% Black or African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.04% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 0.22% from other races, and 0.49% from two or more races. 0.73% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,953 households out of which 25.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.60% were married couples living together, 4.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.30% were non-families. 30.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.78.

In the county the population was spread out with 21.70% under the age of 18, 4.70% from 18 to 24, 22.10% from 25 to 44, 23.60% from 45 to 64, and 27.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 92.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,486, and the median income for a family was $36,951. Males had a median income of $25,089 versus $18,608 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,983. About 8.80% of families and 10.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.80% of those under age 18 and 9.50% of those age 65 or over.

The population distribution by township is as follows according to the 2000 census: Banner 54; Beaver 60; Blaine 60; Cedar 619; Center 2,094; Cora 38; Crystal Plains 40; Dor 46; Garfield 33; German 34; Harlan 100; Harvey 130; Houston 206; Lane 134; Lincoln 73; Logan 47; Martin 24; Oak 399; Pawnee 35; Pleasant 34; Swan 42; Valley 75; Washington 63; Webster 47; White Rock 49.

History

The Homestead Act was enacted by President Abraham Lincoln in 1862. The first homestead in Smith County was in 1871 and there were 3,800 inhabitants by 1875. The county grew to 15,000 people by 1889. Corn was the main crop at first but drought and grasshopper plagues severely hurt the crops. When hardy Winter wheat was introduced to Kansas by Russian settlers, it eventually became the predominant crop in Smith County. The population of the county has slowly declined since 1900 due in large part because of advanced farming techniques that require less human labor.

Dr. Brewster Higley wrote the song "Home on the Range" in the early 1870s. It later became the Kansas State song.

Cities and towns

Incorporated cities

Name and population (2004 estimate):

Smith Center, 1,757 (county seat)
Kensington, 495
Lebanon, 282
Gaylord, 130
Athol, 47
Cedar, 24

Townships

Smith County is divided into twenty-five 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.

align="bottom"|Sources: 2000 U.S. Gazetteer from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Township	FIPS	Population	Population density /km² (/mi²)	Land area km² (mi²)	Water %
Banner	04100	54	1 (1)	93 (36)	0 %
Beaver	05200	60	1 (2)	93 (36)	0.29%
Blaine	07200	60	1 (2)	93 (36)	0.04%
Cedar	11350	619	7 (17)	93 (36)	0.09%
Center	12175	2,094	22 (58)	93 (36)	0.05%
Cora	15525	38	0 (1)	93 (36)	0.18%
Crystal Plains	16575	40	0 (1)	93 (36)	0.05%
Dor	18300	46	0 (1)	93 (36)	0.32%
Garfield	25825	33	0 (1)	93 (36)	0.04%
German	26150	34	0 (1)	92 (35)	0.29%
Harlan	30100	100	1 (3)	93 (36)	0.05%
Harvey	30550	130	1 (4)	93 (36)	0 %
Houston	33225	206	2 (6)	93 (36)	0.15%
Lane	38450	134	1 (4)	93 (36)	0.04%
Lincoln	41200	73	1 (2)	93 (36)	0.16%
Logan	42275	47	1 (1)	93 (36)	0.15%
Martin	45000	24	0 (1)	92 (36)	0.27%
Oak	51650	399	4 (11)	93 (36)	0.07%
Pawnee	54825	35	0 (1)	92 (36)	0.44%
Pleasant	56300	34	0 (1)	93 (36)	0.05%
Swan	69625	42	0 (1)	92 (36)	0.25%
Valley	73175	75	1 (2)	93 (36)	0.02%
Washington	75775	63	1 (2)	93 (36)	0 %
Webster	76275	47	1 (1)	93 (36)	0.02%
White Rock	78000	49	1 (1)	93 (36)	0.04%