Norton County, Kansas

Norton County (standard abbreviation: NT) is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat and largest city is Norton.[2] As of the 2020 census, the county population was 5,459.[1] The county was established in 1867 and named for Orloff Norton, captain of Company L, 15th Kansas Militia Infantry Regiment.[3]

Not to be confused with Morton County, Kansas or Norton, Kansas.

Norton County
County
Norton County Courthouse in Norton (built 1929)
Norton County Courthouse in Norton (built 1929)
Map of Kansas highlighting Norton 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°48′N 99°55′W
Country United States
State Kansas
FoundedFebruary 26, 1867
Named forOrloff Norton
SeatNorton
Largest cityNorton
Area
 • Total881 sq mi (2,280 km2)
 • Land878 sq mi (2,270 km2)
 • Water3.2 sq mi (8 km2)  0.4%
Population
 (2020)[1]
 • Total5,459
 • Density6.2/sq mi (2.4/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Area code785
Congressional district1st
Websitenortoncounty.org

History

Early history
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

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. Norton County was founded by Noah H. Billings, Thomas Beaumont, Henry Gordon, P. Hansen, and George Cole on August 22, 1872. In 1878 Norton became the county seat. The county gets its name for Civil War soldier Orloff Norton, who was killed at Cane Hill, Arkansas in 1864.[4]

The first county fair, although not official, was held in Leota in October, 1878. After 1900 the fair was held yearly in Elmwood Park in Norton. The first school district was formed in Norton in 1872. School was held in a dugout beginning December 1, 1873.[5]

21st century

In 2020, Norton County became a major hotspot in the COVID-19 pandemic. In July, an inmate at the Norton Correctional Facility, a state prison, tested positive for coronavirus.[6] By mid-October, more than 130 cases had been reported at the prison.[7] On October 19, officials announced that all 62 residents of the Andbe Home nursing home in Norton had tested positive for COVID-19, 10 of whom had died.[8] As of October 20, Norton County had the highest rate of infection over the previous 7 and 14 days of any county in the United States.[9][10]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 881 square miles (2,280 km2), of which 878 square miles (2,270 km2) is land and 3.2 square miles (8.3 km2) (0.4%) is water.[11]

Adjacent counties

Demographics
Population pyramid based on 2000 census age data
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18806,998—
189010,61751.7%
190011,3256.7%
191011,6142.6%
192011,423−1.6%
193011,7012.4%
19409,831−16.0%
19508,808−10.4%
19608,035−8.8%
19707,279−9.4%
19806,689−8.1%
19905,947−11.1%
20005,9530.1%
20105,671−4.7%
20205,459−3.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[12]
1790–1960[13] 1900–1990[14]
1990–2000[15] 2010–2020[1]

As of the 2000 US census, there were 5,953 people, 2,266 households, and 1,470 families residing in the county. The population density was 7 people per square mile (2.7 people/km2). There were 2,673 housing units at an average density of 3 per square mile (1.2/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 93.35% White, 4.05% Black or African American, 0.44% Native American, 0.42% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.02% from other races, and 0.71% from two or more races. 2.37% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,266 households, out of which 28.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.50% were married couples living together, 7.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.10% were non-families. 32.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.89.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.00% under the age of 18, 7.70% from 18 to 24, 28.30% from 25 to 44, 22.30% from 45 to 64, and 19.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 122.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 122.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,050, and the median income for a family was $37,036. Males had a median income of $25,983 versus $20,381 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,835. About 6.10% of families and 10.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.70% of those under age 18 and 8.20% of those age 65 or over.

Government

County

Noah H. Billings was an early county settler, county superintendent of schools, county attorney, and state representative. Keith Sebelius served as a U.S. congressman from 1969 to 1981.[16]

Presidential elections
Presidential election results
United States presidential election results for Norton County, Kansas[17]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 2,007 83.11% 364 15.07% 44 1.82%
2016 1,840 82.36% 281 12.58% 113 5.06%
2012 1,878 80.77% 398 17.12% 49 2.11%
2008 1,878 77.76% 497 20.58% 40 1.66%
2004 2,092 80.49% 473 18.20% 34 1.31%
2000 1,744 71.15% 598 24.40% 109 4.45%
1996 1,814 66.42% 640 23.43% 277 10.14%
1992 1,469 47.88% 779 25.39% 820 26.73%
1988 1,923 67.54% 855 30.03% 69 2.42%
1984 2,515 79.19% 611 19.24% 50 1.57%
1980 2,625 75.50% 666 19.15% 186 5.35%
1976 2,201 60.55% 1,337 36.78% 97 2.67%
1972 2,688 75.80% 776 21.88% 82 2.31%
1968 2,543 70.91% 841 23.45% 202 5.63%
1964 2,245 60.09% 1,449 38.78% 42 1.12%
1960 2,781 68.01% 1,300 31.79% 8 0.20%
1956 3,052 71.58% 1,194 28.00% 18 0.42%
1952 3,530 76.23% 1,047 22.61% 54 1.17%
1948 2,461 60.98% 1,414 35.03% 161 3.99%
1944 2,890 70.87% 1,159 28.42% 29 0.71%
1940 3,415 70.28% 1,378 28.36% 66 1.36%
1936 2,829 54.83% 2,307 44.71% 24 0.47%
1932 2,272 44.16% 2,705 52.58% 168 3.27%
1928 3,365 73.99% 1,087 23.90% 96 2.11%
1924 2,778 59.33% 1,261 26.93% 643 13.73%
1920 2,288 65.24% 1,082 30.85% 137 3.91%
1916 1,616 34.28% 2,876 61.01% 222 4.71%
1912 598 23.98% 1,081 43.34% 815 32.68%
1908 1,448 49.76% 1,337 45.95% 125 4.30%
1904 1,570 67.18% 417 17.84% 350 14.98%
1900 1,329 51.67% 1,212 47.12% 31 1.21%
1896 941 42.07% 1,260 56.33% 36 1.61%
1892 1,054 48.26% 0 0.00% 1,130 51.74%
1888 1,471 56.60% 631 24.28% 497 19.12%

Like all the High Plains, Norton County is overwhelmingly Republican. In 1964, the last time the Republicans did not carry Kansas’ electoral votes, Norton County was Barry Goldwater’s second-best county in the state behind Clay County. The last Democrat to reach forty percent of the county’s vote was Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1936, ironically against Kansas Governor Alf Landon. Roosevelt in 1932 was the last Democrat to carry Norton County, and the only others are Woodrow Wilson (twice) and William Jennings Bryan in his first 1896 campaign.

Laws

Following amendment to the Kansas Constitution in 1986, the county remained a prohibition, or "dry", county until 1992, when voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with a 30 percent food sales requirement.[18]

Education

Unified school districts

Communities
2005 KDOT Map of Norton County (map legend)

‡ means a community has portions in an adjacent county.

Cities

Unincorporated communities

Ghost towns

Townships

Norton County is divided into four townships. The city of Norton 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. The 2010 census shows the area of the former Harrison-District 6 as combined into that of Almena-District 4.

Sources: 2000 U.S. Gazetteer from the U.S. Census Bureau.
TownshipFIPSPopulation
center		 PopulationPopulation
density
/km2 (/sq mi)		 Land area
km2 (sq mi)		Water area
km2 (sq mi)		Water % Geographic coordinates
Almena-District 4014506142 (6)278 (107)0 (0)0%39°53′10″N 99°41′2″W
Center-District 1122601,3822 (5)654 (253)0 (0)0.08%39°53′43″N 99°57′2″W
Harrison-District 6 (defunct[19])30460120 (0)93 (36)0 (0)0.02%39°56′54″N 99°48′25″W
Highland-District 2320607371 (3)748 (289)9 (3)1.13%39°41′24″N 100°1′49″W
Solomon-District 3664101960 (1)496 (192)0 (0)0.02%39°40′38″N 99°45′56″W

See also
Community information for Kansas

References
  1. "QuickFacts; Norton County, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 18, 2021. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. Blackmar, Frank Wilson (1912). Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, Volume 2. Standard Publishing Company. pp. 374.
  4. "Norton County, Kansas - Kansas Historical Society". www.kshs.org. Kansas Historical Society. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  5. https://nortoncounty.org/about/
  6. "COVID-19 at Norton Prison". Https. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  7. "REVIEW: COVID-19 outbreak reported at Norton prison". Https. October 19, 2020. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  8. "All 62 residents at Kansas nursing home have COVID, 10 have died - CBS News". Https. October 20, 2020. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  9. "Kansas averages 700 new cases a day; county sees top US jump". Https. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  10. "Covid in the U.S.: Latest Map and Case Count - The New York Times". Https. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  11. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  12. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
  13. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
  14. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
  15. "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 27, 2014.
  16. Norton County, Kansas, Kansas Historical Society
  17. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  18. "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.
  19. "Norton County, Kansas - Kansas Historical Society". kshs.org. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
Notes

    Further reading
    See also: List of books about Kansas, including historical information about its counties and cities
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