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Lane County
Lane County
County
	Lane County Courthouse in Dighton (2015)
	Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
	Kansas's location within the U.S.
	Coordinates: 38°28′00″N 100°28′01″W / 38.4667°N 100.467°W
Country	United States
State	Kansas
Founded	March 20, 1873
Named for	James H. Lane
Seat	Dighton
Largest city	Dighton
Area
• Total	718 sq mi (1,860 km2)
• Land	717 sq mi (1,860 km2)
• Water	0.2 sq mi (0.5 km2) 0.03%
Population (2020)
• Total	1,574
• Estimate (2021)	1,565
• Density	2.2/sq mi (0.8/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	1st
Website	lanecountyks.org

Lane County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat is Dighton,^[3] the only incorporated city in the county. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 1,574,^[1] making it the third-least populous county in Kansas. The county was named after James Lane, a leader of the Jayhawker abolitionist movement and served as one of the first U.S. senators from Kansas.^[4]

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, then in 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state. In 1873, Lane County was established.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 718 square miles (1,860 km²), of which 717 square miles (1,860 km²) is land and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km²) (0.03%) is water.^[5]

Adjacent counties

Gove County (north)
Ness County (east)
Finney County (south)
Scott County (west)

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1880	604		—
1890	2,060		241.1%
1900	1,563		−24.1%
1910	2,603		66.5%
1920	2,848		9.4%
1930	3,372		18.4%
1940	2,821		−16.3%
1950	2,808		−0.5%
1960	3,060		9.0%
1970	2,707		−11.5%
1980	2,472		−8.7%
1990	2,375		−3.9%
2000	2,155		−9.3%
2010	1,750		−18.8%
2020	1,574		−10.1%
2023 (est.)	1,529	^[6]	−2.9%
U.S. Decennial Census^[7] 1790-1960^[8] 1900-1990^[9] 1990-2000^[10] 2010-2020^[1]

As of the census of 2000, there were 2,155 people, 910 households, and 613 families residing in the county. The population density was 3 people per square mile (1.2 people/km²). There were 1,065 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile (0.77/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.73% White, 0.05% Native American, 0.09% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.51% from other races, and 1.58% from two or more races. 1.44% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 910 households, out of which 29.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.10% were married couples living together, 5.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.60% were non-families. 30.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.40% under the age of 18, 5.40% from 18 to 24, 24.60% from 25 to 44, 24.10% from 45 to 64, and 20.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 100.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,047, and the median income for a family was $41,892. Males had a median income of $29,429 versus $20,446 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,606. About 5.40% of families and 8.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.40% of those under age 18 and 7.60% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Presidential elections

Lane County has been strongly Republican throughout its history, only voting for Democratic candidates five times in presidential elections from 1888 to the present. The most recent of those wins came in 1964 when Lyndon B. Johnson won it amongst his national landslide.

Presidential election results

United States presidential election results for Lane County, Kansas^[11]
Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
Year	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	709	83.91%	111	13.14%	25	2.96%
2020	762	85.14%	115	12.85%	18	2.01%
2016	718	82.43%	106	12.17%	47	5.40%
2012	739	79.63%	172	18.53%	17	1.83%
2008	814	79.26%	193	18.79%	20	1.95%
2004	823	81.16%	181	17.85%	10	0.99%
2000	846	74.67%	252	22.24%	35	3.09%
1996	865	70.67%	271	22.14%	88	7.19%
1992	674	51.89%	265	20.40%	360	27.71%
1988	768	61.44%	450	36.00%	32	2.56%
1984	1,008	77.18%	282	21.59%	16	1.23%
1980	924	67.54%	321	23.46%	123	8.99%
1976	651	48.91%	646	48.53%	34	2.55%
1972	943	73.21%	294	22.83%	51	3.96%
1968	781	60.64%	385	29.89%	122	9.47%
1964	586	42.77%	773	56.42%	11	0.80%
1960	902	65.41%	462	33.50%	15	1.09%
1956	992	72.09%	380	27.62%	4	0.29%
1952	1,142	77.85%	311	21.20%	14	0.95%
1948	764	57.53%	525	39.53%	39	2.94%
1944	773	65.90%	388	33.08%	12	1.02%
1940	888	60.78%	557	38.12%	16	1.10%
1936	682	43.77%	853	54.75%	23	1.48%
1932	672	42.88%	866	55.26%	29	1.85%
1928	954	71.30%	364	27.20%	20	1.49%
1924	693	59.08%	281	23.96%	199	16.97%
1920	656	63.94%	298	29.04%	72	7.02%
1916	363	32.07%	659	58.22%	110	9.72%
1912	158	25.40%	237	38.10%	227	36.50%
1908	357	51.52%	271	39.11%	65	9.38%
1904	353	63.60%	111	20.00%	91	16.40%
1900	239	56.50%	172	40.66%	12	2.84%
1896	241	54.90%	191	43.51%	7	1.59%
1892	284	55.58%	0	0.00%	227	44.42%
1888	459	57.74%	267	33.58%	69	8.68%

Education

Unified school districts

Healy USD 468^[12] - this school district is planning to dissolve and consolidate in 2025.^[13]
Dighton USD 482

Communities

List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Lane County.^[14]
† means a community is designated a Census-Designated Place (CDP) by the United States Census Bureau.

City

Dighton (county seat)

Unincorporated communities

Townships

Lane County is divided into 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.

Sources: 2000 U.S. Gazetteer from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Township	FIPS	Population	Population density /km² (/sq mi)	Land area km² (sq mi)	Water %	Geographic coordinates
Alamota	00775	108	0 (1)	414 (160)	0%	38°24′55″N 100°19′43″W / 38.41528°N 100.32861°W / 38.41528; -100.32861
Cheyenne	13050	336	1 (4)	245 (94)	0%	38°36′21″N 100°37′22″W / 38.60583°N 100.62278°W / 38.60583; -100.62278
Dighton	18075	1,573	2 (5)	785 (303)	0.01%	38°27′23″N 100°30′11″W / 38.45639°N 100.50306°W / 38.45639; -100.50306
White Rock	77950	26	0 (0)	207 (80)	0.02%	38°37′49″N 100°19′55″W / 38.63028°N 100.33194°W / 38.63028; -100.33194
Wilson	79725	112	1 (1)	206 (80)	0.20%	38°36′47″N 100°28′12″W / 38.61306°N 100.47000°W / 38.61306; -100.47000