Morton County, Kansas

Morton County
County
Morton County Courthouse in Elkhart (2009)
Morton County Courthouse in Elkhart (2009)
Map of Kansas highlighting Morton County
Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
Map of the United States highlighting Kansas
Kansas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°12′N 101°48′W / 37.200°N 101.800°W / 37.200; -101.800
Country United States
State Kansas
FoundedFebruary 20, 1886
Named forOliver Morton
SeatElkhart
Largest cityElkhart
Area
 • Total730 sq mi (1,900 km2)
 • Land730 sq mi (1,900 km2)
 • Water0.2 sq mi (0.5 km2)  0.03%
Population
 (2020)[1]
 • Total2,701
 • Density3.7/sq mi (1.4/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Area code620
Congressional district1st
Websitemtcoks.com

Morton County (standard abbreviation: MT) is a county in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Kansas. In 2020, 2,701 people lived there.[1] The county seat is Elkhart. Elkhart is also the biggest city in Morton County.[2]

History

19th century

In 1886, Morton County was created. It was named after Oliver Morton, who was a United States Senator from Indiana from 1867 to 1877.[3] In 1886, the community of Richfield was created as the county seat.[4]

20th century

Dust storm in Rolla on May 6, 1935

In the 1930s, the economy of the area was hurt by the Dust Bowl. This made the economy in the area much worse during the Great Depression.

In 1961, the county seat moved from Richfield to Elkhart.[4]

Geography

The U.S. Census Bureau says that the county has a total area of 730 square miles (1,900 km2). Of that, 730 square miles (1,900 km2) is land and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km2) (0.03%) is water.[5]

Major highways

People

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1890724—
1900304−58.0%
19101,333338.5%
19203,177138.3%
19304,09228.8%
19402,186−46.6%
19502,61019.4%
19603,35428.5%
19703,5766.6%
19803,454−3.4%
19903,4800.8%
20003,4960.5%
20103,233−7.5%
20202,701−16.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2020[1]
Age pyramid

Government

Morton County is often won by Republican Candidates. However Jimmy Carter almost won the county in 1976, however Gerald Ford barely won the county by .2%. The last time the county was won by a Democrat was in 1964 by Lyndon B. Johnson.

Presidential elections

Presidential Elections Results
Presidential Elections Results[10]
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2020 86.3% 1,034 12.5% 150 1.2% 14
2016 82.9% 995 12.3% 147 4.8% 58
2012 83.9% 1,072 14.8% 189 1.3% 17
2008 82.2% 1,153 16.3% 229 1.4% 20
2004 81.7% 1,287 17.5% 276 0.8% 13
2000 77.3% 1,203 20.6% 321 2.1% 33
1996 67.9% 1,073 23.8% 376 8.4% 132
1992 54.8% 915 23.8% 398 21.4% 357
1988 64.4% 1,074 34.1% 569 1.6% 26
1984 81.8% 1,533 17.2% 322 1.0% 19
1980 69.6% 1,157 24.9% 414 5.5% 91
1976 48.9% 738 48.7% 735 2.4% 36
1972 72.7% 1,165 22.7% 363 4.7% 75
1968 51.0% 770 31.5% 475 17.5% 264
1964 39.0% 609 60.1% 938 0.9% 14
1960 60.7% 918 38.7% 586 0.6% 9
1956 64.8% 814 34.7% 436 0.6% 7
1952 69.9% 893 28.4% 362 1.7% 22
1948 52.6% 624 46.0% 545 1.4% 17
1944 62.5% 617 37.2% 367 0.3% 3
1940 55.7% 643 43.6% 503 0.7% 8
1936 41.8% 636 57.6% 876 0.6% 9
1932 34.6% 621 61.0% 1,093 4.4% 79
1928 78.8% 1,010 20.2% 259 1.0% 13
1924 55.0% 669 23.5% 286 21.5% 261
1920 73.0% 783 24.8% 266 2.2% 24
1916 42.4% 405 47.9% 457 9.7% 93
1912 34.0% 120 40.8% 144 25.2% 89
1908 50.5% 154 45.9% 140 3.6% 11
1904 54.1% 53 44.9% 44 1.0% 1
1900 60.0% 51 40.0% 34 0.0% 0
1896 58.4% 52 40.5% 36 1.1% 1
1892 57.6% 106 42.4% 78
1888 58.0% 333 35.7% 205 6.3% 36

Education

Unified school districts

Communities

2005 KDOT Map of Morton County (map legend)

Cities

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "QuickFacts: Morton County, Kansas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ↑ "Kansas Newspapers History by County". Archived from the original on 2008-11-21. Retrieved 2010-04-17.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Morton County Facts; mtcoks.com". Archived from the original on 2020-10-30. Retrieved 2019-07-30.
  5. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  6. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".

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