Rice County, Kansas

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Rice County, Kansas
Map
Location in the state of Kansas
Kansas's location in the U.S.
Statistics
Founded	February 26, 1867
Seat	Lyons
Area - Total - Land - Water	728 sq mi (1,886 km²) 727 sq mi (1,882 km²) 2 sq mi (4 km²), 0.24%
Population^Est. - (2005) - Density	10,452 14.4/sq mi (5.6/km²)
Time zone	Central: UTC-6/-5

Rice County (standard abbreviation: RC) is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas; it was named in memory of Samuel Allen Rice, Brigadier-General, United States volunteers, killed April 30, 1864 at Jenkins Ferry, Arkansas.^[1] As of the 2000 census, the population was 10,761. The largest city and county seat is Lyons.

1 History
2 Law and government
3 Geography
- 3.1 Adjacent counties
4 Demographics
5 Cities and towns
- 5.1 Incorporated cities
6 Townships
7 Education
- 7.1 Unified school districts
8 References
9 See also
10 External links

[edit] History

The Santa Fe Trail followed the route of present day U.S. Route 56. Ruts in the earth from the trail are still visible in several locations. (Ralph's Ruts are visible in aerial photos at 38°21′35″N 98°25′20″W / 38.35959264, -98.42225502.)^[2]

[edit] Law and government

Although the Kansas Constitution was amended in 1986 to allow the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with the approval of voters, Rice County has remained a prohibition, or "dry", county.^[3]

[edit] Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 728 square miles (1,886 km²), of which, 727 square miles (1,882 km²) of it is land and 2 square miles (4 km²) of it (0.24%) is water.

[edit] Adjacent counties

Ellsworth County (north)
McPherson County (east)
Reno County (south)
Stafford County (southwest)
Barton County (northwest)

[edit] Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.	%±
1900	14,745	—
1910	15,106	2.4%
1920	14,832	-1.8%
1930	13,800	-7.0%
1940	17,213	24.7%
1950	15,635	-9.2%
1960	13,909	-11.0%
1970	12,320	-11.4%
1980	11,900	-3.4%
1990	10,610	-10.8%
2000	10,761	1.4%

As of the census^[4] of 2000, there were 10,761 people, 4,050 households, and 2,830 families residing in the county. The population density was 15 people per square mile (6/km²). There were 4,609 housing units at an average density of 6 per square mile (2/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 94.68% White, 1.15% Black or African American, 0.57% Native American, 0.33% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.84% from other races, and 1.39% from two or more races. 5.61% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Age pyramid

There were 4,050 households out of which 31.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.10% were married couples living together, 7.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.10% were non-families. 27.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the county the population was spread out with 24.70% under the age of 18, 13.30% from 18 to 24, 22.80% from 25 to 44, 21.30% from 45 to 64, and 18.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 92.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,671, and the median income for a family was $40,960. Males had a median income of $31,175 versus $18,968 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,064. About 8.50% of families and 10.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.60% of those under age 18 and 8.20% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Cities and towns

Map of Rice County from KDOT (map legend)

[edit] Incorporated cities

Name and population (2004 estimate):

Lyons, 3,576 (county seat)
Sterling, 2,587
Little River, 530
Chase, 471
Bushton, 300
Geneseo, 271
Alden, 161
Raymond, 95
Frederick, 11

[edit] Townships

Rice County is divided into twenty townships. The cities of Lyons and Sterling are considered governmentally independent and are 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.

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 area km² (sq mi)	Water %	Geographic coordinates
Atlanta	03075	233	3 (7)	90 (35)	0 (0)	0.25%	38°18′22″N, 98°11′58″W
Bell	05375	18	0 (0)	94 (36)	1 (0)	0.65%	38°13′10″N, 98°24′2″W
Center	12075	136	1 (4)	95 (37)	0 (0)	0.04%	38°17′50″N, 98°18′12″W
East Washington	19725	179	2 (5)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.03%	38°13′18″N, 97°58′34″W
Eureka	21900	65	1 (2)	95 (37)	0 (0)	0 %	38°29′52″N, 98°19′21″W
Farmer	23100	441	5 (12)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0 %	38°29′60″N, 98°24′55″W
Galt	25175	51	1 (1)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0.22%	38°28′8″N, 98°5′59″W
Harrison	30425	192	2 (5)	92 (35)	0 (0)	0.06%	38°23′3″N, 98°11′49″W
Lincoln	41100	577	6 (16)	95 (37)	0 (0)	0 %	38°22′10″N, 98°19′19″W
Mitchell	47525	131	1 (4)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0.18%	38°23′24″N, 98°5′42″W
Odessa	52150	55	1 (2)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.10%	38°28′17″N, 97°59′21″W
Pioneer	55925	101	1 (3)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0.03%	38°23′34″N, 98°25′39″W
Raymond	58575	185	2 (5)	92 (36)	1 (0)	0.71%	38°17′38″N, 98°24′56″W
Rockville	60725	134	1 (4)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.04%	38°18′17″N, 97°57′36″W
Sterling	68225	223	2 (5)	114 (44)	1 (0)	1.01%	38°12′19″N, 98°11′44″W
Union	72325	741	8 (21)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0 %	38°23′34″N, 97°59′32″W
Valley	73100	276	4 (9)	77 (30)	1 (0)	1.11%	38°13′27″N, 98°18′44″W
Victoria	73825	364	4 (10)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0.06%	38°29′57″N, 98°10′24″W
West Washington	77425	138	1 (4)	93 (36)	0 (0)	0.12%	38°13′9″N, 98°4′58″W
Wilson	79775	147	2 (4)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0.02%	38°18′2″N, 98°6′2″W