Doniphan County, Kansas
Doniphan County (county code DP) is a county in the U.S. state of Kansas. In 2020 census, 7,510 people lived there.[1] Its county seat is Troy.[2] Its biggest city is Wathena.
| Doniphan County, Kansas | |
| Map | |
 Location in the state of Kansas | |
 Kansas's location in the U.S. | |
| Statistics | |
| Founded | August 25, 1855 |
|---|---|
| Seat | Troy |
| Largest City | Wathena |
| Area - Total - Land - Water |
398 sq mi (1,031 km²) 393 sq mi (1,018 km²) 4.9 sq mi (13 km²), 1.2% |
| Population - Density |
|
| Time zone | Central: UTC-6/-5 |
| Named for: Alexander William Doniphan | |
History
19th century
Doniphan County was created on August 25, 1855, then organized on September 18, 1855. It is named after the U.S. cavalry commander Colonel Alexander W. Doniphan[3] (1808–1887) of Liberty, Missouri. He was important in the Mexican–American War.
Geography
Doniphan County is in the northeastern corner of the state. It is bordered by Nebraska to the north and Missouri to the east. The U.S. Census Bureau says that the county has a total area of 398 square miles (1,030 km2). Of that, 393 square miles (1,020 km2) is land and 4.9 square miles (13 km2) (1.2%) is water.[4] It is the third-smallest county in Kansas by land area and second-smallest by total area.
Geographic features
The Missouri River defines the border in the north and east. Eight barge lines travel the river, and a Port Authority is across the river in Saint Joseph, Missouri. The river provides a lot of the water for the eastern part of the county. Cities away from the river, such as Troy and Highland, get their water from underground wells. The Wolf River goes through western pstyd of the county and north into the Missouri River.
Major highways
The only major highway in the county is U.S. Highway 36, an east/west route going through St. Joseph. Troy, Elwood, and Wathena lie along this route. Kansas state highways K-7, K-20, K-120, K-136, K-137, and K-238 serve other areas of the county. K-7 has been designated a scenic byway.
People
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1860 | 8,083 | ||
| 1870 | 13,969 | 72.8% | |
| 1880 | 14,257 | 2.1% | |
| 1890 | 13,535 | −5.1% | |
| 1900 | 15,079 | 11.4% | |
| 1910 | 14,422 | −4.4% | |
| 1920 | 13,438 | −6.8% | |
| 1930 | 14,063 | 4.7% | |
| 1940 | 12,936 | −8.0% | |
| 1950 | 10,499 | −18.8% | |
| 1960 | 9,574 | −8.8% | |
| 1970 | 9,107 | −4.9% | |
| 1980 | 9,268 | 1.8% | |
| 1990 | 8,134 | −12.2% | |
| 2000 | 8,249 | 1.4% | |
| 2010 | 7,945 | −3.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[5] 1790-1960[6] 1900-1990[7] 1990-2000[8] 2010-2020[1] | |||
Doniphan County is included in the St. Joseph, MO-KS Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City, MO-KS Combined Statistical Area.
Government
County
Doniphan County is served by a Board of County Commissioners. In it, there is one elected official from each of three districts. The commissioners serve four-year terms. The 2nd and 3rd district elections happen two years after the 1st district election. The board is responsible for making the county's policies, procedures, and budgets. They also oversee functions of their respective road and bridge shops. The county has used county planning and zoning codes. The cities are governed by mayors and city councils. Government services are paid for through a sales tax, property tax, and an ad valorem tax mill levy.[source?]
Presidential elections
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third Parties |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 80.2% 2,976 | 18.5% 686 | 1.3% 47 |
| 2016 | 76.8% 2,606 | 17.3% 587 | 5.9% 202 |
| 2012 | 70.9% 2,414 | 26.5% 902 | 2.6% 87 |
| 2008 | 66.6% 2,372 | 31.3% 1,115 | 2.2% 77 |
| 2004 | 69.1% 2,491 | 29.6% 1,065 | 1.3% 47 |
| 2000 | 64.4% 2,350 | 31.1% 1,134 | 4.5% 165 |
| 1996 | 64.2% 1,962 | 34.4% 1,050 | 1.4% 42 |
| 1992 | 39.7% 1,579 | 29.6% 1,177 | 30.6% 1,217 |
| 1988 | 61.5% 2,162 | 37.3% 1,312 | 1.1% 40 |
| 1984 | 73.8% 2,818 | 25.2% 962 | 1.1% 40 |
| 1980 | 67.8% 2,523 | 26.9% 1,001 | 5.3% 195 |
| 1976 | 62.2% 2,469 | 36.0% 1,428 | 1.8% 72 |
| 1972 | 78.4% 2,856 | 18.9% 690 | 2.7% 97 |
| 1968 | 63.3% 2,402 | 25.3% 958 | 11.4% 434 |
| 1964 | 51.1% 1,952 | 48.5% 1,856 | 0.4% 16 |
| 1960 | 67.4% 2,882 | 32.3% 1,383 | 0.3% 12 |
| 1956 | 72.1% 3,130 | 27.6% 1,197 | 0.3% 12 |
| 1952 | 75.7% 3,711 | 24.0% 1,175 | 0.3% 16 |
| 1948 | 63.7% 2,785 | 35.6% 1,555 | 0.7% 29 |
| 1944 | 71.9% 3,230 | 28.1% 1,261 | 0.0% 0 |
| 1940 | 67.7% 4,204 | 32.0% 1,986 | 0.3% 20 |
| 1936 | 57.8% 3,791 | 41.9% 2,749 | 0.3% 19 |
| 1932 | 51.4% 2,748 | 47.3% 2,532 | 1.3% 69 |
| 1928 | 72.6% 4,002 | 27.2% 1,496 | 0.2% 11 |
| 1924 | 72.8% 3,789 | 20.6% 1,072 | 6.6% 345 |
| 1920 | 76.5% 3,369 | 22.2% 978 | 1.3% 59 |
| 1916 | 58.1% 2,826 | 39.4% 1,916 | 2.6% 126 |
| 1912 | 39.1% 1,321 | 30.1% 1,017 | 30.7% 1,037 |
| 1908 | 66.3% 2,307 | 32.0% 1,113 | 1.7% 60 |
| 1904 | 75.0% 2,361 | 22.7% 713 | 2.3% 73 |
| 1900 | 65.9% 2,464 | 33.3% 1,244 | 0.8% 30 |
| 1896 | 65.4% 2,549 | 34.2% 1,332 | 0.5% 18 |
| 1892 | 64.4% 2,161 | 35.6% 1,194 | |
| 1888 | 66.5% 2,245 | 32.9% 1,109 | 0.6% 21 |
Because of its history of settlement by anti-slavery Yankees from Iowa and New England, Doniphan County became very Republican. The county has voted for the Republican nominee in every presidential election since Kansas became a state, beginning in 1864. Only three Democratic nominees reached forty percent of Doniphan County’s vote.[10]
Laws
Although the Kansas Constitution was changed in 1986 to allow the sale of alcohol, Doniphan County remained a "dry" county until 2012.[11]
Education
Unified school districts
Colleges and universities
Highland Community College was the first college created in Kansas. This was when the Highland University charter was approved by the Territorial Legislature in 1858. Over time the college changed its name many times before becoming a regional rural community college. (Web site)
Communities
Cities
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "QuickFacts: Doniphan County, Kansas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
- ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
- ↑ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 107.
- ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
- ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on April 26, 2015. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
- ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
- ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
- ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
- ↑ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
- ↑ The New York Times electoral map (Zoom in on Kansas)
- ↑ "2012 Kansas Liquor by the Drink Map (Wet and Dry Counties)" (PDF). Property Valuation Division, GIS Section, Kansas Department of Revenue. December 2012. Retrieved 2013-04-01.
More reading
- Standard Atlas of Doniphan County, Kansas; North West Publishing Co; 38 pages; 1904.
- Historical Plat Book of Doniphan County, Kansas; J.S. Bird; 98 pages; 1882.
Other websites
- County
- Additional information
- Lewis & Clark in Kansas: Doniphan County Attractions
- Doniphan County 1882 Historical Plat Book
- County Level Data from Kansas Statistical Abstract
- Kansas State Historical Society
- General county information
- Maps