Harper County, Kansas

Harper County (county code HP) is a county in the U.S. state of Kansas. In 2020, 5,485 people lived there.[1] Its county seat is Anthony. Anthony is also the biggest city in Harper County.[2] The county was named after Sergeant Marion Harper of the 2nd Kansas Cavalry. He died of wounds suffered near Waldron, Arkansas, in December 1863.[3]

Harper County, Kansas
Map
Map of Kansas highlighting Harper County
Location in the state of Kansas
Map of the USA highlighting Kansas
Kansas's location in the U.S.
Statistics
Founded February 26, 1867
Seat Anthony
Largest City Anthony
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Water

803 sq mi (2,080 km²)
801 sq mi (2,075 km²)
1.5 sq mi (4 km²), 0.2%
Population
 -  Density


Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5
Named for: Marion Harper

History

19th century

In 1867, Harper County was created.

The original organization of Harper County was one of the biggest frauds in county government. In 1873, a group of three men organized Harper County. They designated the then-fake city of "Bluff City" as the county seat. The petition for organization used many names from a Cincinnati city directory to represent as residents of Harper County.[4] In 1874, the state attorney general investigated. He didn't find any resident of the county. The "creators" of the county had sold $40,000 worth of bonds.[5]

21st century

Due to new and high-paying jobs at oil fields and wind farms, Harper County had an economic boom. In 2012, rental housing and office space in towns such as Danville, Harper, and Anthony had become four times more expensive.[6] However, by 2016, the oil fracking boom had ended. The economies of Harper County were hurt.[7]

Geography

The U.S. Census Bureau says taht the county has a total area of 803 square miles (2,080 km2). Of that, 801 square miles (2,070 km2) is land and 1.5 square miles (3.9 km2) (0.2%) is water.[8]

People

Historical populations
Census Pop.
18804,133
189013,266221.0%
190010,310−22.3%
191014,74843.0%
192013,656−7.4%
193012,823−6.1%
194012,068−5.9%
195010,263−15.0%
19609,541−7.0%
19707,871−17.5%
19807,778−1.2%
19907,124−8.4%
20006,536−8.3%
20106,034−7.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11]
1990-2000[12] 2010-2020[1]

Government

Presidential elections

Education

Unified school districts

Communities

 
2005 KDOT Map of Harper County (map legend)

Cities

Harper County, Kansas Media

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 "QuickFacts: Harper County, Kansas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. Kansas Place-Names, John Rydjord, University of Oklahoma Press, 1972, ISBN 0-8061-0994-7
  4. Blackmar, Frank Wilson (1912). Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, Embracing Events, Institutions, Industries, Counties, Cities, Towns, Prominent Persons, Etc. ISBN 9780722249055.
  5. Cutler, William G. (1883). History of the State of Kansas. A.T. Andreas.
  6. Blake Ellis (June 1, 2012). "Where trailer homes rent for $2,000 a month". CNN Money. CNN.com. Retrieved 2012-06-02.
  7. Downward flow's ripples: Oil, gas downturn hitting counties on many levels, Kansas Agland, Amy Bickel, Feb 13, 2016. Retrieved 26 March 2017.
  8. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  9. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
  10. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
  11. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
  12. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
  13. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
Notes
  1. This total comprises 1,296 votes (41.30 percent) for Progressive Theodore Roosevelt (who carried the county) and 203 votes (6.47 percent) for Socialist Eugene V. Debs.

More reading

Other websites

County
Maps

Coordinates: 37°12′N 98°05′W / 37.200°N 98.083°W / 37.200; -98.083