Wikipedia

Doniphan County, Kansas

county in Kansas, United States

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
County
Doniphan County Courthouse in Troy (2006)
Doniphan County Courthouse in Troy (2006)
Map of Kansas highlighting Doniphan County
Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
Map of the United States highlighting Kansas
Kansas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 39°48′N 95°07′W / 39.800°N 95.117°W / 39.800; -95.117
Country United States
State Kansas
FoundedAugust 25, 1855
Named forAlexander William Doniphan
SeatTroy
Largest cityWathena
Area
 • Total398 sq mi (1,030 km2)
 • Land393 sq mi (1,020 km2)
 • Water4.9 sq mi (13 km2)  1.2%
Population
 (2020)[1]
 • Total7,510
 • Density19.1/sq mi (7.4/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Area code785
Congressional district2nd
WebsiteDpCountyKS.com

History

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19th century

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18608,083—
187013,96972.8%
188014,2572.1%
189013,535−5.1%
190015,07911.4%
191014,422−4.4%
192013,438−6.8%
193014,0634.7%
194012,936−8.0%
195010,499−18.8%
19609,574−8.8%
19709,107−4.9%
19809,2681.8%
19908,134−12.2%
20008,2491.4%
20107,945−3.7%
20207,510−5.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
1790-1960[6] 1900-1990[7]
1990-2000[8] 2010-2020[1]
 
Population pyramid

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

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County

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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

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Presidential election results
Presidential election results[9]
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

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Although the Kansas Constitution was changed in 1986 to allow the sale of alcohol, Doniphan County remained a "dry" county until 2012.[11]

Education

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Unified school districts

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Colleges and universities

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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

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2005 KDOT Map of Doniphan County (map legend)

Cities

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References

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  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "QuickFacts: Doniphan County, Kansas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ↑ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 107.
  4. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  5. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on April 26, 2015. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
  10. ↑ The New York Times electoral map (Zoom in on Kansas)
  11. ↑ "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

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Other websites

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Doniphan County, Kansas.
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Additional information
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