Ford County, Kansas

Ford County (county code FO) is a county in the U.S. state of Kansas. In 2020, 34,287 people lived there. Its county seat is Dodge City. Dodge City is also the biggest city in Ford County. The county is named after Colonel James Hobart Ford.

Ford County
County
Ford County Courthouse in Dodge City (2009)
Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
Kansas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°42′N 99°54′W
Country	United States
State	Kansas
Founded	February 26, 1867
Named for	James Ford
Seat	Dodge City
Largest city	Dodge City
Area
• Total	1,099 sq mi (2,850 km2)
• Land	1,098 sq mi (2,840 km2)
• Water	0.8 sq mi (2 km2)  0.07%
Population  (2020)
• Total	34,287
• Density	31.2/sq mi (12.0/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	1st
Website	fordcounty.net

Geography

The U.S. Census Bureau says that the county has a total area of 1,099 square miles (2,850 km²). Of that, 1,098 square miles (2,840 km²) is land and 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²) (0.07%) is water.

People

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1870	427		—
1880	3,122		631.1%
1890	5,308		70.0%
1900	5,497		3.6%
1910	11,393		107.3%
1920	14,273		25.3%
1930	20,647		44.7%
1940	17,254		−16.4%
1950	19,670		14.0%
1960	20,938		6.4%
1970	22,587		7.9%
1980	24,315		7.7%
1990	27,463		12.9%
2000	32,458		18.2%
2010	33,848		4.3%
2020	34,297		1.3%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2020

Population pyramid

The Dodge City Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Ford County.

The 2020 census says that there were 34,287 people. These people made up households. 50.1% of the people were White, 2.9% were Black or African American, 2.2% Native American, 1.2% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 24.5% from other races, and 19.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 57.4% of the population.

Government

Presidential elections

Ford County has been strongly Republican for most of its history, especially in recent elections. Only eight Democratic presidential candidates from 1888 to the present day have won the county. The most recent winner being Jimmy Carter in 1976.

Presidential election results

Presidential election results

Year	Republican	Democratic	Third Parties
2020	65.1% 5,803	33.1% 2,947	1.9% 165
2016	65.8% 5,114	27.6% 2,149	6.6% 511
2012	67.0% 5,602	31.1% 2,600	1.9% 160
2008	64.6% 5,730	33.7% 2,991	1.6% 143
2004	73.6% 6,632	25.4% 2,286	1.1% 98
2000	67.9% 6,050	28.8% 2,566	3.4% 301
1996	61.3% 5,681	28.4% 2,628	10.3% 958
1992	41.9% 4,342	25.4% 2,635	32.6% 3,379
1988	58.6% 5,685	39.4% 3,817	2.0% 195
1984	69.7% 6,935	29.3% 2,914	1.0% 98
1980	58.9% 5,686	33.1% 3,194	8.1% 781
1976	47.6% 4,679	50.2% 4,934	2.2% 214
1972	67.1% 6,232	30.2% 2,804	2.7% 249
1968	52.8% 4,645	36.3% 3,191	10.9% 961
1964	39.7% 3,481	59.6% 5,221	0.7% 59
1960	57.7% 5,200	42.1% 3,792	0.3% 25
1956	66.8% 5,561	32.6% 2,710	0.6% 49
1952	69.0% 6,359	29.8% 2,748	1.2% 114
1948	47.2% 4,089	50.8% 4,396	2.0% 177
1944	57.2% 4,110	41.7% 2,994	1.1% 77
1940	52.0% 4,356	47.2% 3,954	0.9% 72
1936	38.7% 3,378	61.1% 5,335	0.2% 17
1932	41.6% 3,335	55.4% 4,442	3.0% 238
1928	71.6% 4,893	27.4% 1,870	1.1% 72
1924	58.0% 3,449	26.1% 1,551	15.9% 948
1920	61.9% 3,305	35.2% 1,879	2.9% 155
1916	40.3% 2,337	52.5% 3,044	7.2% 420
1912	19.2% 529	40.8% 1,125	40.0% 1,104
1908	53.3% 1,333	43.5% 1,089	3.2% 80
1904	64.8% 1,148	29.7% 526	5.5% 98
1900	50.5% 653	47.1% 610	2.4% 31
1896	45.8% 555	53.0% 643	1.2% 15
1892	53.4% 648		46.6% 565
1888	52.5% 882	37.5% 630	10.1% 169

Laws

Railroad crew works on the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe tracks near Bellefont, 1974. Photo by Charles O'Rear.

Ford County was a prohibition, or "dry", county until the Kansas Constitution was changed in 1986. The changed allowed liquor to be sold.