Jewell County, Kansas

Jewell County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat and most populous city is Mankato. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 2,932. The county was named for Lewis Jewell, a lieutenant colonel of the 6th Regiment Kansas Volunteer Cavalry.

History

Early history

For many millennia, the Great Plains of North America was inhabited by nomadic Native Americans. From the 16th century to 18th century, the Kingdom of France claimed ownership of large parts of North America. In 1762, after the French and Indian War, France secretly ceded New France to Spain, per the Treaty of Fontainebleau.

19th century In 1802, Spain returned most of the land to France, but keeping title to about 7,500 square miles. In 1803, most of the land for modern day Kansas was acquired by the United States from France as part of the 828,000 square mile Louisiana Purchase for 2.83 cents per acre.

In 1854, the Kansas Territory was organized, then in 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state. In 1887, Jewell County was established and named for Lieutenant Colonel Lewis R. Jewell of the 6th Regiment Kansas Volunteer Cavalry who died from wounds received in the Battle of Cane Hill. The county lies on the historic Pawnee road, which was crossed by the Pike Expedition in 1806. The first attempt at settlement was made by William Harshberger and his wife on White Rock Creek in 1862, but they were soon driven out by hostile Indian tribes. Subsequent settlement efforts along White Rock Creek in 1866 and 1867 were again subjected to Cheyenne raids in which many settlers were killed, after which the survivors evacuated the county. The Excelsior colony from New York attempted to settle in 1869 but was driven out by June. Despite these dangers, more settlers arrived later that year and into 1870. The first marriage was recorded in the county in 1871.

In response to the persistent threat of Indian raids, settlers formed the "Buffalo Militia" in May 1870 to protect against an anticipated Cheyenne attack. They constructed a fort at what is now Jewell City, which they held until relieved by the Third U.S. Mounted Artillery the following month. After this, there were no further attacks from hostile tribes. The county's formal organization began with the appointment of county commissioners in July 1870, followed by an election in September to establish county officials and choose Jewell City as the county seat.

In 1887, Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway built a branch line from Neva (3 miles west of Strong City) to Superior, Nebraska. This branch line connected Strong City, Neva, Rockland, Diamond Springs, Burdick, Lost Springs, Jacobs, Hope, Navarre, Enterprise, Abilene, Talmage, Manchester, Longford, Oak Hill, Miltonvale, Aurora, Huscher, Concordia, Kackley, Courtland, Webber, Superior. At some point, the line from Neva to Lost Springs was pulled but the right of way has not been abandoned. This branch line was originally called "Strong City and Superior line" but later the name was shortened to the "Strong City line". In 1996, the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway merged with Burlington Northern Railroad and renamed to the current BNSF Railway. Most locals still refer to this railroad as the "Santa Fe".

Geography According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (0.5%) is water.

Adjacent counties Nuckolls County, Nebraska (northeast) Republic County (east) Cloud County (southeast) Mitchell County (south) Osborne County (southwest) Smith County (west) Webster County, Nebraska (northwest)

Demographics

Racial and ethnic composition +Jewell County, Kansas – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 1980 Pop 1990Pop 2000Pop 2010 Pop 2020% 1980% 1990% 2000% 2010% 2020White alone (NH)5,2154,2273,7232,9592,74399.50%99.44%98.21%96.17%93.55%Black or African American alone (NH)401440.08%0.00%0.03%0.13%0.14%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)11121317100.21%0.28%0.34%0.55%0.34%Asian alone (NH)4426100.08%0.09%0.05%0.19%0.34%Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)x included in the Asian category in the 1980 Censusx included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census100xx0.03%0.00%0.00%Other race alone (NH)400280.08%0.00%0.00%0.06%0.27%Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)x not an option in the 1980 Censusx not an option in the 1990 Census242695xx0.63%0.84%3.24%Hispanic or Latino (any race)382763620.06%0.19%0.71%2.05%2.11%Total5,2414,2513,7913,0772,932 100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 2,932. The median age was 49.9 years, 21.3% of residents were under the age of 18, and 28.4% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 106.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 106.2 males age 18 and over. All residents lived in rural areas while 0.0% resided in urban areas.

The racial makeup of the county was 94.0% White, 0.2% Black or African American, 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.6% from some other race, and 4.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.1% of the population.

There were 1,346 households in the county, of which 22.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 20.2% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 35.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 1,763 housing units, of which 23.7% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 79.9% were owner-occupied and 20.1% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 12.8%.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 3,791 people, 1,695 households, and 1,098 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 2,103 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 98.79% White, 0.34% Native American, 0.05% Asian, 0.03% Black or African American, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.05% from other races, and 0.71% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.71% of the population.

There were 1,695 households, out of which 23.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.10% were married couples living together, 4.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.20% were non-families. 32.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.80.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 21.90% under the age of 18, 4.40% from 18 to 24, 21.50% from 25 to 44, 26.20% from 45 to 64, and 25.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 97.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,538, and the median income for a family was $36,953. Males had a median income of $24,821 versus $18,170 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,644. About 8.40% of families and 11.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.80% of those under age 18 and 10.90% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Presidential elections

Like all of Kansas outside the eastern cities, Jewell County is overwhelmingly Republican. The only Democratic presidential candidates to win a majority in the county have been Woodrow Wilson in 1916 and William Jennings Bryan in 1896, and the last Democrat to win a plurality was Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1932. Since 1940 only Lyndon Johnson in 1964 and Jimmy Carter in 1976 have exceeded 31 percent of the county's vote, a devotion to the GOP comparable to famous Appalachia Unionist strongholds like Avery County, North Carolina, or Grant County, West Virginia.

Laws Although the Kansas Constitution was amended in 1986 to allow the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with the approval of voters, Jewell County restaurants serve only 3.2 beer and no hard alcohol.

Education Unified school districts Rock Hills USD 107

Communities

List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Jewell County.

Cities

Burr Oak Esbon Formoso Jewell Mankato (county seat) Randall Webber

Unincorporated communities † means a community is designated a Census-Designated Place (CDP) by the United States Census Bureau.

Ionia† Lovewell Montrose North Branch Otego

Ghost towns Dentonia Salem

Townships Jewell County is divided into twenty-five townships. None of the cities within the county are considered governmentally independent, and all figures for the townships include those of the cities. 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.

Township FIPS Populationcenter Population Populationdensity/km2 (/sq mi) Land areakm2 (sq mi) Water areakm2 (sq mi) Water % Geographic coordinates Allen 01225 43 0 (1) 90 (35) 0 (0) 0.02% Athens 02975 74 1 (2) 102 (39) 0 (0) 0% Browns Creek 08725 64 1 (2) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0.02% Buffalo 09125 574 5 (14) 105 (41) 0 (0) 0.07% Burr Oak 09550 338 3 (9) 102 (39) 0 (0) 0% Calvin 10075 65 1 (2) 81 (31) 0 (0) 0.04% Center 11750 1,100 12 (31) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0.07% Erving 21575 60 1 (2) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0.08% Esbon 21625 222 2 (6) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0.08% Grant 27725 220 2 (6) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0% Harrison 30350 52 1 (1) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0% Highland 31900 49 1 (1) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0.03% Holmwood 32800 49 1 (1) 92 (36) 0 (0) 0.05% Ionia 34375 100 1 (3) 102 (39) 0 (0) 0.11% Jackson 34800 123 1 (3) 92 (35) 1 (0) 0.90% Limestone 40450 49 0 (1) 102 (39) 0 (0) 0.02% Montana 47800 93 1 (3) 94 (36) 0 (0) 0.14% Odessa 52125 34 0 (1) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0.02% Prairie 57400 172 2 (5) 96 (37) 0 (0) 0.02% Richland 59375 36 0 (1) 83 (32) 9 (4) 10.13% Sinclair 65675 67 1 (2) 89 (34) 3 (1) 2.81% Vicksburg 73725 28 0 (1) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0% Walnut 75000 80 1 (2) 102 (39) 0 (0) 0.07% Washington 75650 50 1 (1) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0% White Mound 77925 49 1 (1) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0.12% Sources:

Jewell County, Kansas

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