Dickinson County is a county in Central Kansas. Its county seat and most populous city is Abilene. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 18,402. The county was named in honor of Daniel Dickinson, a U.S. Senator from New York that was a Kansas statehood advocate.
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. 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 1848, after the Mexican–American War, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo with Spain brought into the United States all or part of land for ten future states, including southwest Kansas. In 1854, the Kansas Territory was organized, then in 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state.
19th century
In 1857, Dickinson County was founded.
The first railroad in Dickinson County was built through that territory in 1866.
In 1887, Mr. Herington got the Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway to build through Herington. He gave the land and right-of-way for Herington to become a division point with shops, two round houses, freight house, bridge yards, telegraph office and many other buildings. He furnished the limestone for the freight house, and for a two-story depot that was and later enlarged to .Herington History
In 1887, the Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway built a main line from Topeka to Herington. This main line connected Topeka, Valencia, Willard, Maple Hill, Vera, Paxico, McFarland, Alma, Volland, Alta Vista, Dwight, White City, Latimer, Herington.
In 1887, the Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway extended its main line from Herington to Pratt. This main line connected Herington, Ramona, Tampa, Durham, Waldeck, Canton, Galva, McPherson, Groveland, Inman, Medora, Hutchinson, Whiteside, Partridge, Arlington, Langdon, Turon, Preston, Natrona, Pratt. In 1888, this main line was extended to Liberal. Later, this line was extended to Tucumcari, New Mexico and El Paso, Texas. This line is called the "Golden State Limited".
In 1887, the Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway built a branch line north–south from Herington to Caldwell. This branch line connected Herington, Lost Springs, Lincolnville, Antelope, Marion, Aulne, Peabody, Elbing, Whitewater, Furley, Kechi, Wichita, Peck, Corbin, Wellington, Caldwell. By 1893, this branch line was incrementally built to Fort Worth, Texas. This line is called the "OKT".
The Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway was foreclosed in 1891 and was taken over by Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway, which shut down in 1980 and reorganized as Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas Railroad, merged in 1988 with Missouri Pacific Railroad, merged in 1997 with Union Pacific Railroad. Most locals still refer to this railroad as the "Rock Island".
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".
21st century In 2010, the Keystone-Cushing Pipeline (Phase II) was constructed north to south through Dickinson County, with much controversy over tax exemption and environmental concerns.Keystone Pipeline - Marion County Commission calls out Legislative Leadership on Pipeline Deal; April 18, 2010. Keystone Pipeline - TransCanada inspecting pipeline; December 10, 2010. A pumping station named Hope was built along the pipeline.
Geography According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of , of which is land and (0.6%) is water.
Adjacent counties Clay County (north) Geary County (east) Morris County (southeast) Marion County (south) McPherson County (southwest) Saline County (west) Ottawa County (northwest)
Demographics
Racial and ethnic composition +Dickinson 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)19,68818,37418,40618,31216,45197.59%96.92%95.15%92.70%89.40%Black or African American alone (NH)721221011391050.36%0.64%0.52%0.70%0.57%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)34638582740.17%0.33%0.44%0.42%0.40%Asian alone (NH)43545859740.21%0.28%0.30%0.30%0.40%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 Census21120xx0.01%0.06%0.11%Other race alone (NH)1241017680.06%0.02%0.05%0.09%0.37%Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)x not an option in the 1980 Censusx not an option in the 1990 Census237365705xx1.23%1.85%3.83%Hispanic or Latino (any race)3263414457699051.62%1.80%2.30%3.89%4.92%Total20,17518,95819,34419,75418,402 100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%
2020 census As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 18,402, the median age was 43.5 years, 23.4% of residents were under the age of 18, and 21.1% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 98.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 96.9 males age 18 and over. 35.9% of residents lived in urban areas, while 64.1% lived in rural areas.
The racial makeup of the county was 91.4% White, 0.6% Black or African American, 0.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.3% from some other race, and 5.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 4.9% of the population.
There were 7,644 households in the county, of which 28.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 23.4% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 30.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 8,778 housing units, of which 12.9% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 72.7% were owner-occupied and 27.3% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.3% and the rental vacancy rate was 13.2%.
2000 census As of the 2000 census, there were 19,344 people, 7,903 households, and 5,421 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 8,686 housing units at an average density of . The county's racial makeup was 96.44% White, 0.58% Black or African American, 0.49% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.82% from other races, and 1.36% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.30% of the population.
There were 7,903 households, of which 31.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.90% were married couples living together, 7.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.40% were non-families. 28.10% of households were made up of individuals, and 14.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.70% under the age of 18, 6.30% from 18 to 24, 26.30% from 25 to 44, 23.10% from 45 to 64, and 18.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 95.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.60 males.
The county's median household income was $35,975, and the median family income was $43,952. Males had a median income of $30,889 versus $18,526 for females. The per capita income in the county was $17,780. About 5.30% of families and 7.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.70% of those under age 18 and 11.30% of those age 65 or over.
Government
Presidential elections
Laws Dickinson County was a prohibition, or "dry", county until the Kansas Constitution was amended in 1986 and voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with a 30% food sales requirement.
Education
Unified school districts School districts covering the county include: - Text list Solomon USD 393 Abilene USD 435 Chapman USD 473 Herington USD 487
School district office in neighboring county Centre USD 397 Rural Vista USD 481 Southeast of Saline USD 306
Communities
List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Dickinson County.
Cities ‡ means a community has portions in an adjacent county.
Abilene (county seat) Carlton Chapman Enterprise Herington‡ Hope Manchester Solomon‡ Woodbine
Unincorporated communities † means a community is designated a Census-Designated Place (CDP) by the United States Census Bureau.
Acme Bonaccord Buckeye Dayton Detroit† Dillon Donegal Elmo Holland Industry‡ Lyona Manchester Moonlight Navarre† Pearl Rhinehardt Shady Brook Stitt Stoney Sutphen Talmage† Upland
Townships Dickinson County is divided into twenty-four townships. The cities of Abilene and Herington are considered governmentally independent and are excluded from the census figures for the townships. 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 Banner 03975 148 2 (4) 92 (35) 1 (0) 0.62% Buckeye 08925 437 5 (12) 94 (36) 0 (0) 0.15% Center 11675 1,210 13 (34) 92 (35) 2 (1) 2.16% Cheever 12700 149 2 (4) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0.04% Flora 23550 217 2 (6) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0.08% Fragrant Hill 24250 251 3 (8) 77 (30) 0 (0) 0.21% Garfield 25550 189 2 (5) 94 (36) 0 (0) 0.06% Grant 27625 918 11 (29) 82 (32) 1 (1) 1.58% Hayes 30900 233 3 (8) 78 (30) 0 (0) 0.04% Holland 32625 107 1 (3) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0.17% Hope 33100 519 6 (15) 92 (35) 0 (0) 0.45% Jefferson 35175 166 2 (5) 94 (36) 0 (0) 0.46% Liberty 40000 405 4 (9) 114 (44) 0 (0) 0.11% Lincoln 40625 1,669 18 (46) 93 (36) 2 (1) 1.99% Logan 41850 202 2 (6) 94 (36) 0 (0) 0.23% Lyon 43475 252 3 (8) 86 (33) 1 (0) 0.98% Newbern 50225 349 4 (10) 94 (36) 0 (0) 0.14% Noble 50800 1,730 21 (55) 81 (31) 1 (0) 1.29% Ridge 59800 160 2 (4) 94 (36) 0 (0) 0.43% Rinehart 59900 194 2 (5) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0.40% Sherman 64925 147 2 (5) 78 (30) 0 (0) 0% Union 72100 176 2 (5) 94 (36) 0 (0) 0.20% Wheatland 77625 152 2 (4) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0.18% Willowdale 79450 258 3 (7) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0.05% Sources:
Points of interest The Eisenhower Library is in Abilene. In addition to exhibits relating to the life and presidency of the 34th US president, the site is also the location of the tombs of President Eisenhower, First Lady Mamie Eisenhower, and their son who died in infancy.
Notable people