Russell County, Kansas

Infobox U.S. County
county=Russell County
state=Kansas

---

founded=February 26, 1867
seat=Russell
area_total_km2=2328|area_total_sq_mi=899
area_land_km2=2291|area_land_sq_mi=885
area_water_km2=37|area_water_sq_mi=14
area percentage=1.59%
census estimate yr=2005
pop=6845
density_km2=3.0|density_sq_mi=7.7
time zone=Central
UTC offset=-6
DST offset=-5
web=www.russell.kansasgov.com
named for=Alva P. Russell

Russell County (standard abbreviation: RS) is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of 2000, the population is 7,370. The largest city and county seat is Russell.

Law and government

Russell 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. [Cite web| url=http://www.ksrevenue.org/abcwetdrymap.htm| title=Map of Wet and Dry Counties| publisher=Alcoholic Beverage Control, Kansas Department of Revenue| month=November | year=2006| accessdate=2007-12-28]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 899 square miles (2,328 km²), of which, 885 square miles (2,291 km²) of it is land and 14 square miles (37 km²) of it (1.59%) is water.

Adjacent counties

*Osborne County (north)
*Lincoln County (east)
*Ellsworth County (southeast)
*Barton County (south)
*Rush County (southwest)
*Ellis County (west)

Highways

The city of Russell is the junction of Interstate 70, a major east-west highway through the Midwestern United States, and US Highway 281, which begins at the United States-Canadian border in North Dakota and ends at the U.S.-Mexican border in Texas. I-70 also runs through Gorham on the western end of the county and Dorrance on the eastern end. Hays is 30 miles west of Russell and Salina is 67 miles east of Russell.

Further along I-70, Russell is approximately 250 miles west of Kansas City, Missouri and 360 miles east of Denver, Colorado.

Kansas Highway 18, a major east-west state highway in northern Kansas, enters from Osborne County to the west and runs through Paradise before joining up with US 281 through Waldo. US 281 and K-18 split again at the city limits of Luray, and K-18 continues east through Lucas and into Lincoln County. US 281 heads north into Osborne County.

South of I-70, US 281 heads into Barton County and towards the city of Great Bend.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 7,370 people, 3,207 households, and 2,020 families residing in the county. The population density was 8 people per square mile (3/km²). There were 3,871 housing units at an average density of 4 per square mile (2/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.58% White, 0.50% Black or African American, 0.56% Native American, 0.33% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.27% from other races, and 0.75% from two or more races. 0.91% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,207 households out of which 25.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.40% were married couples living together, 7.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.00% were non-families. 32.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.83.

In the county the population was spread out with 22.40% under the age of 18, 5.80% from 18 to 24, 23.30% from 25 to 44, 24.30% from 45 to 64, and 24.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 92.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,284, and the median income for a family was $40,355. Males had a median income of $25,916 versus $17,957 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,073. About 9.10% of families and 12.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.80% of those under age 18 and 8.50% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

Incorporated cities

Name and population (2004 estimate):
*Russell, 4,431 (county seat)
*Lucas, 427
*Gorham, 339
*Dorrance, 194
*Luray, 191
*Bunker Hill, 97
*Paradise, 63
*Waldo, 47

Townships

Russell County is divided into twelve townships. The city of Russell is considered "governmentally independent" and is 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.

Education

Unified school districts

* Natoma/Paradise/Waldo USD 399 [http://www.usd399.com Web site]
* Russell USD 407 [http://www.usd407.org Web site]

Claims to Fame

Russell, the county seat, was the home of former U.S. Senate Majority leader and 1996 GOP presidential nominee Robert Dole for many years. It was also the boyhood home of U.S. Senator Arlen Spector of Pennsylvania, who was born in Wichita.

ee also

References

External links

The [http://www.russellfair.org/ Russell County Fair] is located in Russell, KS, just off Interstate 70. Held the first week of August, the fair includes carnival rides, free entertainment stage, displays, and livestock shows. http://www.russellfair.org
* [http://www.russellksonline.com/ Russell Kansas Online] - Online community directory and business search engine. http://www.russellksonline.com