Republic County, Kansas

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

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founded=February 27, 1860
seat=Belleville
area_total_km2=1866|area_total_sq_mi=720
area_land_km2=1855|area_land_sq_mi=716
area_water_km2=10|area_water_sq_mi=4
area percentage=0.55%
census estimate yr=2005
pop=5164
density_km2=2.8|density_sq_mi=7.2
time zone=Central
UTC offset=-6
DST offset=-5|

Republic County (standard abbreviation: RP) is a county located in the state of Kansas. As of 2000, the population is 5,835. The largest city and county seat is Belleville.

Law and government

Republic 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 720 square miles (1,866 km²), of which, 716 square miles (1,855 km²) of it is land and 4 square miles (10 km²) of it (0.55%) is water.

Adjacent counties

*Thayer County, Nebraska (north)
*Jefferson County, Nebraska (northeast)
*Washington County (east)
*Cloud County (south)
*Jewell County (west)
*Nuckolls County, Nebraska (northwest)

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 5,835 people, 2,557 households, and 1,685 families residing in the county. The population density was 8 people per square mile (3/km²). There were 3,113 housing units at an average density of 4 per square mile (2/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.56% White, 0.26% Black or African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.33% from other races, and 0.46% from two or more races. 0.94% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,557 households out of which 25.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.80% were married couples living together, 4.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.10% were non-families. 31.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.00% 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 2.80.

In the county the population was spread out with 22.30% under the age of 18, 4.50% from 18 to 24, 22.10% from 25 to 44, 25.00% from 45 to 64, and 26.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 93.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,494, and the median income for a family was $39,215. Males had a median income of $25,260 versus $17,274 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,433. About 6.00% of families and 9.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.40% of those under age 18 and 8.90% of those age 65 or over.

Republic County was first settled around 1860 by Daniel and Conrad Myers. The territory was principally inhabited by Pawnees, Iowas, and Otoes who greeted the incoming settlers - mostly farmers - peaceably. By 1868, Republic County was holding elections.

During the late 1800s, Belleville became the urban center for the immigrants that were attracted to the surrounding areas, most notably from Sweden and Bohemia (now Czech Republic).

Cities and towns

Incorporated cities

Name and population (2004 estimate):
*Belleville, 1,984 (county seat)
*Scandia, 380
*Courtland, 295
*Cuba, 210
*Republic, 146
*Munden, 111
*Narka, 84
*Agenda, 73

Unincorporated cities

*Kackley
*Norway
*Talmo
*Wayne

Townships

Republic County is divided into twenty townships. The city of Belleville 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

*Pike Valley USD 426
*Republic County USD 109

ee also

References

External links

;Local History and Genealogy:* [http://www.kancoll.org/books/cutler/republic/republic-co-p1.html Cutler's History of Republic County, Kansas] :* [http://skyways.lib.ks.us/genweb/republic/index.html Republic County GenWeb] ;Official websites:* [http://www.nckcn.com/repco/ Republic County Government] :* [http://www.nckcn.com/homepage/repcomuse/home.htm Republic County Historical Society Museum] ;General county information:* [http://skyways.lib.ks.us/counties/RP/ Blue Skyways] ;County Level Data:* [http://www.ku.edu/pri/ksdata/county.shtml Kansas Statistical Abstract]