Atchison County, Kansas

Infobox U.S. County
county=Atchison County
state=Kansas
founded=August 25, 1855
seat wl=Atchison
area_total_km2=1127|area_total_sq_mi=435
area_land_km2=1120|area_land_sq_mi=432
area_water_km2=7|area_water_sq_mi=3
area percentage=0.62%
census estimate yr=LookupUSEstPop|20005|EYR
pop=LookupUSEstPop|20005|EST
density_km2=15.0|density_sq_mi=38.8
time zone=Central
UTC offset=-6
DST offset=-5
web=www.atchisoncountyks.org
named for= David Rice Atchison

Atchison County (county code AT) is a county located in Northeast Kansas, in the Central United States. The population was estimated to be LookupUSEstPop|20005|EST in the year LookupUSEstPop|20005|EYR. Its county seat and most populous city is Atchison.GR|6 The county is named in honor of David Rice Atchison, a United States Senator from Missouri.

The Atchison Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Atchison County.

Law and government

Atchison 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=2004| accessdate=2007-01-21]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 435 square miles (1,127 km²), of which 432 square miles (1,120 km²) is land and 3 square miles (7 km²), or 0.62%, is water.GR|2

On July 4, 1804, to mark Independence Day, the Lewis and Clark Expedition named Independence Creek (River) located near the city of Atchison (see Timeline of the Lewis and Clark Expedition).

Adjacent counties

* Buchanan County, Missouri (northeast)
* Doniphan County (northeast)
* Leavenworth County (southeast)
* Platte County, Missouri (southeast)
* Jefferson County (south)
* Jackson County (west)
* Brown County (northwest)

Major highways

Sources: National Atlas [ [http://www.nationalatlas.gov/ National Atlas] ] , U.S. Census Bureau [ [http://www.census.gov/geo/www/tiger U.S. Census Bureau TIGER shape files] ]
* U.S. Route 59
* U.S. Route 73
* U.S. Route 159
* Kansas Highway 7
* Kansas Highway 9
* Kansas Highway 116

Demographics

Atchison County's population was estimated to be LookupUSEstPop|20005|EST in the year LookupUSEstPop|20005|EYR, LookupUSEstPop|20005|TXT.Cite web| url=http://www.census.gov/popest/estimates.php| title=Population Estimates| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division| Annual estimates of the population to 20005|EDT. Released 20005|RDT. Population change is from 20005|IDT to 20005|EDT.]

As of the U.S. Census in 2000,GR|2 there were 16,774 people, 6,275 households, and 4,279 families residing in the county. The population density was 39 people per square mile (15/km²). There were 6,818 housing units at an average density of 16 per square mile (6/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 91.62% White, 5.32% Black or African American, 0.55% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.51% from other races, and 1.59% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.95% of the population.

There were 6,275 households out of which 32.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.30% were married couples living together, 10.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.80% were non-families. 27.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the county the population was spread out with 26.70% under the age of 18, 11.30% from 18 to 24, 24.50% from 25 to 44, 21.40% from 45 to 64, and 16.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 93.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,355, and the median income for a family was $40,614. Males had a median income of $29,481 versus $20,485 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,207. About 7.90% of families and 13.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.80% of those under age 18 and 17.90% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

Incorporated cities

Name and population (LookupUSEstPop|2002900|EYR estimate):Cite web| url=http://www.census.gov/popest/estimates.php| title=Population Estimates| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division| Annual estimates of the population to 2002900|EDT. Released 2002900|RDT.]
*Atchison, LookupUSEstPop|2002900|EST (county seat)
*Effingham, LookupUSEstPop|2020025|EST
*Lancaster, LookupUSEstPop|2038325|EST
*Muscotah, LookupUSEstPop|2049325|EST
*Huron, LookupUSEstPop|2033575|EST

Unincorporated places

*Arlington
*Cummings
*Eden
*Farmington
*Good Intent
*Kennekuk
*Larkinburg
*Monrovia
*Oak Mills
*Parnell
*Potter
*St. Pats
*Shannon

Townships

Atchison County is divided into eight townships. The city of Atchison 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

* Atchison County Community USD 377 ( [http://www.usd377.org/ Web site] )
* Atchison USD 409 ( [http://www.usd409.net/ Web site] )

ee also

References

External links

Official sites
* [http://www.atchisoncountyks.org/ Atchison County]
* [http://www.atchisonhistory.org/ Atchison County Historical Society]

Additional information
* [http://skyways.lib.ks.us/counties/AT/ Blue Skyways - Atchison County]
* [http://www.ku.edu/pri/ksdata/county.shtml Kansas Statistical Abstract]