Jewell County, Kansas
Jewell County | |
---|---|
UTC−5 (CDT) | |
Area code | 785 |
Congressional district | 1st |
Website | jewellcountykansas.net |

Jewell County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat and most populous city is Mankato.[3] As of the 2020 census, the county population was 2,932.[1] The county was named for Lewis Jewell, a lieutenant colonel of the 6th Regiment Kansas Volunteer Cavalry.
History
Early history
For many
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
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.[5]
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
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

Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1870 | 207 | — | |
1880 | 17,475 | 8,342.0% | |
1890 | 19,349 | 10.7% | |
1900 | 19,420 | 0.4% | |
1910 | 18,148 | −6.5% | |
1920 | 16,240 | −10.5% | |
1930 | 14,462 | −10.9% | |
1940 | 11,970 | −17.2% | |
1950 | 9,698 | −19.0% | |
1960 | 7,217 | −25.6% | |
1970 | 6,099 | −15.5% | |
1980 | 5,241 | −14.1% | |
1990 | 4,251 | −18.9% | |
2000 | 3,791 | −10.8% | |
2010 | 3,077 | −18.8% | |
2020 | 2,932 | −4.7% | |
2023 (est.) | 2,847 | [7] | −2.9% |
U.S. Decennial Census[8] 1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10] 1990-2000[11] 2010-2020[1] |
As of the
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
Government
Presidential elections
Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
2024 | 1,370 | 86.87% | 176 | 11.16% | 31 | 1.97% |
2020 | 1,387 | 85.20% | 212 | 13.02% | 29 | 1.78% |
2016 | 1,223 | 81.86% | 180 | 12.05% | 91 | 6.09% |
2012 | 1,235 | 82.50% | 229 | 15.30% | 33 | 2.20% |
2008 | 1,231 | 77.71% | 313 | 19.76% | 40 | 2.53% |
2004 | 1,495 | 78.07% | 385 | 20.10% | 35 | 1.83% |
2000 | 1,400 | 74.59% | 380 | 20.25% | 97 | 5.17% |
1996 | 1,374 | 69.01% | 417 | 20.94% | 200 | 10.05% |
1992 | 1,050 | 45.65% | 546 | 23.74% | 704 | 30.61% |
1988 | 1,546 | 67.99% | 684 | 30.08% | 44 | 1.93% |
1984 | 1,992 | 76.50% | 583 | 22.39% | 29 | 1.11% |
1980 | 2,074 | 72.80% | 578 | 20.29% | 197 | 6.91% |
1976 | 1,592 | 57.47% | 1,111 | 40.11% | 67 | 2.42% |
1972 | 2,242 | 74.04% | 716 | 23.65% | 70 | 2.31% |
1968 | 2,172 | 66.18% | 842 | 25.66% | 268 | 8.17% |
1964 | 1,895 | 53.61% | 1,601 | 45.29% | 39 | 1.10% |
1960 | 2,914 | 72.25% | 1,095 | 27.15% | 24 | 0.60% |
1956 | 3,395 | 75.51% | 1,034 | 23.00% | 67 | 1.49% |
1952 | 4,162 | 80.86% | 885 | 17.19% | 100 | 1.94% |
1948 | 3,143 | 63.18% | 1,574 | 31.64% | 258 | 5.19% |
1944 | 3,754 | 74.20% | 1,216 | 24.04% | 89 | 1.76% |
1940 | 4,591 | 71.57% | 1,719 | 26.80% | 105 | 1.64% |
1936 | 3,849 | 57.76% | 2,780 | 41.72% | 35 | 0.53% |
1932 | 3,324 | 48.20% | 3,367 | 48.83% | 205 | 2.97% |
1928 | 4,583 | 76.90% | 1,289 | 21.63% | 88 | 1.48% |
1924 | 4,342 | 64.83% | 1,861 | 27.78% | 495 | 7.39% |
1920 | 3,925 | 65.97% | 1,899 | 31.92% | 126 | 2.12% |
1916 | 3,022 | 39.84% | 4,180 | 55.11% | 383 | 5.05% |
1912 | 906 | 20.51% | 1,871 | 42.36% | 1,640 | 37.13% |
1908 | 2,410 | 53.48% | 1,932 | 42.88% | 164 | 3.64% |
1904 | 2,720 | 68.09% | 927 | 23.20% | 348 | 8.71% |
1900 | 2,448 | 51.96% | 2,192 | 46.53% | 71 | 1.51% |
1896 | 1,902 | 44.41% | 2,342 | 54.68% | 39 | 0.91% |
1892 | 1,963 | 45.59% | 0 | 0.00% | 2,343 | 54.41% |
1888 | 2,285 | 54.81% | 999 | 23.96% | 885 | 21.23% |
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
Laws
Although the
Education
Unified school districts
Communities

List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Jewell County.[16]
Cities
Unincorporated communities
† means a community is designated a Census-Designated Place (CDP) by the United States Census Bureau.
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.
See also
- Dry counties
- Community information for Kansas
- Kansas locations by per capita income
- List of counties in Kansas
- List of townships in Kansas
- List of cities in Kansas
- List of unincorporated communities in Kansas
- List of ghost towns in Kansas
References
- ^ a b c "QuickFacts; Jewell County, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 17, 2021. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
- ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 169.
- ^ a b c Blackmar, Frank Wilson (1912). Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, Embracing Events, Institutions, Industries, Counties, Cities, Towns, Prominent Persons, Etc. ... with a Supplementary Volume Devoted to Selected Personal History and Reminiscence. Standard publishing Company.
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
- ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
- ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
- ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
- ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
- ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ^ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
- ^ "Map of Wet and Dry Counties". Alcoholic Beverage Control, Kansas Department of Revenue. November 2004. Archived from the original on October 8, 2007. Retrieved January 21, 2007.
- ^ "Kansas Liquor by the Drink Map (Wet and Dry Counties)" (PDF). Kansas Department of Revenue - Alcoholic Beverage Control. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 29, 2017.
- ^ a b "General Highway Map of Jewell County, Kansas" (PDF). Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT). December 2011. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 25, 2023.
Further reading
- Atlas and Plat Book of Jewell County, Kansas; Kenyon Co; 27 pages; 1921.
- Standard Atlas of Jewell County, Kansas; Geo. A. Ogle & Co; 59 pages; 1908.
- Atlas of Jewell County, Kansas; Gillen & Davy; 52 pages; 1884.
External links
- County
- Jewell County - Official Website
- Jewell County - Directory of Public Officials
- Jewell County - Community Development Association
- Historical
- Maps