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Cloud County, Kansas

Coordinates: 39°29′N 97°39′W / 39.483°N 97.650°W / 39.483; -97.650
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Cloud County
County
Cloud County Courthouse in Concordia (2013)
Cloud County Courthouse in Concordia (2013)
Map of Kansas highlighting Cloud County
Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
Map of the United States highlighting Kansas
Kansas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 39°29′N 97°39′W / 39.483°N 97.650°W / 39.483; -97.650
Country United States
State Kansas
FoundedMarch 27, 1867
Named forWilliam F. Cloud
SeatConcordia
Largest cityConcordia
Area
 • Total
718 sq mi (1,860 km2)
 • Land715 sq mi (1,850 km2)
 • Water2.6 sq mi (7 km2)  0.4%
Population
 (2020)[1]
 • Total
9,032
 • Estimate 
(2023)[2]
8,854 Decrease
 • Density12.6/sq mi (4.9/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Area code785
Congressional district1st
Websitecloudcountyks.org

Cloud County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat and most populous city is Concordia.[3] As of the 2020 census, the county population was 9,032.[1] The county was named after William Cloud, an officer in the American Civil War.

History

[edit]
1915 Railroad Map of Cloud County

Early history

[edit]
See also: History of Kansas

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.

19th century

[edit]

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 Kansas Territory was organized, then in 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state. In 1867, Cloud County was established.

Cloud county was originally named Shirley County, but civic leaders feared that sounded too much like the name of a prostitute.[4] It was then renamed "Cloud" county in honor of Colonel William F. Cloud.[5]

Cloud County was formed from the existing Washington County, Kansas in a joint convention with Republic and Cloud counties. The county was legally organized on September 6, 1866, with Elk Creek designated as the temporary county seat.[6]

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

[edit]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 718 square miles (1,860 km2), of which 715 square miles (1,850 km2) is land and 2.6 square miles (6.7 km2) (0.4%) is water.[7]

Geographic features

[edit]

The Republican River passes through the county, entering from Republic County to the north and exiting to Clay County to the east. The Solomon River traverses the southwestern portion of the county, going from Mitchell County to Ottawa County. Jamestown Lake lies partially in the northwestern part of the county and partially in southwestern Republic county.

Major highways

[edit]

Cloud County is bisected from north to south by U.S. Route 81, which runs through the town of Concordia and connects north to Belleville, Kansas or south to Salina, Kansas. The southern part of the county also has U.S. Route 24, connecting Clay Center, Kansas from the east and Beloit, Kansas to the west.

There are four other state highways in the county: K-9, K-28, K-189, and K-194.

Adjacent counties

[edit]

Demographics

[edit]
Population pyramid based on 2000 census age data
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18702,323—
188015,343560.5%
189019,29525.8%
190018,071−6.3%
191018,3881.8%
192017,714−3.7%
193018,0061.6%
194017,247−4.2%
195016,104−6.6%
196014,407−10.5%
197013,466−6.5%
198012,494−7.2%
199011,023−11.8%
200010,268−6.8%
20109,533−7.2%
20209,032−5.3%
2023 (est.)8,854[2]−2.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790–1960[9] 1900–1990[10]
1990–2000[11] 2010–2020[1]

As of the 2000 census,[12] there were 10,268 people, 4,163 households, and 2,697 families residing in the county. The population density was 14 people per square mile (5.4 people/km2). There were 4,838 housing units at an average density of 7 per square mile (2.7/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.30% White, 0.34% Black or African American, 0.25% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.13% from other races, and 0.73% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.60% of the population.

There were 4,163 households, out of which 27.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.10% were married couples living together, 6.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.20% were non-families. 30.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.89.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.40% under the age of 18, 10.40% from 18 to 24, 21.90% from 25 to 44, 22.20% from 45 to 64, and 23.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 90.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,758, and the median income for a family was $39,745. Males had a median income of $27,166 versus $20,114 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,536. About 6.40% of families and 10.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.10% of those under age 18 and 8.70% of those age 65 or over.

Government

[edit]

Presidential elections

[edit]

Cloud County is a Republican stronghold. The last Democrat to carry the county was Jimmy Carter in 1976.

Presidential election results
United States presidential election results for Cloud County, Kansas[13]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 3,166 79.21% 757 18.94% 74 1.85%
2020 3,242 76.05% 920 21.58% 101 2.37%
2016 2,919 73.81% 761 19.24% 275 6.95%
2012 2,954 72.79% 974 24.00% 130 3.20%
2008 3,121 70.12% 1,233 27.70% 97 2.18%
2004 3,221 71.53% 1,210 26.87% 72 1.60%
2000 2,918 64.80% 1,314 29.18% 271 6.02%
1996 2,743 54.66% 1,615 32.18% 660 13.15%
1992 2,131 39.12% 1,720 31.57% 1,597 29.31%
1988 3,043 59.34% 2,022 39.43% 63 1.23%
1984 3,860 66.43% 1,880 32.35% 71 1.22%
1980 3,581 61.56% 1,793 30.82% 443 7.62%
1976 2,954 48.74% 2,976 49.10% 131 2.16%
1972 3,832 66.38% 1,806 31.28% 135 2.34%
1968 3,282 56.17% 2,132 36.49% 429 7.34%
1964 2,680 44.35% 3,314 54.84% 49 0.81%
1960 4,045 60.58% 2,607 39.04% 25 0.37%
1956 4,466 68.61% 2,008 30.85% 35 0.54%
1952 5,580 75.23% 1,793 24.17% 44 0.59%
1948 4,018 56.16% 2,891 40.41% 246 3.44%
1944 4,377 63.67% 2,391 34.78% 107 1.56%
1940 5,275 60.44% 3,327 38.12% 126 1.44%
1936 4,208 47.90% 4,546 51.75% 31 0.35%
1932 3,120 39.94% 4,457 57.05% 235 3.01%
1928 5,286 68.25% 2,376 30.68% 83 1.07%
1924 4,342 62.57% 1,238 17.84% 1,359 19.58%
1920 4,090 69.82% 1,534 26.19% 234 3.99%
1916 2,870 39.92% 3,837 53.37% 483 6.72%
1912 899 21.79% 1,658 40.18% 1,569 38.03%
1908 2,170 52.24% 1,663 40.03% 321 7.73%
1904 2,470 67.56% 626 17.12% 560 15.32%
1900 2,315 51.87% 2,045 45.82% 103 2.31%
1896 1,718 44.13% 2,129 54.69% 46 1.18%
1892 1,915 44.98% 0 0.00% 2,342 55.02%
1888 2,542 59.55% 1,052 24.64% 675 15.81%

Laws

[edit]

Following amendment to the Kansas Constitution in 1986, Cloud County remained a prohibition, or "dry", county until 1998, when voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with a 30 percent food sales requirement.[14]

Education

[edit]

Colleges

[edit]
Historic

Unified school districts

[edit]

Communities

[edit]
2005 map of Cloud County[15] (map legend)

List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Cloud County.[15]

Cities

[edit]

‡ means a community has portions in an adjacent county or counties.

Unincorporated communities

[edit]

† means a community is designated a Census-Designated Place (CDP) by the United States Census Bureau.

Ghost towns

[edit]

Townships

[edit]

Cloud County is divided into eighteen townships. The city of Concordia 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.

Township FIPS Population
center 		Population Population
density
/km2 (/sq mi) 		Land area
km2 (sq mi)		 Water area
km2 (sq mi)		 Water % Geographic coordinates
Arion 02275 105 1 (3) 94 (36) 0 (0) 0.06% 39°28′28″N 97°44′42″W / 39.47444°N 97.74500°W / 39.47444; -97.74500
Aurora 03450 169 2 (5) 94 (36) 0 (0) 0.03% 39°26′27″N 97°32′2″W / 39.44083°N 97.53389°W / 39.44083; -97.53389
Buffalo 09100 119 1 (3) 112 (43) 1 (0) 0.46% 39°35′12″N 97°45′13″W / 39.58667°N 97.75361°W / 39.58667; -97.75361
Center 11625 172 1 (3) 141 (54) 0 (0) 0% 39°26′51″N 97°38′45″W / 39.44750°N 97.64583°W / 39.44750; -97.64583
Colfax 14775 49 1 (1) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0.05% 39°26′6″N 97°25′19″W / 39.43500°N 97.42194°W / 39.43500; -97.42194
Elk 20150 845 12 (30) 72 (28) 1 (0) 1.08% 39°35′51″N 97°24′16″W / 39.59750°N 97.40444°W / 39.59750; -97.40444
Grant 27525 479 5 (14) 92 (35) 2 (1) 1.75% 39°36′6″N 97°52′7″W / 39.60167°N 97.86861°W / 39.60167; -97.86861
Lawrence 38875 146 2 (4) 93 (36) 1 (0) 1.22% 39°36′18″N 97°32′41″W / 39.60500°N 97.54472°W / 39.60500; -97.54472
Lincoln 40525 378 6 (16) 61 (24) 1 (0) 1.21% 39°33′20″N 97°39′5″W / 39.55556°N 97.65139°W / 39.55556; -97.65139
Lyon 43425 103 1 (2) 142 (55) 0 (0) 0.02% 39°22′2″N 97°46′20″W / 39.36722°N 97.77222°W / 39.36722; -97.77222
Meredith 45925 77 1 (2) 94 (36) 0 (0) 0.03% 39°21′1″N 97°38′53″W / 39.35028°N 97.64806°W / 39.35028; -97.64806
Nelson 49600 137 2 (4) 91 (35) 0 (0) 0% 39°30′55″N 97°31′36″W / 39.51528°N 97.52667°W / 39.51528; -97.52667
Oakland 51750 52 1 (1) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0.15% 39°21′44″N 97°31′44″W / 39.36222°N 97.52889°W / 39.36222; -97.52889
Shirley 65375 178 2 (4) 110 (42) 1 (0) 0.60% 39°32′47″N 97°26′5″W / 39.54639°N 97.43472°W / 39.54639; -97.43472
Sibley 65425 178 2 (5) 92 (35) 1 (1) 1.45% 39°36′54″N 97°42′5″W / 39.61500°N 97.70139°W / 39.61500; -97.70139
Solomon 66250 664 5 (12) 141 (54) 0 (0) 0% 39°21′49″N 97°51′34″W / 39.36361°N 97.85944°W / 39.36361; -97.85944
Starr 68050 653 7 (18) 92 (36) 0 (0) 0.21% 39°20′52″N 97°26′42″W / 39.34778°N 97.44500°W / 39.34778; -97.44500
Summit 69050 50 0 (1) 139 (54) 0 (0) 0% 39°30′11″N 97°51′59″W / 39.50306°N 97.86639°W / 39.50306; -97.86639
Sources: "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files". U.S. Census Bureau, Geography Division. Archived from the original on August 2, 2002.

Notable people

[edit]
Frank Carlson was the 30th Governor of Kansas. He called Concordia his home, and the Frank Carlson Library is named in his honor.
See List of people from Cloud County, Kansas

Charles H. Blosser was an aviator who was awarded the Kansas Governor's Aviation Honors Award and was inducted into the Kansas Aviation Hall of Fame in 1990. At one time, he was the oldest living licensed pilot in the United States.[16][17]

Napoleon Bonaparte Brown was a soldier, businessman, politician, and resident of Kansas and Missouri in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.[18] He is most known as the namesake and builder of the Brown Grand Theatre in Concordia, Kansas, a majestic opera house completed in 1907 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The theater has been called "the most elegant theater between Kansas City and Denver."[18]

Frank Carlson was an American politician who served as the 30th Governor of Kansas and United States Representative and United States Senator from Kansas. He called Concordia his home.[19]

Larry Hartshorn was a former NFL Offensive Guard who played for the Chicago Cardinals in 1955 and 1957. He later played in the Canadian Football League with the Calgary Stampeders in 1958. After his years in professional football, Hartshorn moved to Concordia to become a teacher and coach for 33 years at Concordia Junior-Senior High School, where he coached Keith Christensen. Hartshorn began the wrestling program in 1966, running it as head coach from 1966 to 1974. He continued to serve in various coaching and education capacities until his retirement.

Ernest C. Quigley was a basketball referee and as an umpire in Major League Baseball. He also worked as an American football coach and official. Quigley was raised in Concordia, Kansas where he was a prominent member of the high school football team in the 1890s.[20] In 1944 he became the athletic director at the University of Kansas.[21]

[edit]

Cloud County has also been listed as one of the locations for Smallville in the Superman story line.

See also

[edit]
Community information for Kansas

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c "QuickFacts; Cloud County, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 15, 2021. Retrieved August 15, 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ^ Brackman, Barbara (1997). Kansas Trivia. Thomas Nelson Inc. p. 21. ISBN 9781418553814.
  5. ^ Kansas Skyways Archived February 23, 2009, at the Wayback Machine "Cloud County History"
  6. ^ History of the State of Kansas by William G. Cutler, Kansas Collection of Books
  7. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 1, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  8. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 22, 2014.
  9. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved July 22, 2014.
  10. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 22, 2014.
  11. ^ "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 22, 2014.
  12. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  13. ^ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
  14. ^ "Map of Wet and Dry Counties". Alcoholic Beverage Control, Kansas Department of Revenue. November 2006. Archived from the original on October 8, 2007. Retrieved December 26, 2007.
  15. ^ a b "General Highway Map of Cloud County, Kansas" (PDF). Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT). September 2009. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 18, 2024.
  16. ^ "Wings Over Kansas". Archived from the original on September 30, 2011. Retrieved March 30, 2012.
  17. ^ Unruh, Tim (May 31, 2010). "Flood of Memories". Salina Journal. Archived from the original on July 4, 2010. Retrieved March 28, 2012.
  18. ^ a b Moran, Jerry. "Historic Performing Theatre – The Brown Grand Theatre". The American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress. Retrieved February 29, 2008.
  19. ^ "Biographical Directory of the United States Congress". United States Congress. Retrieved March 30, 2012.
  20. ^ It Takes People to Make a Town by Janet Pease Emery, p. 101, 1971
  21. ^ Kansas State Historical Society Archived July 3, 2010, at the Wayback Machine "E.C. (Ernie) Quigley"

Further reading

[edit]
See also: List of books about Kansas, including historical information about its counties and cities
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cloud County, Kansas.
County
Maps
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