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Atchison County is a county located in the northeast portion of the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat and most populous city is Atchison.[3] As of the 2020 census, the county population was 16,348.[1] The county was named in honor of David Atchison, a U.S. Senator from Missouri and border ruffian during the "Bleeding Kansas" era.[4]
Atchison County | |
|---|---|
.png) Atchison County Courthouse in Atchison (2023) | |
 Location within the U.S. state of Kansas | |
 Kansas's location within the U.S. | |
| Coordinates: 39°32′N 95°18′W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Kansas |
| Founded | August 25, 1855 |
| Named for | David Rice Atchison |
| Seat | Atchison |
| Largest city | Atchison |
| Area | |
• Total | 434 sq mi (1,120 km2) |
| • Land | 431 sq mi (1,120 km2) |
| • Water | 2.6 sq mi (7 km2) 0.6% |
| Population | |
• Total | 16,348 |
16,016  | |
| • Density | 37.9/sq mi (14.6/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Area code | 913 |
| Congressional district | 2nd |
| Website | AtchisonCountyKS.org |
Atchison County was established in 1855, named for David Rice Atchison, a U.S. Senator from Missouri known for his pro-slavery views, which reflected the county's early political leanings during the Kansas Territory's tumultuous "Bleeding Kansas" period. The area was first explored by European traders and later by the Lewis and Clark Expedition in 1804, who celebrated the first Independence Day in the area.[5] The first settlers, largely from Missouri, arrived in 1854, founding the town of Atchison that same year, which quickly became a hub due to its strategic location on the Missouri River, facilitating trade and transportation.[6]
The Civil War era saw Atchison County as a center of pro-slavery sentiment, yet it also contributed soldiers to both sides of the conflict, reflecting the divided loyalties of the time. The county's economy was significantly shaped by its river port facilities, which were vital for the steamboat trade and later for railroad development. By 1860, the Atchison and Topeka Railroad was chartered, and by 1870, Atchison was a major railroad hub, with the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway (Santa Fe) starting from there in 1868. This infrastructure, combined with Kansas Statehood in 1861 and the end of the Civil War in 1865, boosted the local economy and made Atchison a key point for westward expansion.[5]
Moving into the late 19th century, Atchison County faced challenges like economic downturns and natural disasters, including floods, but it continued to grow as an industrial and agricultural center. The county became known for its flour milling, due to its proximity to wheat fields, and its manufacturing industries, particularly after the Civil War, when life normalized, and new enterprises sprang up.[6]
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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 434 square miles (1,120 km2), of which 431 square miles (1,120 km2) is land and 2.6 square miles (6.7 km2) (0.6%) is water.[7] It is the fourth-smallest county by area in Kansas.
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
- Doniphan County (north)
- Buchanan County, Missouri (northeast)
- Leavenworth County (southeast)
- Platte County, Missouri (east)
- Jefferson County (south)
- Jackson County (west)
- Brown County (northwest)
Major highways
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| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1860 | 7,729 | — | |
| 1870 | 15,507 | 100.6% | |
| 1880 | 26,668 | 72.0% | |
| 1890 | 26,758 | 0.3% | |
| 1900 | 28,606 | 6.9% | |
| 1910 | 28,107 | −1.7% | |
| 1920 | 23,411 | −16.7% | |
| 1930 | 23,945 | 2.3% | |
| 1940 | 22,222 | −7.2% | |
| 1950 | 21,496 | −3.3% | |
| 1960 | 20,898 | −2.8% | |
| 1970 | 19,165 | −8.3% | |
| 1980 | 18,397 | −4.0% | |
| 1990 | 16,932 | −8.0% | |
| 2000 | 16,774 | −0.9% | |
| 2010 | 16,924 | 0.9% | |
| 2020 | 16,348 | −3.4% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 16,016 | [10] | −2.0% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[11] 1790-1960[12] 1900-1990[13] 1990-2000[14] 2010-2020[1] | |||
Atchison County comprises the Atchison, KS Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City, MO-KS Combined Statistical Area.
As of the 2000 census,[15] 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 people/km2). There were 6,818 housing units at an average density of 16 units per square mile (6.2 units/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.
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Presidential elections
Atchison County has been a swing county for most of its history. It has had multiple extended streaks of being a bellwether county, the first running from 1896 to 1936. After voting more Republican than the nation in the 1940s & voting for losing candidate Richard Nixon in 1960, another bellwether streak ran from 1964 to 2004. Since then, the county has become significantly more Republican, with Barack Obama failing to win the county in both of his victories & Hillary Clinton losing it by over 30 percent to Donald Trump in 2016.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2024 | 4,911 | 67.42% | 2,201 | 30.22% | 172 | 2.36% |
| 2020 | 4,906 | 65.94% | 2,359 | 31.71% | 175 | 2.35% |
| 2016 | 4,049 | 61.58% | 1,989 | 30.25% | 537 | 8.17% |
| 2012 | 3,917 | 58.69% | 2,567 | 38.46% | 190 | 2.85% |
| 2008 | 3,791 | 52.72% | 3,241 | 45.07% | 159 | 2.21% |
| 2004 | 3,880 | 54.51% | 3,120 | 43.83% | 118 | 1.66% |
| 2000 | 3,378 | 48.96% | 3,171 | 45.96% | 351 | 5.09% |
| 1996 | 2,828 | 43.25% | 2,926 | 44.75% | 784 | 11.99% |
| 1992 | 2,521 | 33.48% | 2,959 | 39.30% | 2,050 | 27.22% |
| 1988 | 3,243 | 49.03% | 3,177 | 48.03% | 194 | 2.93% |
| 1984 | 4,537 | 62.54% | 2,641 | 36.40% | 77 | 1.06% |
| 1980 | 4,084 | 53.87% | 3,063 | 40.40% | 434 | 5.72% |
| 1976 | 4,030 | 48.30% | 4,108 | 49.23% | 206 | 2.47% |
| 1972 | 5,471 | 67.83% | 2,404 | 29.80% | 191 | 2.37% |
| 1968 | 3,644 | 46.00% | 3,379 | 42.65% | 899 | 11.35% |
| 1964 | 3,147 | 38.24% | 5,037 | 61.21% | 45 | 0.55% |
| 1960 | 4,793 | 52.33% | 4,336 | 47.34% | 31 | 0.34% |
| 1956 | 5,608 | 64.08% | 3,134 | 35.81% | 9 | 0.10% |
| 1952 | 6,004 | 64.59% | 3,283 | 35.32% | 9 | 0.10% |
| 1948 | 4,141 | 51.04% | 3,910 | 48.19% | 62 | 0.76% |
| 1944 | 4,731 | 58.58% | 3,325 | 41.17% | 20 | 0.25% |
| 1940 | 5,921 | 56.07% | 4,557 | 43.15% | 82 | 0.78% |
| 1936 | 5,312 | 47.60% | 5,817 | 52.12% | 31 | 0.28% |
| 1932 | 4,778 | 45.18% | 5,640 | 53.33% | 157 | 1.48% |
| 1928 | 6,647 | 63.67% | 3,756 | 35.98% | 37 | 0.35% |
| 1924 | 6,246 | 63.83% | 2,199 | 22.47% | 1,341 | 13.70% |
| 1920 | 5,872 | 65.02% | 3,082 | 34.13% | 77 | 0.85% |
| 1916 | 4,624 | 48.61% | 4,634 | 48.72% | 254 | 2.67% |
| 1912 | 1,535 | 27.40% | 2,449 | 43.72% | 1,618 | 28.88% |
| 1908 | 3,244 | 54.94% | 2,593 | 43.91% | 68 | 1.15% |
| 1904 | 3,542 | 64.25% | 1,854 | 33.63% | 117 | 2.12% |
| 1900 | 3,390 | 55.54% | 2,682 | 43.94% | 32 | 0.52% |
| 1896 | 3,326 | 52.65% | 2,963 | 46.91% | 28 | 0.44% |
| 1892 | 2,666 | 49.17% | 0 | 0.00% | 2,756 | 50.83% |
| 1888 | 3,219 | 52.10% | 2,603 | 42.13% | 357 | 5.78% |
Presidential election results
Laws
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.[17]
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Unified school districts
List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Atchison County.[18]
Cities
Unincorporated communities
‡ means a community has portions in an adjacent county.
Ghost towns
Indian reservations
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.
| Township | FIPS | Population center |
Population | Population density /km2 (/sq mi) |
Land area km2 (sq mi) | Water area km2 (sq mi) | Water % | Geographic coordinates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benton | 06150 | Effingham | 1,076 | 7 (18) | 156 (60) | 0 (0) | 0.25% | 39°30′20″N 95°23′37″W |
| Center | 11550 | 676 | 5 (13) | 139 (54) | 0 (0) | 0.15% | 39°28′52″N 95°16′54″W | |
| Grasshopper | 28225 | Muscotah | 588 | 3 (9) | 170 (66) | 1 (0) | 0.52% | 39°35′12″N 95°30′4″W |
| Kapioma | 36100 | 271 | 2 (6) | 123 (48) | 0 (0) | 0.05% | 39°29′6″N 95°31′8″W | |
| Lancaster | 38350 | Lancaster | 922 | 6 (15) | 156 (60) | 0 (0) | 0.28% | 39°35′56″N 95°18′38″W |
| Mount Pleasant | 48925 | 829 | 7 (17) | 124 (48) | 0 (0) | 0.09% | 39°29′17″N 95°11′3″W | |
| Shannon | 64275 | 1,753 | 12 (32) | 140 (54) | 2 (1) | 1.16% | 39°35′15″N 95°9′26″W | |
| Walnut | 74800 | 427 | 5 (12) | 94 (36) | 2 (1) | 2.34% | 39°27′55″N 95°5′3″W | |
| Sources: "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files". U.S. Census Bureau, Geography Division. Archived from the original on August 2, 2002. | ||||||||
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- Community information for Kansas
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