Doniphan County, Kansas

Doniphan County (county code DP) is a county in the U.S. state of Kansas. In 2020 census, 7,510 people lived there.^[1] Its county seat is Troy.^[2] Its biggest city is Wathena.

Doniphan County
County
Doniphan County Courthouse in Troy (2006)
Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
Kansas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 39°48′N 95°07′W
Country	United States
State	Kansas
Founded	August 25, 1855
Named for	Alexander William Doniphan
Seat	Troy
Largest city	Wathena
Area
• Total	398 sq mi (1,030 km2)
• Land	393 sq mi (1,020 km2)
• Water	4.9 sq mi (13 km2)  1.2%
Population  (2020)[1]
• Total	7,510
• Density	19.1/sq mi (7.4/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Area code	785
Congressional district	2nd
Website	DpCountyKS.com

History

19th century

Doniphan County was created on August 25, 1855, then organized on September 18, 1855. It is named after the U.S. cavalry commander Colonel Alexander W. Doniphan^[3] (1808–1887) of Liberty, Missouri. He was important in the Mexican–American War.

Geography

Doniphan County is in the northeastern corner of the state. It is bordered by Nebraska to the north and Missouri to the east. The U.S. Census Bureau says that the county has a total area of 398 square miles (1,030 km²). Of that, 393 square miles (1,020 km²) is land and 4.9 square miles (13 km²) (1.2%) is water.^[4] It is the third-smallest county in Kansas by land area and second-smallest by total area.

Geographic features

The Missouri River defines the border in the north and east. Eight barge lines travel the river, and a Port Authority is across the river in Saint Joseph, Missouri. The river provides a lot of the water for the eastern part of the county. Cities away from the river, such as Troy and Highland, get their water from underground wells. The Wolf River goes through western pstyd of the county and north into the Missouri River.

Major highways

The only major highway in the county is U.S. Highway 36, an east/west route going through St. Joseph. Troy, Elwood, and Wathena lie along this route. Kansas state highways K-7, K-20, K-120, K-136, K-137, and K-238 serve other areas of the county. K-7 has been designated a scenic byway.

People

Census	Pop.		%±
1860	8,083		—
1870	13,969		72.8%
1880	14,257		2.1%
1890	13,535		−5.1%
1900	15,079		11.4%
1910	14,422		−4.4%
1920	13,438		−6.8%
1930	14,063		4.7%
1940	12,936		−8.0%
1950	10,499		−18.8%
1960	9,574		−8.8%
1970	9,107		−4.9%
1980	9,268		1.8%
1990	8,134		−12.2%
2000	8,249		1.4%
2010	7,945		−3.7%
2020	7,510		−5.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[5] 1790-1960[6] 1900-1990[7] 1990-2000[8] 2010-2020[1]

Population pyramid

Doniphan County is included in the St. Joseph, MO-KS Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City, MO-KS Combined Statistical Area.

Government

County

Doniphan County is served by a Board of County Commissioners. In it, there is one elected official from each of three districts. The commissioners serve four-year terms. The 2nd and 3rd district elections happen two years after the 1st district election. The board is responsible for making the county's policies, procedures, and budgets. They also oversee functions of their respective road and bridge shops. The county has used county planning and zoning codes. The cities are governed by mayors and city councils. Government services are paid for through a sales tax, property tax, and an ad valorem tax mill levy.^[source?]

Presidential elections

Presidential election results^[9]

Year	Republican	Democratic	Third Parties
2020	80.2% 2,976	18.5% 686	1.3% 47
2016	76.8% 2,606	17.3% 587	5.9% 202
2012	70.9% 2,414	26.5% 902	2.6% 87
2008	66.6% 2,372	31.3% 1,115	2.2% 77
2004	69.1% 2,491	29.6% 1,065	1.3% 47
2000	64.4% 2,350	31.1% 1,134	4.5% 165
1996	64.2% 1,962	34.4% 1,050	1.4% 42
1992	39.7% 1,579	29.6% 1,177	30.6% 1,217
1988	61.5% 2,162	37.3% 1,312	1.1% 40
1984	73.8% 2,818	25.2% 962	1.1% 40
1980	67.8% 2,523	26.9% 1,001	5.3% 195
1976	62.2% 2,469	36.0% 1,428	1.8% 72
1972	78.4% 2,856	18.9% 690	2.7% 97
1968	63.3% 2,402	25.3% 958	11.4% 434
1964	51.1% 1,952	48.5% 1,856	0.4% 16
1960	67.4% 2,882	32.3% 1,383	0.3% 12
1956	72.1% 3,130	27.6% 1,197	0.3% 12
1952	75.7% 3,711	24.0% 1,175	0.3% 16
1948	63.7% 2,785	35.6% 1,555	0.7% 29
1944	71.9% 3,230	28.1% 1,261	0.0% 0
1940	67.7% 4,204	32.0% 1,986	0.3% 20
1936	57.8% 3,791	41.9% 2,749	0.3% 19
1932	51.4% 2,748	47.3% 2,532	1.3% 69
1928	72.6% 4,002	27.2% 1,496	0.2% 11
1924	72.8% 3,789	20.6% 1,072	6.6% 345
1920	76.5% 3,369	22.2% 978	1.3% 59
1916	58.1% 2,826	39.4% 1,916	2.6% 126
1912	39.1% 1,321	30.1% 1,017	30.7% 1,037
1908	66.3% 2,307	32.0% 1,113	1.7% 60
1904	75.0% 2,361	22.7% 713	2.3% 73
1900	65.9% 2,464	33.3% 1,244	0.8% 30
1896	65.4% 2,549	34.2% 1,332	0.5% 18
1892	64.4% 2,161		35.6% 1,194
1888	66.5% 2,245	32.9% 1,109	0.6% 21

Presidential election results

Because of its history of settlement by anti-slavery Yankees from Iowa and New England, Doniphan County became very Republican. The county has voted for the Republican nominee in every presidential election since Kansas became a state, beginning in 1864. Only three Democratic nominees reached forty percent of Doniphan County’s vote.^[10]

Laws

Although the Kansas Constitution was changed in 1986 to allow the sale of alcohol, Doniphan County remained a "dry" county until 2012.^[11]

Education

Unified school districts

• Doniphan West USD 111 Archived 2020-05-30 at the Wayback Machine
• Riverside USD 114
• Troy USD 429

Colleges and universities

Highland Community College was the first college created in Kansas. This was when the Highland University charter was approved by the Territorial Legislature in 1858. Over time the college changed its name many times before becoming a regional rural community college. (Web site)

Communities

2005 KDOT Map of Doniphan County (map legend)

Cities

• Denton
• Elwood
• Highland
• Leona
• Severance
• Troy
• Wathena
• White Cloud