Wallace County, Kansas

Infobox U.S. County
county=Wallace County
state=Kansas

---

founded=1868
seat=Sharon Springs
area_total_km2=2367|area_total_sq_mi=914
area_land_km2=2367|area_land_sq_mi=914
area_water_km2=0|area_water_sq_mi=0
area percentage=0.01%
census estimate yr=2005
pop=1573
density_km2=0.7|density_sq_mi=1.7
time zone=Mountain
UTC offset=-7
DST offset=-6|

Wallace County (standard abbreviation: WA) is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of 2000, the population is 1,749. It has the second lowest population of any county in Kansas. Greeley County has the lowest. Its county seat is Sharon Springs.GR|6 It was created in 1868 and named in honor of Brigadier general W.H.L. Wallace who was a veteran of the Mexican-American War and a casualty of the Battle of Shiloh.

Wallace County is home to Mount Sunflower, the highest point in Kansas at 4,039 feet (1,231 meters). Mount Sunflower is located approximately 15 miles north-northwest of Weskan, less than one mile from the Colorado state line.

Law and government

Although the Kansas Constitution was amended in 1986 to allow the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with the approval of voters, Wallace County has remained a prohibition, or "dry", county. [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 914 square miles (2,367 km²), of which, 914 square miles (2,367 km²) of it is land and 0 square miles (0 km²) of it (0.01%) is water.

Adjacent counties

*Sherman County (north)
*Logan County (east)
*Wichita County (southeast)
*Greeley County (south)
*Cheyenne County, Colorado (west)
*Kit Carson County, Colorado (northwest)

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 1,749 people, 674 households, and 477 families residing in the county. The population density was 2 people per square mile (1/km²). There were 791 housing units at an average density of 1 per square mile (0/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 94.63% White, 0.63% Black or African American, 0.80% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 2.52% from other races, and 1.26% from two or more races. 4.80% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 674 households out of which 33.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.60% were married couples living together, 4.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.20% were non-families. 27.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.12.

In the county the population was spread out with 29.10% under the age of 18, 6.50% from 18 to 24, 23.60% from 25 to 44, 22.80% from 45 to 64, and 18.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 99.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,000, and the median income for a family was $42,022. Males had a median income of $25,610 versus $18,333 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,016. About 10.70% of families and 16.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.50% of those under age 18 and 12.70% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

Incorporated cities

Name and population (2004 estimate):
*Sharon Springs, 739 (county seat)
*Wallace, 62

Townships

Wallace County is divided into four 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.

Education

Unified school districts

* Wallace USD 241
* Weskan USD 242

References

External links

* [http://www.wallacecounty.net/ Official website]
* [http://skyways.lib.ks.us/genweb/archives/1912/w/wallace_county.html History of Wallace County]