From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Allen County, Kansas
Map
Location in the state of Kansas
Kansas's location in the USA
Statistics
Founded	August 25, 1855
Seat	Iola
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	505 sq mi (1,308 km²) 503 sq mi (1,303 km²) 2 sq mi (6 km²), 0.43%
PopulationEst.  - (2006)  - Density	13,677 27.2/sq mi (10.5/km²)
Time zone	Central: UTC-6/-5
Website: www.allencounty.org
Named for: William Allen

Allen County (county code AL) is a county located in Southeast Kansas, in the Central United States. The population was 14,385 at the 2000 census, and it was estimated to be 13,677 in the year 2006.^[1] Its county seat and most populous city is Iola.

Contents 1 History 2 Law and government 3 Geography 3.1 Geographic features 3.2 Adjacent counties 4 Demographics 4.1 Census 2000 4.2 Historical trends 5 Cities and towns 5.1 Incorporated cities 5.2 Unincorporated places 6 Townships 7 Education 7.1 Unified school districts 8 See also 9 References 10 External links

Allen County, one of the 33 counties established by the first territorial legislature, was named in honor of William Allen, United States senator from Ohio.

Following amendment to the Kansas Constitution in 1986, the county remained a prohibition, or "dry", county until 2000, when voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with a 30% food sales requirement.^[2]

Allen County is located in the southeastern part of the state, in the second tier of counties west of Missouri, and about fifty miles north of Oklahoma. In extent it is twenty-one miles from north to south and twenty-four miles from east to west. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,308 km² (505 sq mi), of which 1,303 km² (503 sq mi) is land and 6 km² (2 sq mi), or 0.43%, is water.^GR2

The general surface of the country is slightly rolling, though much more level than the greater portion of eastern Kansas. The soil is fertile and highly productive. The bottom lands along the streams average one and one-half miles in width, and comprise one-tenth the area of the county. The remainder is the gently rolling or level upland prairie. The principal varieties of trees native to the county are black walnut, hickory, cottonwood, oak, hackberry and elm.

The main water course is the Neosho River, which flows through the western part of the county from north to south. Its tributaries are Indian, Martin's, Deer, Elm, and other small creeks. The Marmaton River rises east of the center of the county, and flows through the southeastern part of the county. The Little Osage River rises not far from the head of the Marmaton and flows northeast. Its tributaries are Middle Creek on the north and the South Fork on the south.

• Anderson County (north)
• Linn County (northeast)
• Bourbon County (east)
• Neosho County (south)
• Wilson County (southwest)
• Woodson County (west)
• Coffey County (northwest)

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1860	3,082		—
1870	7,022		127.8%
1880	11,303		61.0%
1890	13,509		19.5%
1900	19,507		44.4%
1910	27,640		41.7%
1920	23,509		-14.9%
1930	21,391		-9.0%
1940	19,874		-7.1%
1950	18,187		-8.5%
1960	16,369		-10.0%
1970	15,043		-8.1%
1980	15,654		4.1%
1990	14,638		-6.5%
2000	14,385		-1.7%

Allen County's population was estimated to be 13,677 in the year 2006, a decrease of 701, or -4.9%, over the previous six years.^[1]

As of the U.S. Census in 2000,^GR2 there were 14,385 people, 5,775 households, and 3,892 families residing in Allen County. The population density was 11/km² (29/sq mi). There were 6,449 housing units at an average density of 5/km² (13/sq mi). The racial makeup of the county was 94.80% White, 1.63% Black or African American, 0.78% Native American, 0.26% Asian, 0.86% from other races, and 1.68% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.93% of the population. 28.8% were of German, 20.3% American, 9.8% English and 8.6% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 5,775 households out of which 29.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.60% were married couples living together, 8.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.60% were non-families. 28.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the county the population was spread out with 25.20% under the age of 18, 9.80% from 18 to 24, 24.10% from 25 to 44, 22.90% from 45 to 64, and 18.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 95.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,481, and the median income for a family was $39,117. Males had a median income of $27,305 versus $19,221 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,640. About 11.30% of families and 14.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.20% of those under age 18 and 12.70% of those age 65 or over.

The first white inhabitants located in Allen County during the early part of the year 1855. Settlement progressed rapidly during the spring and summer with the greater number of settlers located along the Neosho River. Although many of the early settlers were pro-slavery men, few slaves were brought into the county. The freestate men showed such open antagonism toward slaveholders, that the slaves were soon given their freedom or taken from the county by their masters.

The last year of the territorial period (1860) was one of the hardest because it was the year of the great drought. The population of the county was about 3,000, and with such a scanty crop, the prospect of starvation seemed imminent. Most of the people had come into the county within two years and with starvation and hardship before them, returned to the east.

During the years of the American Civil War the country developed, but slowly. From 1865 to 1870 there was a steady increase, the population then numbering 7,022. For the next three years the country was settled rapidly, and numerous improvements were made, as well as thousands of acres of land brought under cultivation. This period was perhaps the most progressive one in the history of the county; money was plenty and nearly every one did business, or bought property to the full extent of his capital. The result was that with the financial panic of 1873, followed by the "grasshopper raid" of 1874, nearly all improvement stopped, value of property depreciated, and many of the settlers (nearly one-third) left the county. In 1875 the population numbered 6,638. The next year times began to look better, and by 1878 the population was 8,954. With the increasing prosperity of the country, the population numbered 10,436 in 1881, while improvements that were made kept pace with the settlement. In 1882 the population had increased to 11,098.

The population of the county continued to grow until it finally peaked at 27,640 with the census of 1910. In recent decades, the population decline has leveled off.

Name and population (2006 estimate):^[3]

• Iola, 5,966 (county seat)
• Humboldt, 1,906
• La Harpe, 665
• Gas, 552
• Moran, 535
• Savonburg, 89
• Elsmore, 68
• Mildred, 36
• Bassett, 22

• Bayard
• Carlyle
• Cofachique (extinct town)
• Geneva
• Petrolia

Allen County is divided into twelve townships. Because Humboldt, Iola, and La Harpe are cities of the second class, they are governmentally independent from the townships and are 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
Carlyle	10725		276	4 (9)	78 (30)	0 (0)	0.09%	37°59′50″N, 95°22′47″W
Cottage Grove	15825		282	3 (8)	96 (37)	0 (0)	0.42%	37°45′20″N, 95°22′11″W
Deer Creek	17175		142	2 (4)	94 (36)	0 (0)	0.13%	37°59′14″N, 95°17′23″W
Elm	20550	Gas	1,259	10 (27)	123 (47)	0 (0)	0.33%	37°54′36″N, 95°19′36″W
Elsmore	20900		460	3 (7)	165 (64)	0 (0)	0.06%	37°47′1″N, 95°9′23″W
Geneva	26100		172	2 (6)	78 (30)	1 (0)	1.02%	38°0′7″N, 95°28′33″W
Humboldt	33475		273	4 (11)	65 (25)	1 (0)	0.88%	37°48′47″N, 95°25′34″W
Iola	34325		843	8 (19)	112 (43)	2 (1)	1.57%	37°54′29″N, 95°25′27″W
Logan	41725		225	3 (7)	83 (32)	1 (0)	0.75%	37°47′2″N, 95°29′2″W
Marmaton	44850	Moran	853	6 (15)	144 (56)	0 (0)	0.09%	37°54′40″N, 95°9′48″W
Osage	53075		316	3 (7)	124 (48)	0 (0)	0.37%	38°0′14″N, 95°9′36″W
Salem	62600		277	2 (6)	124 (48)	0 (0)	0.10%	37°49′31″N, 95°18′6″W
Sources: Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files. U.S. Census Bureau, Geography Division.

• Marmaton Valley USD 256
• Iola USD 257
• Humboldt USD 258

Information on this and other counties in Kansas

• List of counties in Kansas
• List of Kansas county name etymologies
• Kansas locations by per capita income

Other information for Kansas

• List of cities in Kansas
• List of unified school districts in Kansas
• List of colleges and universities in Kansas

See also: Geographic references and United States Census, 2000

• William G. Cutler's History of the State of Kansas (1883) [1]
• Kansas: a cyclopedia of state history (1912) [2]
• Kansas State Historical Society

Notes:

1. ^ ^{a b} Population Estimates. U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division. Annual estimates of the population to 2006-07-01. Released 2007-03-22. Population change is from 2000-07-01 to 2006-07-01.
2. ^ Map of Wet and Dry Counties. Alcoholic Beverage Control, Kansas Department of Revenue (November 2004). Retrieved on 2007-01-21.
3. ^ Population Estimates. U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division. Annual estimates of the population to 2006-07-01. Released 2007-06-28.

Official sites

• Allen County

Additional information

• Blue Skyways
• Kansas Statistical Abstract

v • d • e Municipalities and communities of Allen County, Kansas
County seat: Iola
Cities	Bassett | Elsmore | Gas | Humboldt | Iola | La Harpe | Mildred | Moran | Savonburg
Townships	Carlyle | Cottage Grove | Deer Creek | Elm | Elsmore | Geneva | Humboldt | Iola | Logan | Marmaton | Osage | Salem
Communities	Bayard | Carlyle | Cofachique | Geneva | Petrolia

	v • d • e State of Kansas Topeka (capital)
Topics	History | Governors | Education | Landmarks | People | Places | Geography | Demographics | Economy
Regions	Cherokee Strip | Cross Timbers | Dissected Till Plains | East Central | Four State Area | Flint Hills | High Plains | Osage Plains | The Ozarks | Red Hills | Santa Fe Trail Region | Smoky Hills | Southeast
Largest cities	Derby | Dodge City | Emporia | Garden City | Hays | Hutchinson | Kansas City | Lawrence | Leavenworth | Leawood | Lenexa | Liberal | Manhattan | Olathe | Overland Park | Prairie Village | Salina | Shawnee | Topeka | Wichita
Counties	Allen | Anderson | Atchison | Barber | Barton | Bourbon | Brown | Butler | Chase | Chautauqua | Cherokee | Cheyenne | Clark | Clay | Cloud | Coffey | Comanche | Cowley | Crawford | Decatur | Dickinson | Doniphan | Douglas | Edwards | Elk | Ellis | Ellsworth | Finney | Ford | Franklin | Geary | Gove | Graham | Grant | Gray | Greeley | Greenwood | Hamilton | Harper | Harvey | Haskell | Hodgeman | Jackson | Jefferson | Jewell | Johnson | Kearny | Kingman | Kiowa | Labette | Lane | Leavenworth | Lincoln | Linn | Logan | Lyon | Marion | Marshall | McPherson | Meade | Miami | Mitchell | Montgomery | Morris | Morton | Nemaha | Neosho | Ness | Norton | Osage | Osborne | Ottawa | Pawnee | Phillips | Pottawatomie | Pratt | Rawlins | Reno | Republic | Rice | Riley | Rooks | Rush | Russell | Saline | Scott | Sedgwick | Seward | Shawnee | Sheridan | Sherman | Smith | Stafford | Stanton | Stevens | Sumner | Thomas | Trego | Wabaunsee | Wallace | Washington | Wichita | Wilson | Woodson | Wyandotte