Allen County, Kansas
Encyclopedia
Allen County is a county located in southeast
Kansas
, in the central
United States of America
. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 13,371. Its county seat
and most populous city is Iola
.
, United States senator from Ohio
. It was organized at the time of its creation in 1855, Charles Passmore being appointed probate judge; B.W. Cowden and Barnett Owen county commissioners, and William Godfrey sheriff. These officers were to hold their offices until the general election in 1857, and were empowered to appoint the county clerk and treasurer to complete the county organization.
The first white inhabitants located in the county during the early part of the year 1855. Richard J. Fuqua may have been the first, settling in the valley of the Neosho River
, in the northwestern part of the county, with his wife, two boys, and three girls. B.W. Cowden and H.D. Parsons arrived in March and selected claims in the valley of the Neosho River, near the mouth of Elm Creek. The next settlement was made near the mouth of Deer Creek by Major James Parsons, and his two sons, Jesse and James, and Mr. Duncan. During the spring and summer settlement progressed quite rapidly, the most of it being along and near the Neosho River. Though many of the early settlers of the county were pro-slavery men, but few slaves were brought into the county. The free-state people showing so much antagonism toward slave-holders, it was not long until most of the slaves were either liberated or taken from the county by their masters. During the summer and fall of 1856, immigration continued, though not in very large numbers.
The first town and county seat
was Cofachique
. In the spring of 1855 a party of pro-slavery men from Fort Scott
formed a town company and laid out a town on the high land east of the Neosho River, south of the mouth of Elm Creek. There was a heavy trade with the neighboring tribes of Native Americans, and for a time the town had good prospects. But the town began to decline in 1857, and the greater part of it was later moved two miles (3 km) north to the new town of Iola
.
After a series of disputes, Allen County's first jail
was constructed in Iola in 1869 at a cost of $8,400. It operated until a replacement opened in 1959; since that time, it has been run as a museum
.
, 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 2000 census, the county has a total area of 505.18 square miles (1,308.4 km²), of which 503.01 square miles (1,302.8 km²) (or 99.57%) is land and 2.18 square miles (5.6 km²) (or 0.43%) is water.
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.
, there were 14,385 people, 5,775 households, and 3,892 families residing in Allen County. The population density
was 29 people per square mile (11/km²). There were 6,449 housing units at an average density of 13 per square mile (5/km²). 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 household
s 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.
. 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.
. 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.
, county until 2000, when voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with a 30% food sales requirement.
is an east/west route passing through (from east to west) the cities of Moran
, La Harpe
, Gas
, and Iola
(the county seat
). Outside the county the route connects to Fort Scott
in the east and Yates Center
and eventually Wichita
in the west. Passing through eastern portions of the county and the cities of Mildred
and Moran, U.S. Route 59
is one of two north/south routes. It connects to Kincaid
and eventually Ottawa
and Lawrence
in the north and Erie
in the south. The other route is U.S. Route 169
which passes through western portions of the county and bypasses to the east of the cities of Iola, Bassett
, and Humboldt
. It connects to Chanute
and eventually Coffeyville
in the south. The segment between Iola and Chanute is a freeway with fully controlled access, although there is only one lane in each direction. US-169 provides a direct route for traveling between Kansas City
and Tulsa
, Oklahoma
.
Historical
Maps
Southeast Kansas
Southeast Kansas is a region of the U.S. state of Kansas. It can be roughly defined by Woodson County in the northwest, Bourbon County in the northeast, Cherokee County in the southeast, and Montgomery County in the southwest. Geographically it is dominated by a broad rolling landscape located...
Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
, in the central
Central United States
The Central United States is sometimes conceived as between the Eastern United States and Western United States as part of a three-region model, roughly coincident with the Midwestern United States plus the western and central portions of the Southern United States; the term is also sometimes used...
United States of America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 13,371. Its county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
and most populous city is Iola
Iola, Kansas
Iola is a city situated along the Neosho River in the northwestern part of Allen County, located in Southeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 5,704. Iola is the county seat of Allen County. It is named in honor of Iola Colborn.-History:The...
.
History
Allen County, one of the 33 counties established by the first territorial legislature, was named in honor of William AllenWilliam Allen (congressman)
William Allen was an United States Congressman from Ohio during the early part of the American Civil War....
, United States senator from Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. It was organized at the time of its creation in 1855, Charles Passmore being appointed probate judge; B.W. Cowden and Barnett Owen county commissioners, and William Godfrey sheriff. These officers were to hold their offices until the general election in 1857, and were empowered to appoint the county clerk and treasurer to complete the county organization.
The first white inhabitants located in the county during the early part of the year 1855. Richard J. Fuqua may have been the first, settling in the valley of the Neosho River
Neosho River
The Neosho River is a tributary of the Arkansas River in eastern Kansas and northeastern Oklahoma in the United States. Its tributaries also drain portions of Missouri and Arkansas. The river is about long. Via the Arkansas, it is part of the Mississippi River watershed.- Course :The Neosho's...
, in the northwestern part of the county, with his wife, two boys, and three girls. B.W. Cowden and H.D. Parsons arrived in March and selected claims in the valley of the Neosho River, near the mouth of Elm Creek. The next settlement was made near the mouth of Deer Creek by Major James Parsons, and his two sons, Jesse and James, and Mr. Duncan. During the spring and summer settlement progressed quite rapidly, the most of it being along and near the Neosho River. Though many of the early settlers of the county were pro-slavery men, but few slaves were brought into the county. The free-state people showing so much antagonism toward slave-holders, it was not long until most of the slaves were either liberated or taken from the county by their masters. During the summer and fall of 1856, immigration continued, though not in very large numbers.
The first town and county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
was Cofachique
Cofachique, Kansas
Cofachique was a town situated along the Neosho River near the present-day city of Iola in the western part of Allen County, located in southeast Kansas, in the central United States of America. Being the first town established in Allen County in 1855, it was the original county seat...
. In the spring of 1855 a party of pro-slavery men from Fort Scott
Fort Scott, Kansas
Fort Scott is a city in and the county seat of Bourbon County, Kansas, United States, south of Kansas City, on the Marmaton River. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 8,087. It is the home of the Fort Scott National Historic Site and the Fort Scott National...
formed a town company and laid out a town on the high land east of the Neosho River, south of the mouth of Elm Creek. There was a heavy trade with the neighboring tribes of Native Americans, and for a time the town had good prospects. But the town began to decline in 1857, and the greater part of it was later moved two miles (3 km) north to the new town of Iola
Iola, Kansas
Iola is a city situated along the Neosho River in the northwestern part of Allen County, located in Southeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 5,704. Iola is the county seat of Allen County. It is named in honor of Iola Colborn.-History:The...
.
After a series of disputes, Allen County's first jail
Allen County Jail
The Allen County Jail is a former jail in Iola, Kansas, United States. Built in the late 1860s, it operated as a detention facility for nearly a century before a replacement opened; today, it is a local history museum, and it has been designated a historic site.-Structure:The jail is a stone...
was constructed in Iola in 1869 at a cost of $8,400. It operated until a replacement opened in 1959; since that time, it has been run as a museum
Museum
A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
.
Geography
Allen County is located in the southeastern part of the state, in the second tier of counties west of MissouriMissouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, and about fifty miles north of Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
. In extent it is twenty-one miles from north to south and twenty-four miles from east to west. According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 505.18 square miles (1,308.4 km²), of which 503.01 square miles (1,302.8 km²) (or 99.57%) is land and 2.18 square miles (5.6 km²) (or 0.43%) is water.
Geographic features
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
Neosho River
The Neosho River is a tributary of the Arkansas River in eastern Kansas and northeastern Oklahoma in the United States. Its tributaries also drain portions of Missouri and Arkansas. The river is about long. Via the Arkansas, it is part of the Mississippi River watershed.- Course :The Neosho's...
, 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
Marmaton River
The Marmaton River is a tributary of the Little Osage River in southeastern Kansas and western Missouri in the United States...
rises east of the center of the county, and flows through the southeastern part of the county. The Little Osage River
Little Osage River
The Little Osage River is an tributary of the Osage River in eastern Kansas and western Missouri in the United States. Via the Osage and Missouri rivers, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River.-Course:...
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.
Adjacent counties
- Anderson CountyAnderson County, KansasAnderson County is a county located in East Central Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 8,102...
(north) - Linn CountyLinn County, KansasLinn County is a county located in East Central Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 9,656. Its county seat is Mound City, and its most populous city is Pleasanton...
(northeast) - Bourbon CountyBourbon County, KansasBourbon County is a county located in Southeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 15,173...
(east) - Neosho CountyNeosho County, KansasNeosho County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 16,512...
(south) - Wilson CountyWilson County, KansasWilson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 9,409...
(southwest) - Woodson CountyWoodson County, KansasWoodson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 3,309...
(west) - Coffey CountyCoffey County, KansasCoffey County is a county located in East Central Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 8,601...
(northwest)
Demographics
Census 2000
As of the U.S. Census in 2000United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
, there were 14,385 people, 5,775 households, and 3,892 families residing in Allen County. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 29 people per square mile (11/km²). There were 6,449 housing units at an average density of 13 per square mile (5/km²). The racial makeup
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of the county was 94.80% White
White American
White Americans are people of the United States who are considered or consider themselves White. The United States Census Bureau defines White people as those "having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa...
, 1.63% Black or African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
, 0.78% Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
, 0.26% Asian
Asian American
Asian Americans are Americans of Asian descent. The U.S. Census Bureau definition of Asians as "Asian” refers to a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent, including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan,...
, 0.86% from other races, and 1.68% from two or more races
Multiracial
The terms multiracial and mixed-race describe people whose ancestries come from multiple races. Unlike the term biracial, which often is only used to refer to having parents or grandparents of two different races, the term multiracial may encompass biracial people but can also include people with...
. Hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
or Latino
Latino
The demonyms Latino and Latina , are defined in English language dictionaries as:* "a person of Latin-American descent."* "A Latin American."* "A person of Hispanic, especially Latin-American, descent, often one living in the United States."...
of any race were 1.93% of the population. 28.8% were of German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
, 20.3% American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, 9.8% English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
and 8.6% Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 5,775 household
Household
The household is "the basic residential unit in which economic production, consumption, inheritance, child rearing, and shelter are organized and carried out"; [the household] "may or may not be synonymous with family"....
s out of which 29.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.60% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
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
Median household income
The median household income is commonly used to generate data about geographic areas and divides households into two equal segments with the first half of households earning less than the median household income and the other half earning more...
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
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
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.
Historical trends
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 RiverNeosho River
The Neosho River is a tributary of the Arkansas River in eastern Kansas and northeastern Oklahoma in the United States. Its tributaries also drain portions of Missouri and Arkansas. The river is about long. Via the Arkansas, it is part of the Mississippi River watershed.- Course :The Neosho's...
. 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
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
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
Panic of 1873
The Panic of 1873 triggered a severe international economic depression in both Europe and the United States that lasted until 1879, and even longer in some countries. The depression was known as the Great Depression until the 1930s, but is now known as the Long Depression...
, 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.
Cities and towns
Incorporated cities
Name and population ( estimate):- IolaIola, KansasIola is a city situated along the Neosho River in the northwestern part of Allen County, located in Southeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 5,704. Iola is the county seat of Allen County. It is named in honor of Iola Colborn.-History:The...
, (county seat) - HumboldtHumboldt, KansasHumboldt is a city situated along the Neosho River in the southwest part of Allen County, located in southeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,953.-History:...
, - La HarpeLa Harpe, KansasLa Harpe is a city situated in the central part of Allen County, located in southeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 578.-History:...
, - GasGas, KansasGas is a city in the northwestern part of Allen County, located in southeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 564. The city was named for the abundant natural gas that was found in the area.-History:...
, - MoranMoran, KansasMoran is a city in Allen County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 558.-Geography:Moran is located at . According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
, - SavonburgSavonburg, KansasSavonburg is a city in Allen County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 109.-Geography:Savonburg is located at . According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 91...
, - ElsmoreElsmore, KansasElsmore is a city situated in the southeastern part of Allen County, located in southeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 77.-History:...
, - MildredMildred, KansasMildred is a city in Allen County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 28.-Geography:Mildred is located at . According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 36 people,...
, - BassettBassett, KansasBassett is a city situated along the Neosho River in the west-central part of Allen County, located in southeast Kansas, in the central United States of America. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 14.-History:...
,
Unincorporated places
- BayardBayard, KansasBayard is an unincorporated community in the northeastern part of Allen County, located in southeast Kansas, in the central United States of America...
- CarlyleCarlyle, KansasCarlyle is an unincorporated community in the northwestern part of Allen County, located in southeast Kansas, in the central United States. It was first settled in 1858...
- CofachiqueCofachique, KansasCofachique was a town situated along the Neosho River near the present-day city of Iola in the western part of Allen County, located in southeast Kansas, in the central United States of America. Being the first town established in Allen County in 1855, it was the original county seat...
(extinct town) - GenevaGeneva, KansasGeneva is an unincorporated community in the northwestern part of Allen County, located in southeast Kansas, in the central United States. Although official populations are not compiled for unincorporated places, the population of the surrounding Geneva Township was 172 in the 2000...
- PetroliaPetrolia, KansasPetrolia is an unincorporated community situated along the Neosho River in the southwestern part of Allen County, located in southeast Kansas, in the central United States of America...
Townships
Allen County is divided into twelve townshipsCivil township
A civil township is a widely used unit of local government in the United States, subordinate to, and geographic divisions of, a county. Specific responsibilities and the degree of autonomy vary based on each state. Civil townships are distinct from survey townships, but in states that have both,...
. Because Humboldt
Humboldt, Kansas
Humboldt is a city situated along the Neosho River in the southwest part of Allen County, located in southeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,953.-History:...
, Iola
Iola, Kansas
Iola is a city situated along the Neosho River in the northwestern part of Allen County, located in Southeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 5,704. Iola is the county seat of Allen County. It is named in honor of Iola Colborn.-History:The...
, and La Harpe
La Harpe, Kansas
La Harpe is a city situated in the central part of Allen County, located in southeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 578.-History:...
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 Gas, Kansas Gas is a city in the northwestern part of Allen County, located in southeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 564. The city was named for the abundant natural gas that was found in the area.-History:... |
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 Moran, Kansas Moran is a city in Allen County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 558.-Geography:Moran is located at . According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land.... |
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: | ||||||||
Law and government
Following amendment to the Kansas Constitution in 1986, the county remained a prohibition, or "dry"Dry county
A dry county is a county in the United States whose government forbids the sale of alcoholic beverages. Some prohibit off-premises sale, some prohibit on-premises sale, and some prohibit both. Hundreds of dry counties exist across the United States, almost all of them in the South...
, county until 2000, when voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with a 30% food sales requirement.
Major highways
U.S. Route 54U.S. Route 54
U.S. Route 54 is an east–west United States highway that runs northeast-southwest for 1,197 miles from western Illinois to El Paso, Texas. It enters and leaves Texas twice...
is an east/west route passing through (from east to west) the cities of Moran
Moran, Kansas
Moran is a city in Allen County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 558.-Geography:Moran is located at . According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
, La Harpe
La Harpe, Kansas
La Harpe is a city situated in the central part of Allen County, located in southeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 578.-History:...
, Gas
Gas, Kansas
Gas is a city in the northwestern part of Allen County, located in southeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 564. The city was named for the abundant natural gas that was found in the area.-History:...
, and Iola
Iola, Kansas
Iola is a city situated along the Neosho River in the northwestern part of Allen County, located in Southeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 5,704. Iola is the county seat of Allen County. It is named in honor of Iola Colborn.-History:The...
(the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
). Outside the county the route connects to Fort Scott
Fort Scott, Kansas
Fort Scott is a city in and the county seat of Bourbon County, Kansas, United States, south of Kansas City, on the Marmaton River. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 8,087. It is the home of the Fort Scott National Historic Site and the Fort Scott National...
in the east and Yates Center
Yates Center, Kansas
Yates Center is a city in and the county seat of Woodson County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,417.-History:...
and eventually Wichita
Wichita, Kansas
Wichita is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kansas.As of the 2010 census, the city population was 382,368. Located in south-central Kansas on the Arkansas River, Wichita is the county seat of Sedgwick County and the principal city of the Wichita metropolitan area...
in the west. Passing through eastern portions of the county and the cities of Mildred
Mildred, Kansas
Mildred is a city in Allen County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 28.-Geography:Mildred is located at . According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 36 people,...
and Moran, U.S. Route 59
U.S. Route 59
U.S. Route 59 is a north–south United States highway . A latecomer to the U.S. numbered route system, U.S. 59 is now a border-to-border route, Part of NAFTA Corridor Highway System. It parallels U.S. Route 75 for nearly its entire route, never much more than away, until it veers southwest...
is one of two north/south routes. It connects to Kincaid
Kincaid, Kansas
Kincaid is a city in Anderson County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 122.-Geography:Kincaid is located at...
and eventually Ottawa
Ottawa, Kansas
Ottawa is a city situated along the Marais des Cygnes River in the central part of Franklin County, located in east-central Kansas, 50 miles southwest of Kansas City, Mo., in the central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 12,649. It is the county seat and most populous...
and Lawrence
Lawrence, Kansas
Lawrence is the sixth largest city in the U.S. State of Kansas and the county seat of Douglas County. Located in northeastern Kansas, Lawrence is the anchor city of the Lawrence, Kansas, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Douglas County...
in the north and Erie
Erie, Kansas
Erie is a city in and the county seat of Neosho County, Kansas, United States, and situated in the valley of the Neosho River, about a mile Northeast of the river...
in the south. The other route is U.S. Route 169
U.S. Route 169
U.S. Route 169 currently runs for 966 miles from the city of Virginia, Minnesota to Tulsa, Oklahoma at U.S. Route 64.-Oklahoma:U.S. Highway 169 is a major south–north highway spanning in Oklahoma. The southern terminus for US-169 is Memorial Drive...
which passes through western portions of the county and bypasses to the east of the cities of Iola, Bassett
Bassett, Kansas
Bassett is a city situated along the Neosho River in the west-central part of Allen County, located in southeast Kansas, in the central United States of America. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 14.-History:...
, and Humboldt
Humboldt, Kansas
Humboldt is a city situated along the Neosho River in the southwest part of Allen County, located in southeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,953.-History:...
. It connects to Chanute
Chanute, Kansas
Chanute is a city in Neosho County, Kansas, United States. Founded on January 1, 1873, it was named after railroad engineer and aviation pioneer Octave Chanute. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 9,119...
and eventually Coffeyville
Coffeyville, Kansas
Coffeyville is a city situated along the Verdigris River in the southeastern part of Montgomery County, located in Southeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 10,295...
in the south. The segment between Iola and Chanute is a freeway with fully controlled access, although there is only one lane in each direction. US-169 provides a direct route for traveling between Kansas City
Kansas City Metropolitan Area
The Kansas City Metropolitan Area is a fifteen-county metropolitan area that is anchored by Kansas City, Missouri and is bisected by the border between the states of Missouri and Kansas. As of the 2010 Census, the metropolitan area has a population of 2,035,334. The metropolitan area is the...
and Tulsa
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 46th-largest city in the United States. With a population of 391,906 as of the 2010 census, it is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region with 937,478 residents in the MSA and 988,454 in the CSA. Tulsa's...
, Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
.
Airports
- Allen County AirportAllen County AirportAllen County Airport is a county-owned public-use airport located three nautical miles southeast of the central business district of Iola, in Allen County, Kansas, United States.- Facilities and aircraft :...
(K88), public - Croisant Airport (7KS5), private
- Ensminger Airport (74KS), private
- National Airport, public
- Womack Airport, public
Further reading
- History of the State of Kansas; William G. Cutler; A.T. Andreas Publisher; 1883. (Online HTML eBook)
- Kansas : A Cyclopedia of State History, Embracing Events, Institutions, Industries, Counties, Cities, Towns, Prominent Persons, Etc; 3 Volumes; Frank W. Blackmar; Standard Publishing Co; 944 / 955 / 824 pages; 1912. (Volume1 - Download 54MB PDF eBook),(Volume2 - Download 53MB PDF eBook), (Volume3 - Download 33MB PDF eBook)
External links
County- Allen County - Official Website
- Allen County - Directory of Public Officials
- Allen County - Information, Skyways
Historical
- Allen County - History, Kansas State Historical Society
Maps
- Allen County Map, KDOT
- Kansas Highway Map, KDOT
- Kansas Railroad Map, KDOT
- Kansas School District Boundary Map, KSDE