Doniphan County, Kansas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Doniphan County
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Doniphan County Courthouse in Troy (2006)
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Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
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 Kansas's location within the U.S. |
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| 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)
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| • 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 |
Doniphan County (county code DP) is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 7,510. Its county seat is Troy, and its most populous city is Wathena.
Contents
History
Early history
For many millennia, the Great Plains of North America was inhabited by nomadic Native Americans. From the 16th century to 18th century, the Kingdom of France claimed ownership of large parts of North America. In 1762, after the French and Indian War, France secretly ceded New France to Spain, per the Treaty of Fontainebleau.
19th century
In 1802, Spain returned most of the land to France, but keeping title to about 7,500 square miles. In 1803, most of the land for modern day Kansas was acquired by the United States from France as part of the 828,000 square mile Louisiana Purchase for 2.83 cents per acre.
In 1854, the Kansas Territory was organized, then in 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state. Doniphan County was established on August 25, 1855, then organized on September 18, 1855. It is named for the U.S. cavalry commander Colonel Alexander W. Doniphan (1808–1887) of Liberty, Missouri, who played an important part in the Mexican-American War. He was a zealous partisan in the failed effort made to extend slavery into Kansas.
Geography
Doniphan County is located in the northeastern corner of the state—it is bordered by Nebraska to the north and Missouri to the east. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 398 square miles (1,030 km2), of which 393 square miles (1,020 km2) is land and 4.9 square miles (13 km2) (1.2%) is water. 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 located across the river in Saint Joseph, Missouri. The river provides much of the water for the eastern part of the county. Interior cities, such as Troy and Highland, receive their water from underground wells. The Wolf River flows through western portions of the county and north into the Missouri River.
Major highways
The only major highway serving the county is U.S. Highway 36, an east/west route traveling 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. (See the map below.)
Adjacent counties
- Holt County, Missouri (north)
- Andrew County, Missouri (northeast)
- Buchanan County, Missouri (southeast)
- Atchison County (southwest)
- Brown County (west)
- Richardson County, Nebraska (northwest)
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2020 |
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Doniphan County is part of 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.
Communities
Cities
Census-designated place
Other unincorporated communities
Townships
Doniphan County is divided into nine mostly rural townships. The three townships with the greatest population lie along U.S. Highway 36. None of the cities within the county are considered governmentally independent, and all figures for the township 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.
| Township | FIPS | Population center |
Population | Population density /km² (/sq mi) |
Land area km² (sq mi) |
Water area km² (sq mi) |
Water % | Geographic coordinates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burr Oak | 09500 | 153 | 2 (5) | 81 (31) | 2 (1) | 2.73% | 39°51′17″N 94°58′19″W / 39.85472°N 94.97194°W | |
| Center | 11700 | Troy | 1,743 | 11 (28) | 162 (63) | 2 (1) | 1.31% | 39°47′35″N 95°5′30″W / 39.79306°N 95.09167°W |
| Independence | 33850 | 342 | 4 (9) | 96 (37) | 0 (0) | 0.01% | 39°42′13″N 95°11′8″W / 39.70361°N 95.18556°W | |
| Iowa | 34400 | Highland | 1,694 | 8 (20) | 216 (83) | 2 (1) | 1.05% | 39°53′12″N 95°15′3″W / 39.88667°N 95.25083°W |
| Marion | 44675 | 226 | 5 (13) | 45 (17) | 1 (1) | 2.84% | 39°43′29″N 94°59′43″W / 39.72472°N 94.99528°W | |
| Union | 72125 | 360 | 4 (10) | 94 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.09% | 39°42′14″N 95°16′27″W / 39.70389°N 95.27417°W | |
| Washington | 75600 | Wathena, Elwood |
3,066 | 36 (94) | 85 (33) | 4 (1) | 4.30% | 39°45′39″N 94°55′38″W / 39.76083°N 94.92722°W |
| Wayne | 76100 | 226 | 2 (6) | 92 (36) | 1 (0) | 0.73% | 39°40′56″N 95°4′57″W / 39.68222°N 95.08250°W | |
| Wolf River | 80275 | 439 | 3 (8) | 145 (56) | 0 (0) | 0.02% | 39°46′54″N 95°14′26″W / 39.78167°N 95.24056°W | |
| Sources: | ||||||||
Points of interest
- Native American Heritage Museum, 2 miles east of Highland : Originally a Presbyterian Mission built in 1845 to educate Iowa and Missouri Sac and Fox children, the museum was rehabilitated to showcase the arts and history of the emigrant tribes in northeastern Kansas. (Web site)
- Nelson Rodgers House, in Troy : Built in 1856, this 1+1⁄2-story center-gable house constructed of hand-hewn timbers is the first and oldest remaining house in Troy.
- Four-state Lookout, in White Cloud : This viewing platform provides a panoramic view of the Missouri River valley, including Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and (possibly) Iowa.
- Townsite of Old Doniphan : On July 4, 1804 the Lewis and Clark Expedition camped near an uninhabited Kanza Indian village on Independence Creek. The former town of Doniphan was established in the vicinity of the campsite.
Education
Unified school districts
- Doniphan West USD 111
- Riverside USD 114
Colleges and universities
Highland Community College was the first college established in the state when the Highland University charter was granted by the Territorial Legislature in 1858. Over time the college lost its affiliation with the Presbyterian Church and changed its name several times before becoming a regional rural community college. (Web site)
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Doniphan para niños
