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Sedgwick County, Kansas facts for kids

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Sedgwick County
Old Sedgwick County Courthouse in Wichita (2009)
Old Sedgwick County Courthouse in Wichita (2009)
Map of Kansas highlighting Sedgwick County
Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
Map of the United States highlighting Kansas
Kansas's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  Kansas
Founded February 26, 1867
Named for John Sedgwick
Seat Wichita
Largest city Wichita
Area
 • Total 1,009 sq mi (2,610 km2)
 • Land 998 sq mi (2,580 km2)
 • Water 12 sq mi (30 km2)  1.2%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 523,824
 • Density 524.9/sq mi (202.7/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Area code 316
Congressional district 4th

Sedgwick County (county code: SG) is located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 523,824, making it the second-most populous county in Kansas. Its county seat is Wichita, the most populous city in the state.

History

Stouffer's Railroad Map of Kansas 1915-1918 Sedgwick County
1915 Railroad Map of Sedgwick County

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. 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 1848, after the Mexican-American War, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo with Spain brought into the United States all or part of land for ten future states, including southwest Kansas. In 1854, the Kansas Territory was organized, then in 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state.

19th century

Sedgwick County was founded in 1867, and named after John Sedgwick, who was a Major General in the Union Army during the American Civil War.

In 1887, the Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway built a branch line north-south from Herington to Caldwell. This branch line connected Herington, Lost Springs, Lincolnville, Antelope, Marion, Aulne, Peabody, Elbing, Whitewater, Furley, Kechi, Wichita, Peck, Corbin, Wellington, Caldwell. By 1893, this branch line was incrementally built to Fort Worth, Texas. This line is called the "OKT". The Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway was foreclosed in 1891 and was taken over by Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway, which shut down in 1980 and reorganized as Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas Railroad, merged in 1988 with Missouri Pacific Railroad, and finally merged in 1997 with Union Pacific Railroad. Most locals still refer to this railroad as the "Rock Island".

20th century

Sedgwick County was the setting for the murders committed by the BTK strangler from 1974 until 1991.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,009 square miles (2,610 km2), of which 998 square miles (2,580 km2) is land and 12 square miles (31 km2) (1.2%) is water.

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1870 1,095
1880 18,753 1,612.6%
1890 43,626 132.6%
1900 44,037 0.9%
1910 73,095 66.0%
1920 92,234 26.2%
1930 136,330 47.8%
1940 143,311 5.1%
1950 222,290 55.1%
1960 343,231 54.4%
1970 350,694 2.2%
1980 366,531 4.5%
1990 403,662 10.1%
2000 452,869 12.2%
2010 498,365 10.0%
2020 523,824 5.1%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790-1960 1900–1990
1990-2000 2010–2020
USA Sedgwick County, Kansas age pyramid
Age pyramid

Sedgwick County is part of the Wichita, KS Metropolitan Statistical Area.

As of the census of 2000, there were 452,869 people, 176,444 households, and 117,688 families residing in the county. The population density was 453 people per square mile (175/km2). There were 191,133 housing units at an average density of 191 per square mile (74/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 79.38% White, 9.13% Black or African American, 1.11% Native American, 3.34% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 4.17% from other races, and 2.81% from two or more races. 8.04% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 176,444 households, out of which 34.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.70% were married couples living together, 10.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.30% were non-families. 28.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.14.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 28.20% under the age of 18, 9.50% from 18 to 24, 30.30% from 25 to 44, 20.60% from 45 to 64, and 11.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $42,485, and the median income for a family was $51,645. Males had a median income of $37,770 versus $26,153 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,907. About 7.00% of families and 9.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.90% of those under age 18 and 7.00% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

Airports

The following public-use airports are located in Sedgwick County:

  • Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport (ICT)
  • Beech Factory Airport (BEC)
  • Cessna Aircraft Field (CEA)
  • Colonel James Jabara Airport (AAO)
  • Cook Airfield (K50)
  • Maize Airport (70K)
  • Westport Airport (71K)
  • Westport Auxiliary Airport (72K)

The following are closed airports:

  • Riverside Airport (K32)

Points of interest

  • Sedgwick County Extension Arboretum
  • Sedgwick County Zoo
  • Sedgwick County Fair
  • Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum

Communities

Map of Sedgwick Co, Ks, USA
2005 KDOT Map of Sedgwick County (map legend)
Delano Township, Sedgwick County, Kansas
Map of Townships in Sedgwick County

Cities

Census-designated places

Unincorporated places

Ghost towns

  • Davidson
  • Hatfield
  • Huckle
  • Jamesburg
  • Marshall
  • Oatville
  • Wichita Heights

Townships

Sedgwick County is divided into twenty-seven townships. The cities of Bel Aire and Wichita are considered governmentally independent 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. The county use to have one more township, Wichita Township, but it no longer exists.

Sources: 2000 U.S. Gazetteer from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Township FIPS Population
center
Population Population
density
/km² (/sq mi)
Land area
km² (sq mi)
Water area
km² (sq mi)
Water % Geographic coordinates
Afton 00425 1,290 14 (37) 91 (35) 2 (1) 1.73% 37°36′10″N 97°37′54″W / 37.60278°N 97.63167°W / 37.60278; -97.63167
Attica 03125 Goddard 4,959 62 (161) 80 (31) 0 (0) 0.23% 37°40′44″N 97°32′16″W / 37.67889°N 97.53778°W / 37.67889; -97.53778
Delano 17375 196 25 (64) 8 (3) 1 (0) 13.81% 37°43′2″N 97°25′13″W / 37.71722°N 97.42028°W / 37.71722; -97.42028
Eagle 19250 Bentley 1,069 12 (30) 92 (36) 1 (1) 1.44% 37°51′48″N 97°32′26″W / 37.86333°N 97.54056°W / 37.86333; -97.54056
Erie 21550 106 1 (3) 94 (36) 0 (0) 0.03% 37°31′24″N 97°44′51″W / 37.52333°N 97.74750°W / 37.52333; -97.74750
Garden Plain 25400 Garden Plain 1,780 19 (50) 92 (36) 0 (0) 0.15% 37°40′25″N 97°39′47″W / 37.67361°N 97.66306°W / 37.67361; -97.66306
Grand River 27300 607 7 (17) 91 (35) 2 (1) 2.20% 37°40′6″N 97°45′14″W / 37.66833°N 97.75389°W / 37.66833; -97.75389
Grant 28125 Valley Center (part) 3,710 40 (104) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0.47% 37°50′55″N 97°20′23″W / 37.84861°N 97.33972°W / 37.84861; -97.33972
Greeley 28400 Mount Hope 1,094 12 (31) 93 (36) 1 (1) 1.43% 37°52′21″N 97°39′17″W / 37.87250°N 97.65472°W / 37.87250; -97.65472
Gypsum 29300 5,822 64 (164) 92 (35) 0 (0) 0.51% 37°36′26″N 97°12′34″W / 37.60722°N 97.20944°W / 37.60722; -97.20944
Illinois 33775 1,620 18 (45) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0.12% 37°35′54″N 97°31′53″W / 37.59833°N 97.53139°W / 37.59833; -97.53139
Kechi 36250 Park City 8,041 143 (370) 56 (22) 0 (0) 0.23% 37°47′35″N 97°19′14″W / 37.79306°N 97.32056°W / 37.79306; -97.32056
Lincoln 41150 473 5 (13) 91 (35) 0 (0) 0.12% 37°52′35″N 97°11′53″W / 37.87639°N 97.19806°W / 37.87639; -97.19806
Minneha 47125 Eastborough 5,084 117 (304) 43 (17) 1 (0) 1.49% 37°41′11″N 97°11′25″W / 37.68639°N 97.19028°W / 37.68639; -97.19028
Morton 48550 Cheney 2,380 26 (67) 91 (35) 1 (0) 1.14% 37°37′24″N 97°46′33″W / 37.62333°N 97.77583°W / 37.62333; -97.77583
Ninnescah 50725 Clearwater 2,913 31 (81) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0.47% 37°30′51″N 97°31′28″W / 37.51417°N 97.52444°W / 37.51417; -97.52444
Ohio 52450 1,146 12 (32) 94 (36) 0 (0) 0.14% 37°31′56″N 97°25′21″W / 37.53222°N 97.42250°W / 37.53222; -97.42250
Park 54425 Maize 4,128 51 (131) 82 (32) 2 (1) 2.04% 37°46′26″N 97°26′13″W / 37.77389°N 97.43694°W / 37.77389; -97.43694
Payne 55075 1,119 14 (36) 80 (31) 0 (0) 0.21% 37°46′58″N 97°12′22″W / 37.78278°N 97.20611°W / 37.78278; -97.20611
Riverside 60125 Haysville (part)
Derby (part)
Oaklawn-Sunview CDP
15,694 333 (862) 47 (18) 1 (0) 1.98% 37°34′56″N 97°18′22″W / 37.58222°N 97.30611°W / 37.58222; -97.30611
Rockford 60675 Derby (part) 20,019 198 (514) 101 (39) 1 (0) 0.99% 37°31′55″N 97°14′47″W / 37.53194°N 97.24639°W / 37.53194; -97.24639
Salem 62675 Haysville (part) 8,411 102 (263) 83 (32) 1 (0) 0.95% 37°32′23″N 97°20′11″W / 37.53972°N 97.33639°W / 37.53972; -97.33639
Sherman 65100 Andale 1,362 14 (37) 96 (37) 0 (0) 0.22% 37°47′23″N 97°38′4″W / 37.78972°N 97.63444°W / 37.78972; -97.63444
Union 72375 Colwich 2,156 23 (60) 93 (36) 0 (0) 0.23% 37°46′55″N 97°32′8″W / 37.78194°N 97.53556°W / 37.78194; -97.53556
Valley Center 73275 Valley Center (part) 3,642 39 (100) 94 (36) 0 (0) 0.16% 37°51′22″N 97°24′10″W / 37.85611°N 97.40278°W / 37.85611; -97.40278
Viola 74050 Viola 547 6 (15) 93 (36) 1 (0) 0.98% 37°30′41″N 97°39′3″W / 37.51139°N 97.65083°W / 37.51139; -97.65083
Waco 74300 3,381 45 (117) 75 (29) 0 (0) 0.12% 37°36′35″N 97°24′57″W / 37.60972°N 97.41583°W / 37.60972; -97.41583

Economy

It is the birthplace of famous restaurants such as White Castle and Pizza Hut. It is also the aviation headquarters of well known Cessna and Learjet.

Education

Colleges and universities

  • Friends University
  • Kansas College of Osteopathic Medicine
  • Newman University
  • University of Kansas School of Medicine
  • WSU Tech
  • Wichita State University

Unified school districts

  • Wichita USD 259
  • Derby USD 260
  • Haysville USD 261
  • Valley Center USD 262
  • Mulvane USD 263
  • Clearwater USD 264
  • Goddard USD 265
  • Maize USD 266
  • Renwick USD 267
  • Cheney USD 268

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Sedgwick (Kansas) para niños

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