Wikipedia

Greenwood County, Kansas

Greenwood County is a county located in the southeast portion of the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat and most populous city is Eureka.[2] As of the 2020 census, the county population was 6,016.[1] The county was named for Alfred Greenwood, a U.S. congressman from Arkansas that advocated Kansas statehood.

Greenwood County, Kansas
County
AT&SF Railroad Depot in Eureka (2013)
AT&SF Railroad Depot in Eureka (2013)
Map of Kansas highlighting Greenwood County
Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
Coordinates: 37°52′00″N 96°16′00″W / 37.8667°N 96.2667°W / 37.8667; -96.2667
Country United States
State Kansas
FoundedAugust 25, 1855
Named forAlfred B. Greenwood
SeatEureka
Largest cityEureka
Area
 • Total
1,153 sq mi (2,990 km2)
 • Land1,143 sq mi (2,960 km2)
 • Water9.3 sq mi (24 km2)  0.8%
Population
 (2020)[1]
 • Total
6,016
 • Estimate 
(2025)
5,826 Decrease
 • Density5.3/sq mi (2.0/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district4th
WebsiteGreenwoodCounty.org

History

edit

Early history

edit

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

edit

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. In 1855, Greenwood County was established, and named for Alfred B. Greenwood,[3] a U.S. Congressman from Arkansas.

Greenwood City was established in 1871, on the Verdigris River, near the heart of the county. It was a rowdy frontier town, largely populated by outlaws, including some notorious. However, when the railroad was routed through nearby Toronto, to the south, Greenwood City died out.[4]

The first railroad in Greenwood County was built through that territory in 1879.[5]

Geography

edit

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,153 square miles (2,990 km2), of which 1,143 square miles (2,960 km2) is land and 9.3 square miles (24 km2) (0.8%) is water.[6] It is the fifth-largest county in Kansas by area.

Adjacent counties

edit

Demographics

edit
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1860769—
18703,484353.1%
188010,548202.8%
189016,30954.6%
190016,196−0.7%
191016,060−0.8%
192014,715−8.4%
193019,23530.7%
194016,495−14.2%
195013,574−17.7%
196011,253−17.1%
19709,141−18.8%
19808,764−4.1%
19907,847−10.5%
20007,673−2.2%
20106,689−12.8%
20206,016−10.1%
2025 (est.)5,826[7] Decrease−3.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010-2020[1]

Racial and ethnic composition

edit
Greenwood County, Kansas – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the U.S. Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 1980[12] Pop 1990[13] Pop 2000[14] Pop 2010[15] Pop 2020[16] % 1980 % 1990 % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 8,632 7,673 7,352 6,257 5,406 98.49% 97.78% 95.82% 93.54% 89.86%
Black or African American alone (NH) 0 9 11 23 28 0.00% 0.11% 0.14% 0.34% 0.47%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 51 74 59 61 32 0.58% 0.94% 0.77% 0.91% 0.53%
Asian alone (NH) 5 0 8 18 36 0.06% 0.00% 0.10% 0.27% 0.60%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) x [17] x [18] 0 0 1 x x 0.00% 0.00% 0.02%
Other race alone (NH) 5 0 2 1 15 0.06% 0.00% 0.03% 0.01% 0.25%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) x [19] x [20] 109 109 294 x x 1.42% 1.63% 4.89%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 71 91 132 220 204 0.81% 1.16% 1.72% 3.29% 3.39%
Total 8,764 7,847 7,673 6,689 6,016 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

2020 census

edit

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 6,016 and a median age of 48.7 years; 21.4% of residents were under the age of 18 and 26.2% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 100.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 98.0 males age 18 and over. 0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[21][22]

The racial makeup of the county was 91.3% White, 0.5% Black or African American, 0.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.9% from some other race, and 6.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 3.4% of the population.[23]

There were 2,687 households in the county, of which 24.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 24.0% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 34.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[21]

There were 3,666 housing units, of which 26.7% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 75.3% were owner-occupied and 24.7% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.3% and the rental vacancy rate was 10.7%.[21]

2000 census

edit

As of the 2000 census,[24] there were 7,673 people, 3,234 households, and 2,153 families residing in the county. The population density was 7 people per square mile (2.7 people/km2). There were 4,273 housing units at an average density of 4 per square mile (1.5/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 96.53% White, 0.83% Native American, 0.14% Black or African American, 0.10% Asian, 0.81% from other races, and 1.58% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.72% of the population.

There were 3,234 households, out of which 27.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.50% were married couples living together, 6.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.40% were non-families. 30.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.86.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.70% under the age of 18, 6.50% from 18 to 24, 23.20% from 25 to 44, 23.70% from 45 to 64, and 22.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 95.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,169, and the median income for a family was $38,140. Males had a median income of $27,021 versus $19,356 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,976. About 8.20% of families and 12.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.20% of those under age 18 and 10.10% of those age 65 or over.

Government

edit

Greenwood county is often carried by Republican Candidates. The last time a Democratic candidate has carried this county was in 1936 by Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Presidential elections

edit
Presidential election results
United States presidential election results for Greenwood County, Kansas[25][26]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No. %No. %No. %
1888 2,242 56.89% 1,110 28.17% 589 14.95%
1892 1,734 49.01% 0 0.00% 1,804 50.99%
1896 1,835 46.79% 2,064 52.63% 23 0.59%
1900 2,204 53.28% 1,917 46.34% 16 0.39%
1904 2,458 63.70% 1,211 31.38% 190 4.92%
1908 2,370 59.16% 1,545 38.57% 91 2.27%
1912 954 25.83% 1,334 36.11% 1,406 38.06%
1916 2,971 48.28% 2,956 48.03% 227 3.69%
1920 3,422 68.34% 1,478 29.52% 107 2.14%
1924 4,181 64.02% 1,794 27.47% 556 8.51%
1928 5,863 78.53% 1,554 20.81% 49 0.66%
1932 3,592 46.37% 4,002 51.66% 153 1.97%
1936 4,146 49.68% 4,176 50.04% 23 0.28%
1940 4,893 60.34% 3,160 38.97% 56 0.69%
1944 3,959 63.99% 2,187 35.35% 41 0.66%
1948 3,553 57.31% 2,574 41.52% 73 1.18%
1952 4,974 73.70% 1,743 25.83% 32 0.47%
1956 4,164 70.01% 1,763 29.64% 21 0.35%
1960 3,758 67.46% 1,804 32.38% 9 0.16%
1964 2,717 56.59% 2,048 42.66% 36 0.75%
1968 2,937 65.99% 1,122 25.21% 392 8.81%
1972 3,157 74.49% 951 22.44% 130 3.07%
1976 2,319 55.96% 1,737 41.92% 88 2.12%
1980 2,685 64.62% 1,241 29.87% 229 5.51%
1984 2,901 70.45% 1,173 28.48% 44 1.07%
1988 2,217 59.66% 1,421 38.24% 78 2.10%
1992 1,411 36.62% 1,262 32.75% 1,180 30.63%
1996 1,932 53.15% 1,108 30.48% 595 16.37%
2000 2,392 67.17% 1,027 28.84% 142 3.99%
2004 2,282 70.35% 911 28.08% 51 1.57%
2008 1,619 71.04% 622 27.29% 38 1.67%
2012 1,590 74.89% 478 22.52% 55 2.59%
2016 2,160 76.06% 485 17.08% 195 6.87%
2020 2,444 79.43% 569 18.49% 64 2.08%
2024 2,299 79.72% 541 18.76% 44 1.53%

Laws

edit

Greenwood County was a prohibition, or "dry", county until the Kansas Constitution was amended in 1986 and voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with a 30% food sales requirement.[27]

Education

edit

Unified school districts

edit

School districts which have territory in the county include:[28]

School districts with offices in neighboring counties
[28]

Communities

edit
2005 map of Greenwood County[29] (map legend)

List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Greenwood County.[29]

Cities

edit

Unincorporated communities

edit

† means a community is designated a Census-Designated Place (CDP) by the United States Census Bureau.

Ghost towns

edit

Townships

edit

Greenwood County is divided into fifteen townships. The city of Eureka is considered governmentally independent and is 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.

TownshipFIPSPopulation
center		 PopulationPopulation
density
/km2 (/sq mi)		 Land area
km2 (sq mi)		Water area
km2 (sq mi)		Water % Geographic coordinates
Bachelor036252301 (4)155 (60)1 (0)0.70%37°49′57″N 96°12′21″W / 37.83250°N 96.20583°W / 37.83250; -96.20583
Eureka218254513 (8)149 (58)2 (1)1.50%37°50′41″N 96°17′49″W / 37.84472°N 96.29694°W / 37.84472; -96.29694
Fall River228002291 (4)154 (60)2 (1)1.13%37°42′36″N 96°12′4″W / 37.71000°N 96.20111°W / 37.71000; -96.20111
Janesville350005481 (4)371 (143)2 (1)0.62%37°59′4″N 96°11′29″W / 37.98444°N 96.19139°W / 37.98444; -96.19139
Lane384251671 (3)138 (53)1 (0)0.52%37°58′36″N 96°0′59″W / 37.97667°N 96.01639°W / 37.97667; -96.01639
Madison440751,1554 (9)320 (124)3 (1)0.85%38°7′32″N 96°12′11″W / 38.12556°N 96.20306°W / 38.12556; -96.20306
Otter Creek536502111 (2)290 (112)2 (1)0.55%37°40′20″N 96°24′0″W / 37.67222°N 96.40000°W / 37.67222; -96.40000
Pleasant Grove56375520 (1)150 (58)2 (1)1.57%37°47′21″N 96°1′41″W / 37.78917°N 96.02806°W / 37.78917; -96.02806
Quincy581751631 (3)155 (60)1 (0)0.38%37°51′8″N 96°2′59″W / 37.85222°N 96.04972°W / 37.85222; -96.04972
Salem62650350 (0)233 (90)2 (1)0.89%38°1′45″N 96°24′29″W / 38.02917°N 96.40806°W / 38.02917; -96.40806
Salt Springs628754633 (7)182 (70)10 (4)5.16%37°38′55″N 96°3′59″W / 37.64861°N 96.06639°W / 37.64861; -96.06639
Shell Rock646001731 (3)136 (53)1 (0)0.87%38°5′53″N 96°1′18″W / 38.09806°N 96.02167°W / 38.09806; -96.02167
South Salem669251271 (1)224 (87)3 (1)1.13%37°52′42″N 96°27′4″W / 37.87833°N 96.45111°W / 37.87833; -96.45111
Spring Creek674251541 (3)139 (54)1 (1)0.93%37°47′49″N 96°26′50″W / 37.79694°N 96.44722°W / 37.79694; -96.44722
Twin Grove718256014 (11)148 (57)1 (0)0.57%37°38′7″N 96°14′3″W / 37.63528°N 96.23417°W / 37.63528; -96.23417
Sources: "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files". U.S. Census Bureau, Geography Division. Archived from the original on August 2, 2002.

See also

edit
Community information for Kansas

References

edit
  1. 1 2 3 "QuickFacts; Greenwood County, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 16, 2021. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ↑ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 144.
  4. ↑ "Greenwood County History," ca. 1939, Topeka Capital Journal, reprinted 1939 in Eureka Herald, and digital upload by Mike Pitko August 5, 2025; retrieved March 9, 2026
  5. ↑ Blackmar, Frank Wilson (1912). Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, Embracing Events, Institutions, Industries, Counties, Cities, Towns, Prominent Persons, Etc. Standard Publishing Company. pp. 795.
  6. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  7. ↑ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2025". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 14, 2026.
  8. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  12. ↑ "1980 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Kansas- Table 15 Persons by Race: 198О • Table 16 - Total Persons and Spanish Origin Persons by Type of Spanish Origin and Race: 1980" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. p. 12-21. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 12, 2025.
  13. ↑ "1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Kansas: Tables 4, 5, 6 - Race and Hispanic Origin" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. p. 11-44. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 24, 2026.
  14. ↑ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Greenwood County, Kansas". United States Census Bureau.
  15. ↑ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Greenwood County, Kansas". United States Census Bureau.
  16. ↑ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Greenwood County, Kansas". United States Census Bureau.
  17. ↑ included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census
  18. ↑ included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census
  19. ↑ not an option in the 1980 Census
  20. ↑ not an option in the 1990 Census
  21. 1 2 3 "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 15, 2025.
  22. ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved December 15, 2025.
  23. ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 15, 2025.
  24. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  25. ↑ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
  26. ↑ Schwab, Scott (November 5, 2024). "Election Results". Secretary of State of Kansas. Retrieved April 13, 2026.
  27. ↑ "Map of Wet and Dry Counties". Alcoholic Beverage Control, Kansas Department of Revenue. November 2006. Archived from the original on October 8, 2007. Retrieved December 28, 2007.
  28. 1 2 Geography Division (January 15, 2021). 2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Greenwood County, KS (PDF) (Map). Suitland, Maryland: U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved November 4, 2025. - Text list
  29. 1 2 "General Highway Map of Greenwood County, Kansas" (PDF). Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT). May 2011. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 17, 2024.

Further reading

edit
edit
County
Maps

37°52′N 96°16′W / 37.867°N 96.267°W / 37.867; -96.267

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Greenwood_County,_Kansas&oldid=1375290642"