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Mitchell County, Kansas

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Mitchell County, Kansas
County
Mitchell County Courthouse in Beloit (2014)
Mitchell County Courthouse in Beloit (2014)
Map of Kansas highlighting Mitchell County
Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
Country United States
State Kansas
FoundedFebruary 26, 1867
Named forWilliam D. Mitchell
SeatBeloit
Largest cityBeloit
Area
 • Total
719 sq mi (1,860 km2)
 • Land702 sq mi (1,820 km2)
 • Water17 sq mi (44 km2)  2.4%
Population
 (2020)[1]
 • Total
5,796
 • Estimate 
(2025)
5,590 Decrease
 • Density8.3/sq mi (3.2/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district1st
WebsiteCounty Website

Mitchell County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat and largest city is Beloit.[2] As of the 2020 census, the county population was 5,796.[1] The county was named for William Mitchell.

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. In 1867, Mitchell County was established.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 719 square miles (1,860 km2), of which 702 square miles (1,820 km2) is land and 17 square miles (44 km2) (2.4%) is water.[3]

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1870485—
188014,9112,974.4%
189015,0370.8%
190014,647−2.6%
191014,089−3.8%
192013,886−1.4%
193012,774−8.0%
194011,339−11.2%
195010,320−9.0%
19608,866−14.1%
19708,010−9.7%
19808,1171.3%
19907,203−11.3%
20006,932−3.8%
20106,373−8.1%
20205,796−9.1%
2025 (est.)5,590[4] Decrease−3.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
1790-1960[6] 1900-1990[7]
1990-2000[8] 2010-2020[1]

Racial and ethnic composition

Mitchell County, Kansas – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US 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[9] Pop 1990[10] Pop 2000[11] Pop 2010[12] Pop 2020[13] % 1980 % 1990 % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 8,021 7,105 6,732 6,197 5,436 98.82% 98.64% 97.11% 97.24% 93.79%
Black or African American alone (NH) 16 43 35 13 19 0.20% 0.60% 0.50% 0.20% 0.33%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 17 16 26 23 12 0.21% 0.22% 0.38% 0.36% 0.21%
Asian alone (NH) 27 10 19 19 13 0.33% 0.14% 0.27% 0.30% 0.22%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) x [14] x [15] 2 5 0 x x 0.03% 0.08% 0.00%
Other race alone (NH) 6 0 5 1 2 0.07% 0.00% 0.07% 0.02% 0.03%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) x [16] x [17] 52 42 157 x x 0.75% 0.66% 2.71%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 30 29 61 73 157 0.37% 0.40% 0.88% 1.15% 2.71%
Total 8,117 7,203 6,932 6,373 5,796 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 5,796, a median age of 46.0 years, 23.1% of residents under the age of 18, and 25.4% of residents who were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 97.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.3 males age 18 and over.[18]

0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[19]

The racial makeup of the county was 94.7% White, 0.3% Black or African American, 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.7% from some other race, and 3.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.7% of the population.[20]

There were 2,543 households in the county, of which 25.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 23.0% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 34.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[18]

There were 3,124 housing units, of which 18.6% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 73.9% were owner-occupied and 26.1% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.1% and the rental vacancy rate was 14.0%.[18]

2010 census

As of the census[21] of 2010, there were 6,373 people, 2,790 households, and 1,725 families residing in the county. The population density was 8.8 people per square mile (3.4 people/km2). There were 3,296 housing units at an average density of 4.6 per square mile (1.8/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.97% White, 0.20% Black or African American, 0.37% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.26% from other races, and 0.80% from two or more races. 1.14% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,790 households, out of which 24.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.29% were married couples living together, 6.23% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.17% were non-families. 33.08% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.12% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.20 and the average family size was 2.77.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 21.44% under the age of 18, 8.00% from 18 to 24, 19.83% from 25 to 44, 29.67% from 45 to 64, and 21.04% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45.6 years. For every 100 females there were 102.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.2 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $44,247, and the median income for a family was $54,502. Males had a median income of $30,044 versus $20,094 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,350. About 4.90% of families and 8.26% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.04% of those under age 18 and 12.33% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Presidential elections

Prior to 1940, Mitchell County was a swing county, backing the national winner in every presidential election from 1900 to 1936. Since 1940, it has become a Republican stronghold, with only George H. W. Bush in 1992 failing to win a majority in the county due to Ross Perot's strong showing in Kansas.

Presidential election results
United States presidential election results for Mitchell County, Kansas[22]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No. %No. %No. %
1888 1,676 55.90% 880 29.35% 442 14.74%
1892 1,467 43.51% 0 0.00% 1,905 56.49%
1896 1,428 42.67% 1,889 56.44% 30 0.90%
1900 1,764 49.65% 1,702 47.90% 87 2.45%
1904 2,037 63.88% 867 27.19% 285 8.94%
1908 1,765 50.50% 1,570 44.92% 160 4.58%
1912 737 22.06% 1,441 43.13% 1,163 34.81%
1916 2,413 41.42% 3,197 54.88% 215 3.69%
1920 3,310 68.32% 1,409 29.08% 126 2.60%
1924 3,161 59.79% 1,470 27.80% 656 12.41%
1928 3,245 62.84% 1,855 35.92% 64 1.24%
1932 2,502 42.70% 3,176 54.21% 181 3.09%
1936 2,781 45.51% 3,289 53.82% 41 0.67%
1940 3,681 63.55% 2,060 35.57% 51 0.88%
1944 3,238 66.67% 1,579 32.51% 40 0.82%
1948 2,998 62.16% 1,750 36.28% 75 1.56%
1952 4,167 80.98% 961 18.67% 18 0.35%
1956 3,198 72.16% 1,214 27.39% 20 0.45%
1960 2,779 61.80% 1,692 37.63% 26 0.58%
1964 1,951 50.28% 1,898 48.92% 31 0.80%
1968 2,428 62.89% 1,144 29.63% 289 7.49%
1972 2,830 71.59% 1,030 26.06% 93 2.35%
1976 2,095 53.99% 1,700 43.81% 85 2.19%
1980 2,821 71.36% 876 22.16% 256 6.48%
1984 3,036 75.98% 919 23.00% 41 1.03%
1988 2,257 65.19% 1,145 33.07% 60 1.73%
1992 1,601 43.86% 938 25.70% 1,111 30.44%
1996 2,435 68.71% 833 23.50% 276 7.79%
2000 2,350 71.95% 751 22.99% 165 5.05%
2004 2,609 77.90% 693 20.69% 47 1.40%
2008 2,440 76.18% 701 21.89% 62 1.94%
2012 2,327 78.48% 584 19.70% 54 1.82%
2016 2,308 78.45% 477 16.21% 157 5.34%
2020 2,504 80.75% 558 17.99% 39 1.26%
2024 2,608 82.22% 528 16.65% 36 1.13%

Laws

Following amendment to the Kansas Constitution in 1986, the county remained a prohibition, or "dry", county until 1996, when voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with a 30% food sales requirement.[23]

Education

Colleges

Unified school districts

Private schools

Communities

2005 map of Mitchell County[24] (map legend)

List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Mitchell County.[24]

Cities

‡ means a community has portions in an adjacent county.

Unincorporated communities

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

Ghost towns

Townships

Mitchell County is divided into twenty townships. The city of Beloit 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.

Sources: 2000 U.S. Gazetteer from the U.S. Census Bureau.
TownshipFIPSPopulation
center		 PopulationPopulation
density
/km2 (/sq mi)		 Land area
km2 (sq mi)		Water area
km2 (sq mi)		Water % Geographic coordinates
Asherville026251221 (3)93 (36)0 (0)0.08%39°25′48″N 97°59′28″W / 39.43000°N 97.99111°W / 39.43000; -97.99111
Beloit05800Beloit4,00348 (125)83 (32)0 (0)0.02%39°26′40″N 98°5′33″W / 39.44444°N 98.09250°W / 39.44444; -98.09250
Bloomfield07425831 (2)94 (36)0 (0)0.24%39°20′33″N 98°6′24″W / 39.34250°N 98.10667°W / 39.34250; -98.10667
Blue Hill07575360 (1)93 (36)0 (0)0.36%39°15′17″N 98°18′43″W / 39.25472°N 98.31194°W / 39.25472; -98.31194
Carr Creek10850310 (1)84 (33)9 (3)9.51%39°26′23″N 98°26′40″W / 39.43972°N 98.44444°W / 39.43972; -98.44444
Cawker11150Cawker City5788 (20)75 (29)17 (7)18.68%39°30′55″N 98°26′2″W / 39.51528°N 98.43389°W / 39.51528; -98.43389
Center11875491 (1)93 (36)0 (0)0.03%39°21′26″N 98°12′2″W / 39.35722°N 98.20056°W / 39.35722; -98.20056
Custer16875Hunter1321 (4)94 (36)0 (0)0.13%39°14′56″N 98°24′53″W / 39.24889°N 98.41472°W / 39.24889; -98.41472
Eureka21875410 (1)93 (36)0 (0)0.38%39°15′20″N 97°59′46″W / 39.25556°N 97.99611°W / 39.25556; -97.99611
Glen Elder26525Glen Elder5537 (18)78 (30)15 (6)16.01%39°30′32″N 98°18′49″W / 39.50889°N 98.31361°W / 39.50889; -98.31361
Hayes30975210 (1)93 (36)0 (0)0.03%39°20′4″N 98°19′8″W / 39.33444°N 98.31889°W / 39.33444; -98.31889
Logan42025Simpson1682 (5)93 (36)0 (0)0.12%39°21′59″N 97°56′21″W / 39.36639°N 97.93917°W / 39.36639; -97.93917
Lulu43225Scottsville901 (3)92 (35)0 (0)0%39°31′53″N 97°58′34″W / 39.53139°N 97.97611°W / 39.53139; -97.97611
Pittsburg56050Tipton3464 (10)93 (36)0 (0)0.03%39°20′31″N 98°28′3″W / 39.34194°N 98.46750°W / 39.34194; -98.46750
Plum Creek568251191 (3)92 (36)0 (0)0.02%39°30′53″N 98°5′21″W / 39.51472°N 98.08917°W / 39.51472; -98.08917
Round Springs61500270 (1)93 (36)0 (0)0.14%39°15′51″N 98°11′28″W / 39.26417°N 98.19111°W / 39.26417; -98.19111
Salt Creek62825390 (1)93 (36)0 (0)0.37%39°15′12″N 98°6′11″W / 39.25333°N 98.10306°W / 39.25333; -98.10306
Solomon Rapids66450801 (2)91 (35)0 (0)0.14%39°31′19″N 98°12′58″W / 39.52194°N 98.21611°W / 39.52194; -98.21611
Turkey Creek717251341 (4)92 (36)0 (0)0.23%39°26′40″N 98°12′1″W / 39.44444°N 98.20028°W / 39.44444; -98.20028
Walnut Creek75150420 (1)88 (34)5 (2)5.78%39°26′49″N 98°19′1″W / 39.44694°N 98.31694°W / 39.44694; -98.31694

See also

Community information for Kansas

References

  1. 1 2 3 "QuickFacts; Mitchell County, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 18, 2021. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  4. ↑ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2025". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 14, 2026.
  5. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
  8. ↑ "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 27, 2014.
  9. ↑ "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.
  10. ↑ "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.
  11. ↑ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Mitchell County, Kansas". United States Census Bureau.
  12. ↑ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Mitchell County, Kansas". United States Census Bureau.
  13. ↑ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Mitchell County, Kansas". United States Census Bureau.
  14. ↑ included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census
  15. ↑ included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census
  16. ↑ not an option in the 1980 Census
  17. ↑ not an option in the 1990 Census
  18. 1 2 3 "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 15, 2025.
  19. ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved December 15, 2025.
  20. ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 15, 2025.
  21. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  22. ↑ David Leip. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved September 13, 2019.
  23. ↑ "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 26, 2007.
  24. 1 2 "General Highway Map of Mitchell County, Kansas" (PDF). Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT). July 2010. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 17, 2023.

Further reading

County
Maps
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