| County | Mitchell County |
|---|---|
| State | Kansas |
| Ex image | Mitchell County, Kansas courthouse from SW 1.JPG |
| Ex image cap | Mitchell County Courthouse in Beloit (2014) |
| Founded | February 26, 1867 |
| Named for | William D. Mitchell |
| Seat wl | Beloit |
| Largest city wl | Beloit |
| Area total | 719 sq mi |
| Area land | 702 sq mi |
| Area water | 17 sq mi |
| Area percentage | 2.4% |
| Population as of | 2020 |
| Population total | 5796 |
| Pop est as of | 2025 |
| Population est | 5590 |
| Population density | 8.3 sq mi |
| District | 1st |
| Time zone | Central |
| Website | County Website |
Mitchell County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat and largest city is Beloit.[1] As of the 2020 census, the county population was 5,796.[2] 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
- Jewell County (north)
- Cloud County (east)
- Ottawa County (southeast)
- Lincoln County (south)
- Osborne County (west)
Demographics
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.[4]
0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[5]
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.[6]
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.[4]
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%.[4]
2010 census
As of the census[7] of 2010, there were 6,373 people, 2,790 households, and 1,725 families residing in the county. The population density was 8.8 /mi2. There were 3,296 housing units at an average density of 4.6 /mi2. 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.
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.[8]
Education
Colleges
- North Central Kansas Technical College in Beloit
Unified school districts
Private schools
- St. John's Catholic High School
- Tipton Catholic High School
Communities
List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Mitchell County.[9]
Cities
‡ means a community has portions in an adjacent county.
- Beloit (county seat)
- Cawker City
- Glen Elder
- Hunter
- Scottsville
- Simpson‡
- Tipton
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.
| Township | FIPS | Population center | Population | Population density /km2 (/sq mi) | Land area km2 (sq mi) | Water area km2 (sq mi) | Water % | Geographic coordinates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asherville | 02625 | 122 | 1 (3) | 93 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.08% | 39°25′48″N 97°59′28″W | |
| Beloit | 05800 | Beloit | 4,003 | 48 (125) | 83 (32) | 0 (0) | 0.02% | 39°26′40″N 98°5′33″W |
| Bloomfield | 07425 | 83 | 1 (2) | 94 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.24% | 39°20′33″N 98°6′24″W | |
| Blue Hill | 07575 | 36 | 0 (1) | 93 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.36% | 39°15′17″N 98°18′43″W | |
| Carr Creek | 10850 | 31 | 0 (1) | 84 (33) | 9 (3) | 9.51% | 39°26′23″N 98°26′40″W | |
| Cawker | 11150 | Cawker City | 578 | 8 (20) | 75 (29) | 17 (7) | 18.68% | 39°30′55″N 98°26′2″W |
| Center | 11875 | 49 | 1 (1) | 93 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.03% | 39°21′26″N 98°12′2″W | |
| Custer | 16875 | Hunter | 132 | 1 (4) | 94 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.13% | 39°14′56″N 98°24′53″W |
| Eureka | 21875 | 41 | 0 (1) | 93 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.38% | 39°15′20″N 97°59′46″W | |
| Glen Elder | 26525 | Glen Elder | 553 | 7 (18) | 78 (30) | 15 (6) | 16.01% | 39°30′32″N 98°18′49″W |
| Hayes | 30975 | 21 | 0 (1) | 93 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.03% | 39°20′4″N 98°19′8″W | |
| Logan | 42025 | Simpson | 168 | 2 (5) | 93 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.12% | 39°21′59″N 97°56′21″W |
| Lulu | 43225 | Scottsville | 90 | 1 (3) | 92 (35) | 0 (0) | 0% | 39°31′53″N 97°58′34″W |
| Pittsburg | 56050 | Tipton | 346 | 4 (10) | 93 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.03% | 39°20′31″N 98°28′3″W |
| Plum Creek | 56825 | 119 | 1 (3) | 92 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.02% | 39°30′53″N 98°5′21″W | |
| Round Springs | 61500 | 27 | 0 (1) | 93 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.14% | 39°15′51″N 98°11′28″W | |
| Salt Creek | 62825 | 39 | 0 (1) | 93 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.37% | 39°15′12″N 98°6′11″W | |
| Solomon Rapids | 66450 | 80 | 1 (2) | 91 (35) | 0 (0) | 0.14% | 39°31′19″N 98°12′58″W | |
| Turkey Creek | 71725 | 134 | 1 (4) | 92 (36) | 0 (0) | 0.23% | 39°26′40″N 98°12′1″W | |
| Walnut Creek | 75150 | 42 | 0 (1) | 88 (34) | 5 (2) | 5.78% | 39°26′49″N 98°19′1″W |
See also
References
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ^ "QuickFacts; Mitchell County, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived August 18, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
- ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 15, 2025.
- ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved December 15, 2025.
- ^ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 15, 2025.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "General Highway Map of Mitchell County, Kansas". Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT). July 2010. Archived May 17, 2023 at the Wayback Machine.
Further reading
- Standard Atlas of Mitchell County, Kansas; Geo. A. Ogle & Co; 73 pages; 1917.
- Standard Atlas of Mitchell County, Kansas; Geo. A. Ogle & Co; 56 pages; 1902.
- Atlas of Mitchell County, Kansas; Gillen & Davy; 45 pages; 1884.
External links
- County
- Maps