# Anderson County, Kansas

Anderson County is a county located in East Central Kansas, in the Central United States. Its county seat and most populous city is Garnett. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 7,836. The county was named for Joseph C. Anderson, a Kansas territorial legislator and border ruffian during the "Bleeding Kansas" era.

## History

In 1854, the Kansas Territory was organized, and in 1855, Anderson County was established as one of the original 33 counties of the Kansas Territory, named for territorial legislator Joseph C. Anderson. The initial settlement began in 1854 with individuals such as Valentine Gerth and Francis Meyer staking claims near what would become Greeley. The settlers discovered fields previously worked by the Potawatomi, who had been relocated there in 1833. The early years were fraught with conflict during "Bleeding Kansas," with Anderson County men engaging in battles such as that at Osawatomie, where the clash over slavery was intense.
The county's administrative center was initially established at Shannon, but disputes over the location of the county seat resulted in its move to Garnett in 1859, where it has remained. The agrarian economy suffered from natural disasters, including the severe drought of 1860, which left the county in distress. Subsequent years brought the infamous grasshopper plagues of 1874-1875, which devastated crops, yet the resolve of the settlers saw them through these hardships. The introduction of wheat farming helped stabilize the region.
In 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state. The Civil War period saw Anderson County's men volunteer for Union forces, with the war also temporarily halting the cattle drives from Texas that had introduced Spanish fever to the local cattle. Post-war, the county experienced a resurgence in agricultural development, with the arrival of the railroad playing a crucial role in economic growth by opening up markets. As Anderson County moved towards the 20th century, its economy was based on farming, with some coal mining activities due to local deposits. The onset of World War I saw the community rallying to support the war effort, with many local men enlisting for service overseas. This era marked the beginning of a transition period, where traditional farming practices would soon give way to technological advancements in agriculture.
In 1884, the first photograph of a tornado was taken in Anderson County.

## Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 584 square miles (1,510 km$^2$), of which 580 square miles (1,500 km$^2$) is land and 4.1 square miles (11 km$^2$) (0.7%) is water.

### Adjacent counties

* Franklin County (north)
* Miami County (northeast)
* Linn County (east)
* Bourbon County (southeast)
* Allen County (south)
* Woodson County (southwest)
* Coffey County (west)

### Major highways

Sources: National Atlas, U.S. Census Bureau
* U.S. Route 59
* U.S. Route 169
* Kansas Highway 31
* Kansas Highway 52
* Kansas Highway 58

## Demographics

As of the 2000 census, there were 8,110 people, 3,221 households, and 2,264 families residing in the county. The population density was 14 people per square mile (5.4 people/km$^2$). There were 3,596 housing units at an average density of 6 units per square mile (2.3 units/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 97.41% White, 0.32% Black or African American, 0.74% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.33% from other races, and 0.95% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.09% of the population. 35.0% were of German, 20.4% American, 10.4% English and 9.9% Irish ancestry.
There were 3,221 households, out of which 31.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.90% were married couples living together, 6.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.70% were non-families. 26.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.20% under the age of 18, 7.00% from 18 to 24, 24.60% from 25 to 44, 22.10% from 45 to 64, and 20.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 96.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.50 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $33,244, and the median income for a family was $39,101. Males had a median income of $30,102 versus $20,705 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,458. About 10.60% of families and 12.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.30% of those under age 18 and 11.00% of those age 65 or over.

## Government

United States presidential election results for Anderson County, Kansas :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 2,998 | 78.85% | 732 | 19.25% | 72 | 1.89% |
| 2020 | 2,929 | 77.24% | 782 | 20.62% | 81 | 2.14% |
| 2016 | 2,435 | 72.69% | 672 | 20.06% | 243 | 7.25% |
| 2012 | 2,276 | 68.66% | 944 | 28.48% | 95 | 2.87% |
| 2008 | 2,362 | 65.14% | 1,175 | 32.40% | 89 | 2.45% |
| 2004 | 2,500 | 64.72% | 1,295 | 33.52% | 68 | 1.76% |
| 2000 | 1,984 | 57.04% | 1,327 | 38.15% | 167 | 4.80% |
| 1996 | 1,636 | 46.66% | 1,367 | 38.99% | 503 | 14.35% |
| 1992 | 1,218 | 33.03% | 1,178 | 31.95% | 1,291 | 35.01% |
| 1988 | 1,781 | 54.25% | 1,466 | 44.65% | 36 | 1.10% |
| 1984 | 2,462 | 67.14% | 1,155 | 31.50% | 50 | 1.36% |
| 1980 | 2,363 | 62.63% | 1,170 | 31.01% | 240 | 6.36% |
| 1976 | 1,872 | 48.70% | 1,886 | 49.06% | 86 | 2.24% |
| 1972 | 2,718 | 70.86% | 1,035 | 26.98% | 83 | 2.16% |
| 1968 | 2,168 | 56.84% | 1,242 | 32.56% | 404 | 10.59% |
| 1964 | 1,692 | 44.76% | 2,058 | 54.44% | 30 | 0.79% |
| 1960 | 2,665 | 62.35% | 1,589 | 37.18% | 20 | 0.47% |
| 1956 | 3,080 | 69.01% | 1,369 | 30.67% | 14 | 0.31% |
| 1952 | 3,672 | 73.18% | 1,333 | 26.56% | 13 | 0.26% |
| 1948 | 2,787 | 56.85% | 2,071 | 42.25% | 44 | 0.90% |
| 1944 | 3,060 | 64.89% | 1,649 | 34.97% | 7 | 0.15% |
| 1940 | 3,886 | 64.41% | 2,114 | 35.04% | 33 | 0.55% |
| 1936 | 3,452 | 54.64% | 2,767 | 43.80% | 99 | 1.57% |
| 1932 | 2,408 | 39.63% | 3,580 | 58.92% | 88 | 1.45% |
| 1928 | 3,562 | 64.94% | 1,874 | 34.17% | 49 | 0.89% |
| 1924 | 3,101 | 60.98% | 1,421 | 27.94% | 563 | 11.07% |
| 1920 | 3,068 | 62.82% | 1,708 | 34.97% | 108 | 2.21% |
| 1916 | 2,386 | 43.95% | 2,739 | 50.45% | 304 | 5.60% |
| 1912 | 618 | 19.88% | 1,365 | 43.92% | 1,125 | 36.20% |
| 1908 | 1,722 | 51.25% | 1,512 | 45.00% | 126 | 3.75% |
| 1904 | 1,891 | 58.26% | 1,043 | 32.13% | 312 | 9.61% |
| 1900 | 1,846 | 50.40% | 1,757 | 47.97% | 60 | 1.64% |
| 1896 | 1,780 | 47.57% | 1,890 | 50.51% | 72 | 1.92% |
| 1892 | 1,638 | 51.06% | 0 | 0.00% | 1,570 | 48.94% |
| 1888 | 1,843 | 55.13% | 960 | 28.72% | 540 | 16.15% |
Anderson County has, in common with other rural areas of Kansas, voted predominantly Republican in presidential elections, with the last Democratic candidate to carry the county being Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964.

### 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 percent food sales requirement.

## Education
### Unified school districts

* Garnett USD 365
* Crest USD 479

## Communities

List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Anderson County.

### Cities

* Colony
* Garnett (county seat)
* Greeley
* Kincaid
* Lone Elm
* Westphalia

### Unincorporated communities

† means a community is designated a Census-Designated Place (CDP) by the United States Census Bureau.
* Bush City
* Glenlock
* Harris†
* Mont Ida†
* Scipio
* Selma
* Welda†

### Ghost towns

* Hyattville

### Townships

Anderson County is divided into fourteen townships. The city of Garnett 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.

## Media

Anderson County Review is a weekly newspaper.